Lubbock, Texas Tech honors its veterans

Adam D. Young, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
·2 min read

Lubbock and the Texas Tech community recognized its military veterans through a variety of ceremonies and tributes this Veterans Day Friday and the days leading up.

Last Saturday, Lubbock Los Hermanos Familia hosted its annual Veterans Day parade, attracting hundreds to downtown Lubbock and honoring advocate Danny Koch as parade marshal. On Friday, Lubbock's American Legion Post 575 hosted a Veterans Day breakfast. Texas Tech marked Veterans Day in a ceremony breaking ground on two new additions to Memorial Circle to honor veterans and military personnel who attended or have an affiliation with the university.

Billy Morrison drives in the parade with his dog, “Spottie” in the front. The 2022 Veterans Day Parade, honoring the military and those that served was held on Saturday morning November 5, 2022. The parade ran from Broadway to the Civic Center was organized by Los Hermanos Familia.
Billy Morrison drives in the parade with his dog, “Spottie” in the front. The 2022 Veterans Day Parade, honoring the military and those that served was held on Saturday morning November 5, 2022. The parade ran from Broadway to the Civic Center was organized by Los Hermanos Familia.

Hill & Ioppolo Smiles for Soldiers

Also on Friday, a retired Navy vet from Lubbock was surprised with a life-changing gift.

Fernando Castillo, 50, was announced as the recipient of the 6th annual Smiles For Soldiers program at Hill & Ioppolo Oral & Dental Implant Surgery of Lubbock.

Smiles For Soldiers gives a local hero in need, who suffers from extremely poor oral health, an opportunity to receive a brand-new set of permanent teeth. The procedure, typically costing about $50,000, will be given completely free of charge.

Castillo said he’s always had bad teeth and was bullied as a kid.

“As an adult I'm still embarrassed about my smile and I'm afraid to smile at the students at my school,” he said. “I've never been confident about my smile.”

The family of Rogelio Rodriguez shared his photo with the Avalanche-Journal as a tribute to the veteran who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1969.

Rogelio Rodriguez
Rogelio Rodriguez

Letter Honoring O.C. Heard

This provided photo shows O.C. Heard from around the time of his military service
This provided photo shows O.C. Heard from around the time of his military service

The family of O.C. Heard of Lubbock shared this letter recognizing the veteran for his service:

On the occasion of Veterans Day, I would like to recognize my brother for his exceptional service.

O.C. Heard quarterbacked the Frenship Tigers in ’39 and ’40. He finished Frenship High School in May of 1941, at the age of 16. After enrolling at Texas Tech, he responded to the call to service for his country. By December of 1943, O.C. completed his primary flight training at Thunderbird Field in Arizona.

The following April, O.C. was just 19 years old when he received his silver pilot wings at Pecos Army Air Field. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Air Forces. His commanding officer acknowledged O.C. as the youngest pilot the commander had ever seen in flight training and was very proud of O.C.’s determination and skill.

O.C. was then sent overseas for pilot duty. O.C. gave up his youth to serve his country in time of need.

We should recognize O.C. Heard, Jr. as a Great American. - Perry Heard, Lubbock

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock, Texas Tech honors its veterans