Judge Joins Call for DoD Investigation of McAllens First Fallen War Hero

June 11 2007 — Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas is joining America’s Last Patrol and other elected state and federal officials in calling on the U.S. Department of Defense to investigate how the body of McAllen’s first fallen war hero to serve in Iraq — Staff Sgt. Juan Campos — was treated last week on his return home from the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio where he passed away on Friday June 1.

At a Monday morning meeting called and facilitated by America’s Last Patrol — one of the most well-respected veterans’ organizations in South Texas — participants relayed the events of last week trying to figure out what went wrong and how to prevent it from happening again.

On Wednesday Sgt. Campos’ body was not accompanied by a military honor guard and even worse his body was transported to Falfurrias in a white Astro van until Rivera’s funeral home of McAllen intervened and managed to have his body more nobly arrive in his hometown in a hearse. There were also several miscommunication issues with the local and DoD honor guards slated to give Sgt. Campos a proper military burial. 

“On behalf of the entire county we are deeply concerned about the shameful way a local hero and his family were treated” Judge Salinas said. “Hopefully we will get some answers from the DoD. I am requesting that the full outcome of the DoD’s investigation be submitted to us and I also am requesting in writing the exact protocol the agency follows when one of our brave soldiers is killed in action.”

“It’s understandable that we all make mistakes but we must learn from them. We’re not here to point fingers. We do however want a corrective action plan put in place. Both our active duty military personnel and our veterans deserve more than what was afforded to Staff Sgt. Juan Campos.”

Participants of the meeting:

Rigo Villarreal J.D. Salinas Chief of Staff
Juan M. Escobar District 43 State Representative
Mario T. Garcia Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar
Edna Dougherty State Rep. Veronica Gonzales Office
Mary Hernandez Director of Rio Grande Valley State Veteran’s Cemetary
Emilio de los Santos Hidalgo County Veterans Service Officer
Elliott Moore Hidalgo County Asst. Veteran’s Service Officer
Lydia Caballero America’s Last Patrol
Jose Maria Vasquez America’s Last Patrol
Apolonio Uresti Jr. VFW
Mike Escobedo America’s Last Patrol
Jesus Bocanegra America’s Last Patrol
Hilda Casares Veterans Service Office