Bernie Sanchez Serves with Pride

By Michael Bromka

Bernie Sanchez of Loving has worked and served in Carlsbad for decades. But fundamental to his identity was his duty to God and country during the war in Vietnam.

Luck was with Bernie during his service. He grew up in Truth or Consequences, NM. Not long after high school graduation, he got word of his draft notice while traveling in Arizona. He showed up for his physical at Fort Ord, CA.

“A sergeant looked at us men lined up and said, ‘You five that way, are gonna be Marines. You five—Army.’”

Not tall, Bernie deployed with the engineers to build roads. Mostly, he drove dump trucks. During his first three days in country, he sheltered from mortar attacks. But the rest of his year was untroubled.

“We were in a secure area. Other soldiers, on weekends, went to Cam Ranh Bay or Nha Trang. I stayed put.”

During his travels to and from each work site, they drove in a convoy for safety.

“We’d pass by the burnt-out wreckage of earlier units, wondered what went down for them.”

When Bernie was brought back to the States, he heard there had been a subsequent attack on his unit in Nam. 

“Men got wiped out. I was lucky. I feel for soldiers in infantry who saw combat all the time.”

Acquaintance with a fellow vet brought Bernie to Loving. At EZ Rentals and later at Lakeview, he found work. He worships at Sunset Church of Christ. He’s very active with Carlsbad Heights Lions.

Raising donations for Lions Christmas Island, selling tickets for Spaghetti Fest, building wheelchair ramps, attending lunches and dinners, and helping on highway litter pickups make Bernie Sanchez the Everyman of Heights Lions.

Bernie is very grateful to Armando Luna and Norbert Rempe for rides to medical appointments. They’ve been driving for SE NM Veterans Transport Network in Roswell for years. Without Armando and Norbert in Carlsbad, veterans in southern Eddy County would have to fend for themselves.

One week ago, Armando drove Bernie to Alamogordo for cataract surgery. As a follow-up, the next day they drove to Artesia for post-op. After eye surgery, a veteran obviously needs someone else to drive.

SE NM Vets T. needs volunteer drivers with clean safety records. Please phone Nobert Rempe at 575 361-0175 to learn more.