Celestino Gonzales

SGM Celestino Gonzales, USA (Ret), loving husband, son and father passed away on August 24, 2012. Tino was born on November 28, 1937 in San Jon, New Mexico to Bob and Bacilia Gonzales. He graduated from San Jon High School in 1956. Tino served in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Soldier from 1956 to November 1986. While in the Army he served as a Special Forces Team Leader during two tours in Vietnam earning the Bronze Star Medal with V device (Second Oak Leaf Cluster). During Tino's 30 years of service he served in numerous locations to include Ft Bragg, North Carolina where he served with the 82nd Airborne and the Special Forces amassing over 250 parachute jumps. After serving with the 82nd Airborne Division he also served in Okinawa, Germany, and Fort Polk, Louisiana.

His final assignment brought him closer to home where he served as the SGM for the Senior ROTC Program at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico from 1979 to 1986. While at ENMU he took pride in mentoring, teaching and training over 250 new officers throughout the years of his service. He was also the ENMU Rifle Team coach where his teams won two national championships in small bore rifle marksmanship. Additionally he became an avid runner and ran in numerous marathons and 10Ks in the local area. His favorite running memory was training for and completing the San Francisco Marathon. He also enjoyed working with leather and wood working. Tino retired in 1986 after 30 years of faithful service to the United States Army.

During his early active duty service time he met and married the love of his life Maria Lucero from Anton Chico, New Mexico. They quickly established a large family and became the parents to 4 sons and 3 daughters, the oldest Victor Gonzales (Teacher and member of the Texas National Guard lives in El Paso), Nick Gonzales (Retired LTC in San Antonio), Theresa Gonzales (Insurance Manager in Corpus Christi), Tina Gonzales (Teacher in Odessa) Daniel Gonzales (Active duty MAJ at Ft Riley, Kansas), Veronica (Retail Store Manager in San Antonio) and Alex Gonzales ( Active duty MAJ at Ft Bliss, Texas).

Upon retirement from the Army Tino completed his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and started working for the New Mexico Probation and Parole Department where he helped put troubled adults back on the right path as a probation officer. He retired from the NM Probation and Parole Department in 1996.

His awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Air Medal, Overseas Service ribbon, Defense Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal. He also earned Combat Infantry Badge, Air Assault Badge and Master Parachutist Badge.

He is survived by his mother, Bacilia Gonzales, his wife Maria, his brothers and sisters Bobby, Jimmy, Abe, Gloria, Luchie and Cecila. He is survived by his 7 children Victor and his wife Mary, Nick and his wife Regina, Theresa, Tina and her husband Ralph, Daniel and his wife Monica, Veronica and her husband David, and Alex and his wife Brandi. He also has 17 grandchildren (Katrina Gamez, Michael Garcia, Gabby Gamez, Nicole Gonzales, Melissa Garcia, Amanda Gonzales, Nicholas Gamez, Gloria Almadova, Alyson Almadova, Julisa Gonzales, Anthony Gonzales, Bobby Gonzales, Isiah Almadova, Erica Gonzales, Alexa Gonzales, Bella Gonzales, Adrian Gonzales and great grand children Audrina and Victoria Garcia.)