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.
