Enrique Ortiz

The Story of Enrique Ortiz

Enrique Ortiz peacefully departed on June 27, 2020 on his own terms. Having lived a full life without regrets he was born in Coamo, Puerto Rico to the late Felipe "Campito" Ortiz and Cruz de Jesus on November 2, 1926. Not much is known of his childhood as he was not a man to share much about his youth but what we do know is that Enrique left school at age 15 to work as a sales clerk and carpenter. Always a believer in education he returned to finish high school in 1944 only to, in his second semester back - April 1945, be drafted into the Army and shipped to Germany to fight in World War II. His record of service describes him as only 5'1 and 116 lbs and his first combat service was in WWII from 17 Apr 1945 through 19 Apr 1946. Post the war, Enrique returned to Puerto Rico and attained his high school diploma in 1948. With scarce opportunity in his homeland and entering the Cold War, Enrique once again returned to military life and enlisted in the Army in 1950. He was assigned to the famed 65th Infantry Regiment "The Borinqueneers" with service in the Korean War as an infantryman in 1951. The journey took him to Alaska where he saw snow for the first time and learned to ski. Korea left a lasting physical and emotional scar for Enrique - shot in the head/face and received mortar fragments to his head. He fondly recalled his 6 weeks recovering in Japan, a country he described as kind and with delicate people. Enrique spent the next 11 years in overseas Army Service station in Germany. In September of 1965 he began his third combat tour in Vietnam where he also received shrapnel on his left hand from a grenade explosion and was exposed to Agent Orange. He recovered from the grenade injury and completed his final three years of military service in Panama as a JOTC (Jungle Operations Training Center) instructor. In all, Enrique selflessly served in three wars and spent all his time in service in overseas assignments away from Puerto Rico. He made his home after the military in Panama. Post his military service, Enrique worked as a nursing assistant for many years.

This program is an opportunity to tell Enrique's story. It is a unique and special story that needs to be told. What you should know about this story is the Enrique was a very simple man. His diminutive stature rather than an obstacle was seen by him as a source of pride and strength. You could see this through his tremendous character. Character marked by courage, commitment and hard work. He was tough, loud, resourceful and determined. He was a true force to all those that knew him.

We praise God for blessing Enrique with eternal salvation…