A Rightful Hero: Sgt. Ambrosio Guillen and El Paso Veterans
The Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home in El Paso celebrated its 10th anniversary today.
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Ambrosio Guillen is a rightful hero. But he was like a lot of kids from El Paso, which has a proud tradition of military service that continues today.
Guillen enlisted in 1948, when he was 18. He excelled and was selected to be a drill instructor in San Diego. It was there that his outstanding leadership abilities were honed and appreciated.
In Korea, Staff Sgt. Guillen served as a platoon sergeant. Just two days before the ceasfire that ended the Koran Conflict, Staff Sgt. Guillen led the defense of a Marine outpost against a vicious night attack by two communist Chinese battalions. Mortally wounded, he refused medical aid and continued to direct his men until the enemy broke into a disorderly retreat.
Staff Sgt. Guillen died of his wounds just hours after leading his men to victory. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Sgt. Guillen’s courage on the battlefield earned him our nation’s highest honor. And every day, we strive to memorialize his spirit of service and dedication in the operation of our Texas State Veterans Home in El Paso. Our veterans will never ask for special treatment, but they have certainly earned it. And at this home, a very dedicated staff works hard every day to deliver it.
“Staff Sgt. Guillen’s name is on this home today because of his extraordinary service in extraordinary circumstances. Duty and patriotism are commonplace in El Paso.”
-Commissioner George P. Bush
The Guillen family isn’t alone in their sacrifice. There is a proud tradition of service in our nation’s armed forces in El Paso. During World War II, Korea, Vietnam — wherever our nation called them to serve, young men and women from El Paso pledged their lives to defend our Constitution and responded valiantly.
That’s why the Texas Veterans Land Board selected El Paso for this home more than a decade ago. There are nearly 48,000 veterans living in El Paso, with more on the way every day. They did their job, and now we owe them more than our gratitude.
