My name is Eugenio (Gene) Cortez, Jr. and I am a retired military veteran, father, grandfather and active volunteer in my church and community.

I was born in 1938 and grew up on the West side of San Antonio as the oldest of six siblings. I graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1958, and attended West Point Academy in West Point, New York as a cadre demonstrating Ranger Tactics.

I then served in Korea in the DMZ and the Vietnam war, and was stationed in several military posts including Ft. Davis in the Republic of Panama, Bad Kreuznach, Germany, Ft. Myers in Washington D.C., Ft. Lewis in Tacoma, Washington and Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas. I served my country for 22 years and retired from military service in 1978.

I then went back to school to obtain my bachelors degree in Social Work from Our Lady of The Lake University and graduated in three years.

I worked for the Boy Scouts of America and then with the San Antonio Independent School District for 18 years, retiring in 2004.

I currently hold the position of Disaster Action Team Coordinator and Shelter Coordinator with the San Antonio Chapter of the American Red Cross.

I created this blog to document the memories of my life, past and present, and to be a record for my children and grandchildren.

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