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A Chicano Soldier Comes Home

By VVAW

The nurse at the Veteran's Hospital in Houston walked towards bed #9 in the amputee ward to take Juan in his wheelchair to dinner at the patients dining hall. This was the first time the nurse had ever met Juan. She directed herself to bed #9 and much to her surprise, she discovered a recently-returned 19 year old Vietnam war casualty -- as a triple amputee.

What is so special about Juan? Actually, there is little difference between Juan and thousands of other Chicano veterans. Like others, Juan's family was born in Mexico, yet they moved to this country in hopes of making a better life for themselves.

Juan enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 because as any poor Chicano who either graduates from high school or has to drop out because parents can't afford to give the education as needed, as he had to work in the cotton and tomato fields. As in the case of many other young men, the idea of enlistment seemed like a more sensible idea than living from day-to-day on the streets or in the fields. So, why not take the gamble with the greatest benefits? After all, Juan felt that when he returned, he would be able to get something that he didn't have before -- an education on the GI bill. To escape from poverty and to get an education, Juan bargained his two legs and left arm in hopes of achieving his goal.

During his tour in Vietnam, Juan became an effective squad combat leader and earned the respect of his men and superiors. Therefore, he had the responsibility of risking his own life more often by killing human beings he had never met before, all in the name of "freedom, democracy and justice for all." Juan really believed it, and he had faith in his country.

During the later part of his stay in Vietnam, Juan became worried because for some months his parents never answered any of his mail. Then, 11 days before he completed his tour of duty, Juan's worries temporarily ceased. Waking up in a Saigon hospital, Juan was shocked to learn that he had lost both legs and an arm. Realizing that he can do nothing about his condition, he re-affirms his commitment by saying: "After all, I did it for my country." A few weeks later, he was flown to the sates and placed in the women's hospital near his hometown in Houston.

After a couple of days at the hospital, Juan began to wonder why his parents had not come to visit him. His VA social worker told him she had been knocking at the door of the address he gave her, but that there was no answer. In order to put his mind at ease, he decided to call Tina, his girlfriend, before she came to visit him in the afternoon. Juan asked Tina to go check about his sister and parents because he hadn't heard anything from them for the last seven months. When Tina began crying, her father picked up the phone and gave Juan the tragic news. "Your parents were deported some eight months ago by the immigration, and your sister was picked up at work the following day." Juan could no longer listen to Tina's father's explanation because from there, Juan went into deep shock.

Since the day when Juan learned the truth about his family, he has not yet returned to reality. The awakening to the fact that he had sacrificed his limbs and a normal existance only to return to a society that has no place for him, has taken the life out of this Chicano veteran. Yet the story of Juan is not so unusual. He fought for a country which he was calling his own, firmly believing that he was serving a nation worth fighting for. In doing so, he lost parts of his boday; he lost his chance for an education; and he lost his family as a result of exploitive immigration laws. At this time, there is a massive drive by labor contractors in the Southwest to cross the border and recruit Mexican workers with the promises of jobs in U.S. factories. When the work is completed and the contract is filled, the immigration department is notified and the workers who are illegally residing in this country are deported.

Juan's gamble for a better life has cost a high price; and Juan has lost the bet. Sadly enough, this is what Juan's life is all about -- and even more pathetically, this is what Juan's country is all about.

The details of Juan's life are taken from "Echo" -- a Chicano newspaper printed in Austin, Texas