As the government shutdown creeps along, now in its fourth week, services that have been placed on hold are beginning to affect people in all walks of life. Including deceased veterans.
A Final Wish
For Florencio Davila of Waco, Texas, his dying wish was to be buried with full military honors. After all, the World War II veteran, who passed away on Oct. 21, spent his life giving back, caring for other people. He never really asked for much.
However, the shutdown forced Davila’s family to pivot to other options. Davila’s granddaughter, Sonya Guerrero, said when she reached out to the U.S. Army to set up funeral arrangements, they didn’t get the response they were hoping for.
“As we were making the preparations, we were told due to the government shutdown, military funerals are not happening right now or taking place right now,” Guerrero told KSDK NBC 5 in Waco. “I was devastated. That was his one and only request, and to hear that was not going to take place, I couldn't let it not happen.”
Guerrero refused to take no for an answer. She called just about every government office she could think of for assistance. Finally, the Casualty Assistance Center at Fort Hood, Texas, came through to help make Davila’s final wish come true. In addition, the National Defense Act, passed into law in 2000, “authorizes military funeral honors to active-duty soldiers, retirees and veterans.”
A Community Comes Together
Davila’s local community also pitched in to help cover the costs of the service.
“The community came together, and I want to tell other families don't not do anything about it,” Guerrero said. “Fight for your loved one and what they wanted and their wishes. Make it happen for them. My grandfather will receive the military honors he wanted.”
His community rose to the occasion to make sure he received an honor fitting for a World War II veteran.
A Life of Service
There’s little doubt that Davila’s life impacted others, his family said. He enjoyed helping whenever he could to serve his community. “My dad was a person who cared about other people,” his son, Irie Cuevas said. “He cared more about other people than himself.”
In the mid-1940s, with the war still raging, young Davila wasn’t even a legal adult when he completed basic training and was sent to serve in the Pacific Theater in foreign lands that certainly didn’t resemble Central Texas.
"He was stationed in the Philippines. He was with the 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion. He was a gunner in the tank," said Guerrero.
Davila, born on Sept. 15, 1926, in Marlin, Texas, served in the Army Air Corps (a precursor to the Air Force) from 1945-1946. After the war ended in September 1945, Davila returned home, married his wife on New Year’s Day, 1949, and built a life in Marlin.
Giving Back
Davila became one of the founding members of the League of United Latin American Citizens in Marlin. He spent many years driving trucks for Gifford-Hill Co. and was a member of Faith Walk Church.
For his military service, Davila received several local, state, and national honors.
Davila’s obituary lists his favorite quote, which came from none other than legendary World War II general Douglas MacArthur: “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”
Cuevas said his father believed in the Bible verse to “give honor where honor is due.”
“My father went into the military younger than the age requirement. His mother had to sign (for him to serve),” Cuevas said. “He gave of himself to give to others. I'm grateful to those who helped.”
Davila’s final resting place will be next to his wife, Mary, at Waco’s Oakwood Cemetery. The couple was married for more than 63 years.
