Fidencio began his 25 years of military service in 1943 with the Texas State Guard enlisting at 15 years old. He later served in the Navy, from 1945 until 1951, during WWII in the Asiatic Pacific theatre. Fidencio was an amateur boxer for the Navy in the Marshall Islands and later boxed for the Golden Gloves Pan American Optimist Team. He changed over to the Army, being assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and earned his silver wings in 1952. He then served in numerous units, mostly Military Police, in El Paso, Korea, Kansas, France and back to El Paso.
He became the military liaison for Juarez Mexico, the School of the Americas, then transferred to the 8th SF in Panama in 1964 where he served with SFA 9 Member Joe “China Boy” Lopez until 1968 when he came back home to home to El Paso, Texas. He served as a Civil Service Police Officer at William Beaumont Army Medical Center and attended the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) as a Liberal Arts Major. In 1997, he joined Special Forces Association-Isaac Camacho Chapter IX, Veterans of Foreign Wars-Post 812 and 82nd Benavidez/Patterson Airborne Chapter.
He is survived by his wife, Maria Luisa, his sons, Orlando (wife Alberta), grandsons Andrew and Calvin. Son, Ernesto (wife Mina), grandsons Lorenzo, Rogelio and Ben. Daughters, Martha (husband Tony Lara), extended grandchildren Melissa, Michael, Daniel and Victor. Daughter Irma (husband Ron Whiteley).
Fedencio Gonzalez and his constant smile and positive attitude will be missed by all whose lives he touched in his 88 years on Earth. The pictures above are of Fidencio as a young Paratrooper and in his later years enjoying a dance with his wife.
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