The Baja Chapter's Communications Director USN Deported Veteran Alex Murill writes in memory of fellow veteran, Enrique Salas and other fallen deported veterans.
On Sunday May 27th the day before Memorial Day, and right at the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, a ceremony was held by Unified U.S. Deported Veterans and Veterans for Peace in Playas de Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. This service was to honor the life of Cpl. Enrique Salas USMC and also to remember the other deported veterans that have died in exile awaiting to return home to the U.S. On April 12, 2018 Cpl. Enrique Salas succumbed to injuries he sustained in a car accident in Tijuana Mexico.
After finally being granted a humanitarian visa, Enrique died en route to receive medical treatment from the University of California, San Diego. He leaves behind his daughters and his wife. It is sad to say but this is the only way many of our deported veterans have been able to return home, in a critical, life threatening condition or in a casket.
Is this any way to treat a veteran? We know it is not. Is this how America should honor our soldiers? We know that it is not. These men have given, these men have sacrificed, these men have fought, defended and served and they deserve to be home. Not only are these men veterans but they are also active soldiers, because they are still fighting, still waging war, engaged in a battle with the government and bureaucracy and the powers that be, all to return home.
To return home. That's what we want, that's what we've always wanted isn't it?.. in Iraq, in Vietnam,.. Kosovo, Afghanistan. To get back home. Do what you can soldier, and do whatever you must, watch your buddy's back and they will watch yours and at the end of the mission one way or another we will make it back home. That's where we are right now folks, that's what we are doing. A few of our men have made it back home on their two feet, back to their hometowns and cities to be with their friends and family to live their lives as regular Americans, but most of our men have not.Hector Barrios US Army Vietnam Veteran, Juan Jose Montemayor US Army, Gonzalo Chaidez US Army, Gerardo Garcia US Navy Vietnam Veteran all died in Mexico awaiting medical treatment. Jose Solorio USMC, Al Varon US Army, and Enrique Salas USMC, passed away within days of making it back home.
So what do we do about this? What can be done? Well folks, for our part as the objects of this injustice and as U.S. soldiers we do what they trained us to,.we do what we must. We fight, we battle, we honor our fallen brothers and carry their memory with us as torches that burn in our hearts as we march forward and onward and we do not quit,.until we can make it back home. And what do you do? Well you can do what you want, you're already home, have some barbecues, meet up with the fellas, friends and family, old army buddies, whatever you may like, but we could definitely use some help. We've got soldiers out here that have yet to make it back home. If they think it's ok to do this to us as U.S. veterans then what is next for us, for America?
Lets try not to find out, let us start by changing this one thing, we should not deport our veterans.