~ Honoring a Vietnam Veteran ~

“Oh! Be men, or be more than men. Be steady to your purposes and firm as a rock.” Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

After Vietnam, Leo Griego worked for the USFS as a Smoke Jumper.

Leo Griego, Vietnam.
He gave me this hammock, which I used for many years.

Leo Griego is somewhere out there.

I celebrated Veterans Day with my brother, Leo, in Barstow, CA, for many years.

In fact, I presented him with the 50th Anniversary Vietnam pin. It pleased me that he wore it every Veterans Day. The pin was a small reminder of his service and the horrors he experienced in Vietnam. Leo was a U.S. Army paratrooper. He would later use those skills as a smokejumper fighting fires in Missoula, Montana.

The only words he spoke to me shortly after returning from Vietnam were, "War is hell." I was attending San Jose State then, and his words were meaningful.

He never spoke another word to me about Vietnam.

This is Memorial Day weekend.

I prefer Veterans Day to thank all the Veterans for their service.

I painfully know the difference between the two holidays. Our uncle Valentin Moya died during World War II, as I reflect on Remembering Our Fallen and Shadows Over La Joya, New Mexico.

Valentin Moya
7/8/1922 ~ 7/18/1942

Leo, I recall your words, "War is hell." Yet, we are grateful for your sacrifice. You were a good brother, husband, father, grandfather, law enforcement officer, and friend.

You loved rocks. I have several in my yard that you have given me. They all tell a story.

Tonight, I'm camping at Goodell Creek Campground, and in the morning, I'll attend the Bishop Mule Days. You'd love it here.

The night sky is bright, and Mount Whitney is framed perfectly. As you know, my camp is simple.

Goodale Creek Campground,

A rewarding sunset after a long ride.

The stars are my companions for the night, and I think of you without distractions. Images fill my thoughts as I reluctantly fall asleep. I remember camping in La Joya, mountain climbing at Pinnacles National Monument, your family visiting us at various National Parks, and building that extended kitchen at our mom and dad's house on Elizabeth Street in Barstow, CA.

We also enjoyed the beaches of Kauai, HI. You were in your element riding that horse in Kauai.

Your words about Vietnam still rattle inside my mind and are hard to hear on this Memorial Day. We will never forget you and all the veterans.

Farewell, Mount Whitney, as I head for the Bishop Mule Days.

Leo Griego, Kauai, HI.

Leo Griego, Stephen Griego, Ruben Griego, Keith Griego, Lori Griego, David Griego.
Rocky Mountain National Park.

Robert Griego, Ruben Griego, David Griego, and Leo Griego are remodeling our mom's kitchen.
1005 E. Elizabeth St. Barstow, CA.

Our mom and dad's house, La Joya, NM.

Jewels Camp, La Joya, NM, behind our mom and dad's adobe house.
When I asked Leo what we should call our camp, he replied, "Jewels Camp-La Joya means, The Jewel of the Desert."

Leo and Irma Griego, Pinnacles National Monument.

Robert and Leo Griego, Isla Mujeres, Mexico.
"I never met a tamale that I didn't like."

Leo Roy Jose Griego
2/23/1947 ~ 7/22/2022






An open letter on the day Leo died:

~ Remembering our Fallen ~

This Memorial Day we thank you, and untold others, for honorably serving our country  * * * * * *

My uncle, and my mom's brother, * Valentin Moya ~ WWII.

Nancy Moya (mom) and *Sebastian Griego (dad) at their marriage ~ WWII.

My best friend, *John Lopez (part of the Yamaha Gang) ~ heading for Vietnam.

My best friend, *Gene Christianson (part of the Yamaha Gang) ~ heading for Vietnam.

Denise Griego's uncle and Lucille Saldivar's brother, *Merle Longnecker ~ WWII.

My Three Rivers friend, *Vince Roleter ~ WWII.

~ Remembering Gene ~

"Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees" ~  John Muir

The military from Fort Irwin always supports Veterans Day in Barstow, CA.

This Veterans Day is special to me because two of my high school buddies joined me to honor our friend, Gene Christiansen.  It is also special because Gold Star Mother, Romona Griego was in attendance again at this year's ceremonies.  She is the mother of our high school friend, Clarence Griego.  Both Gene and Clarence died bravely in Vietnam.

Personally, I'd like to salute my good friend, John Lopez who also served in Vietnam.  Here are a few pictures from the Veterans Day celebrations on November 11, 2017, in Barstow, California.

Gold Star Mother, Mrs. Ramona Griego, and Robert Griego.

John F. Kennedy High School buddies - Joe Enriquez, Robert Griego, and Bobby Martinez.
We reunite to honor Gene Christiansen.  

Gene Christiansen, shortly before being shipped to Vietnam - 1968.

The Gene Christiansen Memorial located on Main and Third Street, Barstow, CA.

More friends stop by to honor Gene Christiansen.

John Lopez, next to my Yamaha 305cc, shortly before being shipped to Vietnam in 1969.

Veterans Day honoree stops to honor the fallen - Barstow, CA.

"All Gave Some ~ Some Gave All."

This soldier, never moved until he played "Taps" at the end of the ceremonies.

~ 50th Commemoration of Vietnam ~

“Look deep into Nature, then you will understand everything better." ~ Albert Einstein.

Even Einstein knew, at the speed of light, you could only be in one place at one time.

My bike did not break the sound barrier but it sure came close as I tried to make the opening ceremonies at Fort Irwin, some three hundred miles from my home in Three Rivers.  These were not just any military ceremonies, but the 50th Commemoration of Vietnam. 

