Saluting Collazo and Elizondo Veterans

Saluting Family Veterans This Veteran’s Day

For the second, third or even fourth generation offsprings from the original eleven siblings of Gerardo and Manuelita Collazo, from Laredo, Texas, permit me to give you a little Collazo history lesson.

You see, Gerardo and Manuelita Collazo had ten sons and one daughter, and the family all lived in Laredo, Texas. Our extended family is derived from this family.

Now, during World War II, they had 3 sons serving overseas at the same time. Uncle Pete (Tio Pedro) and Uncle Rodolfo (Tio Fito), were both in the Army; and Uncle Ignacio (Tio Nacho), was in the Navy. Towards the end of WWII, Uncle Luis Manuel (Tio Meme) served in the 2nd Infantry, Army detaining Japanese POWs. Uncle George (Tio Choche) was in the Navy, AND in the Air Force (not at the same time but in back-to-back tours). Uncle Raul (Tio Rule’) was in the Air Force before Vietnam. Uncle Oscar was in the Navy during Vietnam. Uncle Fernando (Tio Nando) was in the Air Force. I remember Tio Nando during his time of active duty that we went to see him at Lackland AFB; he was the MP (Military Police) on duty at the gate, with the most perfect saluting I ever saw! The daughter born to Gerardo and Manuelita, our Aunt Trine, was married to an Air Force Airman during WW II, our Uncle Oscar Medina, so we want to salute him on this day. An interesting quote from Cousin Jesse Medina who stated that his Dad, Tio Oscar, had it rough during the war since he never left the States and was stationed in Florida!

A big salute to our Uncle Oscar Collazo, who by the way, is the uncle who we would affectionately call our Collazo Submarine Man. You see our Uncle Oscar served in the Navy as a Chief Non-Commission Officer in a nuclear submarine… very specifically, he was the “Chief of the Boat” of the USS Mariano G. Vallejo, and actually is a “Plankholder” of that submarine which means he was on the original crew when it was commissioned.

A big salute also this Veterans Day to our Cousin Christopher Collazo, son of Romeo and Sharon Collazo, and Grandson of Uncle Oscar, who recently got out of the US Navy, and is a past graduate from Submarine Training School, talk about being Navy Proud! Our very own second-generation Collazo Submarine Man! In the footsteps and legacy of Great Collazo Military Men!

Now to show that the Collazo Family military tradition continues, we want to also salute all the Collazo Veterans, as well as the Collazo-related family Veterans that have served: My dear brother, William A. Collazo, Army Physician; Tio Nacho’s Son, Cousin Orlando Collazo, Navy; Tio Huero’s Son and Daughter, Cousin Joe Collazo, Jr., Navy, and Cousin Diana’s husband, Gilbert Shely, Air Force; Tio Pedro’s Sons, Cousin Pete Collazo, Jr, Army, and Cousin Javier Collazo, Army; Tio Fito’s Sons, Cousin Rodolfo Collazo, Jr., Marine Corps, and Cousin Pablo Rene Collazo, Navy; Tio Meme’s Son, Cousin Luis George (Choche), Navy, and Choche’s son, Luis Rogelio Collazo, Marine Corps; Cousin Gina’s Son, Geronimo Villareal, Marine Corps; Cousin Yolanda’s Son, Fabian Mendoza, III, Army. Last, but not least, this writer, Bob Collazo, Jr., is a proud Army Veteran.

I would like to send out a big salute to our Cousin Yolanda’s husband, our very own home-grown, retired Army Colonel Fabian Mendoza! A very special mention also goes out to Cousin Yolanda and Fabian’s Son-in-law, Scott Miroddi, Army.

I would also like to mention and honor my Uncle, Ernesto Elizondo, on my maternal side of my family. He was my Mother’s Beloved Brother, and proudly served in the US Navy during WW II. I also wish to honor his Son, my first cousin, Ernesto Elizondo Jr., who proudly served in the Air Force.

I would also like to honor my maternal Grandfather, Francisco Elizondo’s brothers, my maternal Great Uncles, Margarito and Jose Efrain Elizondo, who both fought in WWII. My dear Cousin Ernesto (Neto) Elizondo, Jr. tells me that Tio Margarito served in the Aleutian Islands, then later was fighting the Japanese somewhere in the South Pacific. He also tells me Tio Margarito and Tio Efrain found and met each other somewhere in one of those South Pacific islands, amazing! Tio Efrain served in Guadalcanal, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, and he told me he remembered when they raised our flag there in Iwo Jima, and was watching from a fox hole when they raised it, unbelievable!  

I also want to honor my Grandfather Francisco’s other brother, Tio Leopoldo’s three Son’s, Leopoldo Elizondo, Jr., who served in the US Air Force; and Hector and Javier Elizondo, who both served in the US Army.  Amazing Elizondo history!!

I also want to honor extended family Cousins Amador Muñoz Jr., Naval Academy Graduate and Officer; Servando Pena, Army; and nephew, Chris Tipton, my niece’s, Christina Tipton husband, who is also a Naval Academy Graduate from 1990, and Navy Pilot & Officer.

Bottom line – We salute all Veterans this Veteran’s Day, and send them all warm regards! Thank-you all for your service to our great country.

Certainly, with our big extended family, the Collazo and Family Military legend continues…

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Bob Collazo, 11/11/23

Bob Collazo, Vietnam Era Vet with Great Uncle J. Erain Elizondo, WWII Vet 

Dr. William A. Collazo

Ernesto Elizondo, Jr., Vietnam Era Vet with his Dad , Ernesto, Sr., WWII Vet

Pedro & Rodolfo Collazo with their Dad, Gerardo Collazo, after  coming back from WWII

Left pic: Luis Manuel served in WWII; His Son (top right pic), Luis George, Navy, Vietnam Era Vet; and his Son (bottom right) Luis Rogelio Collazo, US Marines.

Oscar Collazo, US Navy, Vietnam Vet

Rodolfo Collazo, Jr., Vietnam Era Vet

General Hardaway presenting citation to Specialist 5 Collazo, along with wife, Maria Teresa and Son, Roberto III.   Specialist Collazo had the highest score for his MOS  in the whole US Army.

Great Uncle Margarito Elizondo, WWII Vet and wife, Aurora