Lorenzo R. Loya

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Lorenzo R. Loya:  My name is Lorenzo Loya Jr. I was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1936—October 18, 1936.

Interviewer:  And what was growing up…life like?

L:  Well, it’s, was a small town, so, uh, we knew everybody. When we went to church, you know, uh, friends and neighbors, and, uh, of course, we would see them at

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the church functions, and, uh, it was quite small town. Now, it’s too noisy and too busy.

I:  Did you enlist or were you drafted?

L:  No, I enlisted. I was going to school, and uh, to be honest with you, I wasn’t doing very good in school, so I was going to be a senior, and I said No, I don’t think I can cut it. So I joined the Army. I

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enlisted and served for three years. And I was stationed here in Fort Bliss. Did my first six months, my first two months in Fort Bliss. Then I was shipped to uh, Washington, D.C., and I was there for the rest of my tour. I was able to make staff sergeant in three years, I think was great. I was a member of the rifle team.

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I’m an expert with my M1 rifle and went to NCO Leadership School. It was a very good experience for me.

I:  So, how old were you when you enlisted?

L:  I was seventeen years old when I enlisted.

I:  Where were you when you enlisted?

L:  I was in El Paso. I was going to high school, and uh, after

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I left the Army; I was discharged. I completed my high school, uh, went through the GED, and then I went to UTEP. I have 48 hours of credit, and then I worked with the Civil Service. I worked for 32 years. I retired in

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1993, and I’m still hanging in there.

I:  So, how many years of service was that?

L:  Thirty-two years of civilian service and three years of military service.

I:  So when you first enlisted, what did training look like? What was it like to transition into military life?

L:  Well, uh, I had no problems. I wasn’t…

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I was close to home, so it went well for the first two months. Because I was close to home, I went to first, my basic training and then to uh, school uh, for the tour, for the career that I showed in the military, and well then everything just came about.

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I:  So, you said you served in Washington, D.C.

L:  Yes, yes.

I:  And how long was that?

L:  Uh, I was there 27 months.

I:  When did you arrive in Washington?

L:  I arrived there in uh, I enlisted in 1954, uh, September. I went to Washington, D.C. about December of the same year.

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I:  And what, I forgot to ask, what branch were you enlisted in?

L:  I was a member of the 6th Tripoli Gun Battalion in Washington, D.C.

I:  Army?

L:  Army, yes, yes. U.S. Army. And we were uh, close to Washington, D.C. area and, of course, we were responsible for keeping guard; you know, for that was our main

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purpose you know to uh be a part of the, in case anything came about, you know, so um like I said, it was a good tour, man.

I:  Can you describe for me what was a, what were your duties, what was a normal day like?

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L:  Well, uh, KP (laughs), guard duty. I was…I don’t want to brag, but I was very sharp. I was very, I used to stand guard duty, and there was always six people, seven people that would be for guard duty, and

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I was, we were inspected by the commanding officer before we went into guard duty, and I was always chosen as the super numeral, so that I was able to…I didn’t have to stand guard. I was there just so that in case somebody, some of the other six couldn’t do guard, then I was, I would take their place. I did really good in the

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service.

I:  What are some lessons that you feel like you learned through your military service?

L:  Respect for my, for the American flag. I look at this new generation, and they have no respect for the flag of the United States, and it bothers me, okay? I’m a Guhng-ho Army guy.

I:  Did your service

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relate to Korea at all?

L:  No, it did not. No, it did not.

I:  So you were in Washington, D.C. for a little over two years.

L:  Yes.

I:  And then did you come…where did you go after that?

L:  I came back to El Paso and went to work, and uh, really went to school first and went finished my high school through the GI Bill. Went to UTech and college

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and through the GI Bill. And then I got married.

I:  And what have you done since?

L:  Well, I’m a jack of all trades. In Fort Bliss, I worked there for, as an administrator. We did the Army manuals for the service people.

I:  Do you have any like words of wisdom or message that you would like to leave for younger generations?

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L:  Well, what I can say is that if you get an opportunity to join a branch of service, I think they should do that. I think we have a duty to protect our country.

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