Albert Tijerina, Jr

The database page for Albert Tijerina, Jr

5 Oct 2004 Captain Tijerina was a 1961 graduate of San Angelo Central High School in San Angelo, Texas. He was in the band and played sports. After high school, he attended Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Aggie Band. He loved Texas A&M and his favorite phrase was "If you think someone is a Texas Aggie, don't ask them, if they are, they will tell you." After graduation in 1965, he accepted a commission as a 2LT in the Air Force where he was trained in fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. He married his high school sweetheart in San Angelo, April 16, 1966 while in flight school. That marriage produced three children. Captain Tijerina began his Vietnam tour as a helicopter pilot flying CH-53's. He was assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron. The group flew highly classified missions ferrying personnel in and out of Laos. On such a mission on March 1, 1971, he was the co-pilot and the aircraft was shot down. Both Captain Tijerina and the pilot were killed in the crash. The flight engineers were able to escape the aircraft and were rescued. Captain Tijerina's brother Andres is a professor at Austin (Texas) Community College. His sister, Sylvia Ann, and wife Amanda still live in San Angelo. He is remembered by the Tom Green County Area Vietnam Memorial located in San Angelo, by San Angelo Central High School, by the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, and by the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans' Memorial located in Midland, Texas. From a PBVVM representative, Billy M. Brown bmbrown@grandecom.net

01 Jun 2005 Thank you very much for your dedication to honoring my brother. A couple of minor revisions to your text are that he also received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. My family is grateful for your work. From his brother, Andres Tijerina andrest@austincc.edu

12 Feb 2006 Al, You were a great influence on all your classmates of the Class of '65 in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M. You definitely impressed me. You were a fitting tribute to our Corps mentor, Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Soldier, Statesman, and Knightly Gentleman. I look forward to our reunion at the Muster in Heaven. Your sacrifice wasn't in vain. The Vietnam War was won with the dissolution of the USSR in the 1990's. Every effort made to combat the cancer on the soul of mankind - communism, from WWII on, was justified along with your sacrifice. God Bless You. B. Glenn Bryson SP/5 5th Battalion, 4th Artillery 5th Infantry Division Quang Tri, Viet Nam July 1969 - May 1970 bgbryson@bellsouth.net

01 Mar 2007 Capt. Tijerina's sacrifice is remembered today, the 36th anniverary of his death. E-mail address is not available.

10 Jul 2007 Albert and I went to Junior High School together, and I did not see him again until I got out of the Army in 1963. He used to hang around with my cousin Joel, and Joel told him I had made a 190 degree turn in my life. When we met again we became good friends, and he would come home from A&M, and look me up and say, "Let's go kill some brain cells". We went to California together and had great fun. We went to visit Narciso "Nacho" Fuentes in San Francisco, and we picked green beans in San Jose. We lived with the braceros in Salinas, California, while picking onions. Someday I hope to write a book so I can mention all the adventures we had. From a friend, Leon S. Martinez 422 Ironbark Dr. Webster, Tx. 77598 leon.martinez@dcma.mil

A Note from The Virtual Wall Two men from the 21st Special Operations Squadron died when their CH-53C (tail number 68-10931) was shot down on on 01 Mar 1971: Major Milton H. Ramsey, Kansas City, KS, pilot, and Capt Albert Tijerina, San Angelo, TX, copilot. The aircraft, call sign KNIFE 34, departed Nakon Phanom RTAFB at 0830 to deliver Laotian troops to Lima Site 20 (Sam Thong) in northern Laos. KNIFE 34 was hit by enemy fire while enroute, knocking out one engine, but the crew was able to sustain flight until they reached LS20. KNIFE 34 crashed on landing, spun right, rolled downhill, flipped, and burst into flames. Although two flight engineers survived (SSgt G. Pearson and SSgt F. Deck), the two pilots were fatally injured.

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 5 Oct 2004
Last updated 08/10/2009