A Life Well Lived
A veteran of World War II died a week ago. It’s likely you’ve never heard of him.
Yet his story is worth telling, in brief form. So I’ll tell it.
His name was Miguel Encinias. He was from the “other” Las Vegas, the one east of the Rio Grande – Las Vegas, New Mexico. (smile)
He was born in 1923. As a youngster, he delivered papers, went to movies – the normal things teens did in those days. At age 16, along with many of his peers he joined the New Mexico National Guard.
Then came Pearl Harbor. He applied to be an Air Cadet. He was accepted, and became a pilot.
He served in World War II. He flew 40 missions during World War II; he shot down 3 enemy. But on his last mission he was shot down himself in northern Italy. He became a POW.
He was liberated at the end of the war. He went to college, earning bachelors and masters degrees and later teaching French at the Air Force Academy. He flew again in Korea, flying 100 missions there. He was again shot down – but this time he was rescued vice becoming a 2-time POW.
He also served in Vietnam, as an adviser to the RVNAF. He flew missions there as well.
He retired from the Air Force in 1971 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He later returned to school, this time studying Spanish literature – and earned a doctorate in that field. He afterwards became a published author.
In the mid-1990s, he was asked by President Clinton to serve on the World War II Memorial Advisory Board. He did, and attended the opening of that memorial in 2004.
A week ago, he died – at age 92. He was buried in Santa Fe National Cemetery yesterday.
Lt Col Encinias was well-decorated. During his service as a pilot, he was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses and 14 Air Medals – along with a number of campaign and service medals. He was wounded twice in combat, receiving a Purple Heart for each wound.
I never met this man. But growing up, I met many like him.
Why? Because . . . well, his son says it better than I can:
His son, Juan-Pablo Encinias, said his father realized “it was a very special cause he was fighting for. He felt very strongly about serving, especially in World War II, and felt it was a just cause no matter what the price.
“He almost never spoke about his combat experience. My father really did not seem that scarred by the wars. He was a tough-minded person who kind of accepted that as part of life and was not taken aback by it.”
Most of Miguel Encinias’ generation were like that. My father and others of that generation were much the same. Regardless of their race or ethnicity, they simply did what their nation asked – then afterwards, got on with their lives.
Stars and Stripes has an obituary for Lt Col Miguel Encinias. (The article originally appeared in the Santa Fe New Mexican.) It gives a few more details about the man, and is IMO worth the few minutes of your time it will take to read. Recommended.
Though I’m not a native Spanish speaker, I’ll try to end this appropriately. My apologies if I don’t get this quite right.
Vaya con Dios, teniente coronel Miguel Encinias – mi mayores hermano de armas. Dar mis mejores deseos a mis tíos y mi padre cuando le dan la bienvenida a las puertas del cielo.
Fueron sus hermanos en armas de guerra.
A life well-lived? Indeed. We all should be so lucky.
Category: Blue Skies, Real Soldiers
I lived in New Mexico for 16 years of my life. My wife is a native, been to Las Vegas many time. The folks there are tough as iron and from what the wife says, it was what the wild west. Salute to Mr. Encinias and GOD speed.
People ask “here do we get such men?”. This nation, made up of all kinds of people- yet united, is where. Muchas Gracias, Col. Encinias, and Semper Fidelis.
Rest In Peace Sir. Well earned and deserved peace.
“He was a very quiet, humble man who didn’t speak much — unless he had to give a speech[.]”
Yep. I said almost exactly the same thing recently about the highly decorated Charles E. Getz. He was a generation behind the WW II Vets such as Encinias but was cut from a similar cloth. These men find the pronouns I and me useless unless it’s to take blame for something. Otherwise, it is “they” or “we.” Good Joes all. Men to be admired and known.
Thank God there are men such as this. May we never run out of them and may the rest of us live up to the standards they set.
Amen……….and Rest in Peace Colonel, you earned it!
Hooyah, John. Thank you for your service.
John? (smile)
Descanse en paz, señor.
An all American life lived. Hooah, dear Sir.
My Dad never spoke of his WWII service to anyone, and I have a LARGE family and extended family. We knew he served, of course, and we knew he was a Bombardier on a B17 since we have his crew photos. No flight jacket kept, never saw any medals (though I know he had quite a few), no old uniform saved, and only once, long long ago, did we meet anyone from his crew.
Not until I came home from my first tour, did Dad and I take a couple of fine cigars for a walk. He really opened up about his service, because he said that I would now understand.
My Dad, was already my Hero. That day, he became Captain America.
My father told me about his military service and other things my other sibling just weren’t interested in. Never bragged, but asked me to remember.
I stopped all contact with my siblings and other family ten years before he died in my house surrounded by my children and I.
When I return from a certain place next year, I’ll be driving to each ones house and smearing the stuff in their faces and the gravestone will be remade..
RIP MR.ENCINIAS another quite one…
Reb, sorry to hear about the spat with your siblings. I think I know what you are feeling. When my dad went into home hospice with kidney failure, I asked him if he wanted done what my siblings had planned for him. He said “no”. I honored his wish and was black balled by my siblings. Dad was a WWII vet, I served during Vietnam, none of the other siblings served.
RIP