Tim Zavala Santana

Tim Zavala Santana was born on August 22nd, 1926 in Ash Fork, Arizona. Tim was the 6th child of 11 children born to Felipe Santana and Herlinda Zavala. In 1910, Tim's parents moved from Mexico to Arizona when the Mexico Revoluton began. However,Tim was raised in Salina and worked in the fields helping his family. Tim was drafted into the US Army in 1944. In late November of 1944, he began his horse cavalry training at Fort Riley, Kansas. Before this Tim stated that he thought "horse training ended with Custer".

On March 24, 1945, he boarded a troop train headed to Fort Ord for combat and amphibious training. In May, he was sent to San Francisco to board a transport ship bound for the South Pacific, where it later made a stop at Pearl Habor to join a 9 ship convoy.

The convoy dock first in the Marshall Islands, then at Yap Island, where they separated in preparation for active combat duty. It was there that Tim was assigned to the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavary Division .

After being assigned he was sent to Lucena, Luzon, where his battalion was attached to a weapons troop that had been called back from the front lines to rest. After which Tim was assigned to a combat patrol duty, where he began training to invaded Japan. He trained for the invasion until August 6, when President Harry Truman gave the executive ordee to drop the first of two atomic bombs on Japan. On August 9, the second bomb was dropped, and August the 15th, the Japanese surrendered, bringing an end to World War 2.

From Yokohama Santana was sent to Tokyo where he and the 8th Calvary regiment occupied the third Imperial guards Barracks. Tim was assigned Jeep and armored Patrol duty. In September 1946, Tim received a notice that he was going to be sent home "everyone went crazy when he saw the California coastline" he said "I remember going under the Golden Gate Bridge it was all just amazing we were glad to be home". Tim was discharged from the Army on October 12th 1946 and returned to Salinas to work in the fields and fruit Cannery. He later married his wife Dorothy in 1954 they had one daughter Mary. In 1950, Tim and his family moved to Los Angeles where he began working at a printing company. In 1961, he got a job working for the post office in Whittier. In 1979, Santana transfered to the post office in Santa Paula, where he retired in 1986. On June 14, 2008, Dorothy, Tim's wife of 54 years, died leaving a huge void in Tim's life.

In 2009, Tim's granddaughter, Angelina, moved in to be a source of support after the loss of his wife. Tim and Angilna became like to peas in pods living their lives to the fullest.

Tim Zavala Santana is survived by his youngest sister Ruby Mary Provencio.

In addition, Tim is survived by his daughter Mary L. Santana, grandchildren Angelina M. Santana, Gina M. Santana, and Fiona R. Santana Martinez. He is also survived by his great grandchildren Natasha M. Majano, Regina R. Krechmery, Gustavo Mares and Nickomi R. Martinez, and his great great grandchild Chloe M. Krechmery.