AMERICAN War hero becomes an El Paso hero as well

AMERICAN War hero becomes an El Paso hero as well

By Joe Olvera ©, 2009
Vietnam War Hero Rafael Hernando III says working with young children has helped him overcome some of the nightmares which he still attributes to his military service during that war – a war in which he lost his leg when he stepped on a mine. As his body flew in one direction, he could see his leg flying off in the opposite direction. Although he’s one of the co-founders of the Socorro ISD’s After School Athletic Program, he’s had to pull out temporarily due to his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. “I’m not with the program right now because I had a visit from the war,” Hernando said in an interview “I had problems with myself, problems with PTSD, but, I plan to rejoin that program in the Spring. I’m getting better.”
Hernando, who had a school in the Socorro ISD named for him, said he is proud and honored to be mentioned in conjunction with educational pursuits because he wants every young El Pasoan to graduate from high school and go on to college. “The athletic program is all about getting kids and parents involved. When the kids see their parents participating with them, they get more excited about school.”
Hernando said the middle school was named after him on May 12, 2005. “The board was looking to name an elementary school and a middle school. My name did not come up until after the elementary was named. As far as I know one of the board members, Willie Gandara, asked about a veteran that was helping Joe Hernandez with the Afterschool program. That was me.”
Hernando said he feels especially proud whenever some youngster whom he mentored in the past, approaches and thanks him for helping him or her become a college graduate. “Some of these kids didn’t have any inclination to stay in school, they were all for dropping out because they felt that nothing was being done for them. When Joe Hernandez and I started the After School Program, we gave these students an impetus, a reason to continue in school. Many of them turned out to be successful people.”
Hernando, who suffered his debilitating injury in Vietnam, today gets around mainly in his electric wheelchair. Being disabled has not curbed his enthusiasm for working with children. On the contrary, he wants them to see him as he truly is, injured and disabled, but, still working to help youngsters reach their most cherished goals. “We follow them through their school years, and we see them do some great things. Some of them go on to college, then, when they graduate, they come to us to thank us for steering them through the most difficult years.”
As a veteran, Hernando was awarded the Bronze Star, and the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster for Meritorious Service. He also received a Purple Heart for injuries received in combat. His community service in behalf of veterans include organizing the Paralyzed Veterans of America in El Paso in 1980; organized wheel chair sports organization for Viet Nam Veterans in El Paso in 1980, and started volunteering in Socorro schools in August, 2000. “Children do better in school when their parents are involved,” Hernando said. “That’s why we encourage every parent to get involved in their children’s education. That’s the greatest thing that can happen to any child.”