After 300 miles, I came up short.  I missed the opening ceremonies by 30 minutes.  Last November, I attended the Veterans Day celebrations in my hometown in Barstow.

That November 11th, I listened to outstanding military speakers.  The Commander from Fort Irwin was impressive.  He ended his speech by saying, "We intend to honor and welcome home our Vietnam Veterans in March next year, so stay tuned."  At the time, I wondered just what he meant, so I made a mental note to later find out.  It had to be important.

It turns out that Fort Irwin was going all out to honor and welcome our Vietnam Veterans.   It's been 50 years since I had been to Fort Irwin while attending John F. Kennedy High School in Barstow.

As I rode onto the base, there were American Flags everywhere.  It was not hard to follow them to the heart of the celebrations.  

There were thousands of bikes all around me.

There were thousands of bikes in the specially designated parking so parking is easy.  There is a professional photographer taking pictures, so I ask him if he could take a picture of me with my cell phone, seconds after arriving at Fort Irwin.  The wind, I felt, was still blowing in my face after 300 miles.  "I did not break the sound barrier getting here but came close," I say as he gets takes the picture.   After he took the picture, he looked at me a bit funny. 

One can only imagine what the keynote speaker had to say about Vietnam.  He was a photojournalist in Vietnam and the author of We Were Soldiers Once.  His name is Joe Galloway.  Perhaps, I'll see him another time.  I once saw him in a video interview and he had a certain way of telling the Vietnam story that made you want to listen.

There are thousands of people here and I do get to hear a few other speakers.  They are dynamic, and their words are full of emotion.  At times, a bit hard to hear but hear I do never-the-less.  One speaker talks about the empty table at the head of the room and he describes in detail why it is empty and how it represents those Vietnam soldiers who did not come back.  A real tear-jerker.

I was there to support my two close high school friends who served in Vietnam and are now deceased ~  *Gene Christiansen and *John Lopez.  They will never be forgotten, the Commander of Fort Irwin saw to that.

My brother Leo was also in Vietnam and he served with the 82nd Airborne but he was not able to attend.  There are other Vietnam Veterans from Barstow, like Robert Esquibel and Mike Ulibarri.  Mike and I were on the John F. Kennedy High School cross-country team.  Mike was one of the best cross-country runners in Southern California.

Robert Griego and Mike Ulibarri, class of 1967 at John F. Kennedy High School.

Just when I thought I would not see anyone I knew among the thousands of people, there was Mike Ulibarri walking towards me.  Seeing someone you have not seen in years, is special.  Mike is iconic and I see that many of the younger soldiers sense that and "thank him" for his service.  They are passing out gifts to the Vietnam Vets and I wait in line with Mike catching up on things.  

Thank you, Mike Ulibarri, for your service.

He did not register in advance and now must go to a second line to register.  There is a young lady with a pen in hand who looks up at Mike.  "What branch of the service were you in?... What years of service?... What company?"  Then her final question, "Did you receive any citations, and if so, what were they."  All this time I'm standing next to Mike and his answers come without effort.  But his last answer surprised me.  He could have been asked "would you like sugar or cream with your coffee" and he casually said "Silver Star."  All this time, she has kept her head pointing to her notepad.  But now, she raises her head and looks directly at Mike.  Then she pauses, and writes on her notepad next to Silver Star, the word (Valor); and I saw her underline the word.  I never knew that about Mike.

Later, I would find out that the Silver Star is the third highest military decoration awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. 

Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.

There is another reason to be here at Fort Irwin.  Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band are scheduled to perform at 2pm.  I was not going to miss this.  The young soldier next to me asks, "How did you hear about this event?"  He heard my story about Veterans Day in Barstow and thanked me.  I did not have any words for him, so I shook and nodded my head.  "Why are you here?" I ask.  "Gary Sinise, he rocks."

The music is very good and the crowd loves him.  "Ok, how many of you have seen Forrest Gump?" Sinise asks the crowd.  Nothing but cheers.  "Ok, how many of you have seen Forrest Gump, more than once?"  More thunderous applause.  "How about more than three times," and the crowd responds in kind.  Their music is very good but I listen closely to the words he speaks.

He is a true blue American who is here to honor and thank all the veterans, especially, as he said, the Vietnam Veterans.  He plays to the audience and they love him.  Finally, he walks into the crowd and people are taking pictures like crazy.  Mostly, selfies.

He ends his performance, by thanking the Vietnam Veterans..."...thank you, stand tall, we love you."  I was so impressed with him.  I love him as an actor, but today, I love him for being an outstanding ambassador for the Vietnam Veterans.

The Company Commander was true to his words that November 11th day at the Barstow Cemetery... "We intend to honor and welcome home our Vietnam Veterans in March next year, so stay tuned."

Three hundred miles back, but this time, I camped near Lake Isabella Lake to shorten my trip, and over my campfire, reflect on the day.

It was perhaps my best 600 miles, such a small price in exchange for remembering and honoring my two high school friends, *Gene Christiansen and *John Lopez who both rode Yamaha 305cc's in our younger days.

We were fondly called the infamous, Yamaha Gang.

The Infamous Yamaha Gang 1967 ~ Robert Griego, Gene Christiansen, John Lopez.

Mike Ulibarri on the Wall That Heals.

The Wall That Heals - Leo Griego, Gene Christiansen, John Lopez, Mike Ulibarri, Robert Esquibel.

My brother, Leo served in the 82nd Airborne.

A special tribute to *Gene Christensen in Barstow, CA.