The Long Way to Tipperary From Guanajuato

It was not unusual to hear my father singing or whistling while he worked in his garden at our home in South Central Los Angeles. It wasn’t until I started researching my father’s life as a Soldier in the United States Army that I realized the significance of his life’s journey and lifetime commitment to his adopted country, the United States.

Sometime in 1916, while living in his birthplace of Leon Guanajuato, Mexico, my father as many young men during the internal political and social strife of Mexico, was conscripted by Pancho Villa into his Army of the North. This began his journey from Leon to Juarez Mexico as a young, conscripted soldier, most likely on horseback and coupled with riding in or on the top of trains while engaging in battles along the way.  At the end of his journey, my father laid down his 30-30 rifle and walked across the International Bridge to El Paso Texas. From our internal family history, we know that there was a family member there, but the historical facts point to his residence and place of employment at the El Paso County Hospital. Recollection of his shared stories to the family was that his job was to pick up the cadavers left at the curbside the evening before and load them onto his horse driven wagon to transport the deceased to the local brickworks which were used as crematoriums, the Great Influenza was raging worldwide.

On the other side of the world, much of Europe from 1914, was engulfed in the war with Germany. It wasn’t long into 1917 that despite the reluctance of President Woodrow Wilson and most of its citizens, the United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917. Texas and the United States had its own ongoing conflicts with Pancho Villa prior to the declaration of war, with the Mexican insurgents Invasion of Columbus New Mexico March 9, 1916. This action resulted with the Punitive Expedition within Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa from March 16, 1916, to February 14, 1917, led by Brigadier General John J. “Blackjack” Pershing. After the declaration of war and the subsequent enactment of the draft by the Sixty- Fifth Congress my father Luis Quiroz voluntarily walked into the local Draft Board in El Paso on June 5, 1918, and joined the United States Regular Army.

Pvt. Louis Quiroz at Camp Travis.

The historical facts at this time have my father moved to the newly constructed Camp Travis, just outside of San Antonio Texas. Within the record of “Camp Travis, and its part in the world war – Texas 1918” is a photograph of renamed Pvt. Louis Quiroz. The camp photo has my father within the Medical Detachment-Base Hospital, and not surprising of the times and at 5’6” he was placed in the last row of the detachment and barely visible but for his issued campaign hat.

Pvt. Louis Quiroz, Panama Canal circa 1933-34. He also served within the Nicaragua Canal Survey at this time, as records indicate.

This assignment was most likely due to my father’s previous employment at the El Paso County Hospital, this was later to change to the Engineers prior to his departure to Europe.

With the initial basics of training completed at Camp Travis, the transition of the troops was to New York and a transport to Antwerp Belgium, prior to departure Pvt Quiroz was able to experience Times Square and what he shared with me while a child, the Statue of Liberty. The new troops arriving to Europe were then reintroduced to more training before transport by train to France and onward by rail, horse, mule and mechanized transport into Germany.

The cessation of the great war on November 9, was followed by the Armistice on November 11, at the 11^th hour on the 11-minute 1918. Most divisions were held back but supply divisions and Company “D” 1^st Engineers were some of the first to cross the Rhine into Coblence Germany. The Great War was coming to an end and the American Forces of Occupation (AFO), were there including Pvt Louis Quiroz. Many of the troops were transported back to the United States as they neared their one-year requirement of enlistment, Pvt Quiroz opted in for his second year and continued as American Forces of Occupation (AFO).

Prior to the Treaty of Versailles being signed on June 28, 1919, Pvt Quiroz embarked for his return to Brooklyn New York, and the required return to his place of enlistment El Paso Texas, the records show that Pvt Quiroz became an American Citizen on May 24, 1919.

Pvt. Quiroz continued his military career for a balance of thirty plus years and which included time spent as a civilian employee before his military career continued prior to and through World War II. The duration of M/Sgt. Quiroz military career was spent within Nicaragua and the second Canal Survey and the Panama Canal, with stateside post ending at Fort Knox Kentucky in 1951.

M/Sgt. Quiroz spent his remaining years from 1966 with health issues at his chosen place of residence, The United States Soldiers Home, Washington D.C.

The journey of the lifelong warrior ended on May 23, 1968. As he requested and with full military honors, he rest amongst his comrades at the Soldiers Home National Cemetery. Not far from my father’s gravesite, lay many who came from every part of the world to the United States, for some as my father to seek freedom and ultimately to fight to preserve and maintain peace for all. Close by my father is the gravesite of a WWI soldier who came from Ireland. His Travels from the country of Tipperary to the United States is reflective of my father’s journey from Leon, Guanajuato, it was a long way for both soldiers.

Michael A Quiroz is the proud son of an old soldier and was born at Fort MacArthur Army Hospital, San Pedro, California. He is an industry consultant on regulatory and codes related issues. His clients include the Laborers International Union of North America

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