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David Richard Trujillo was born in Antonito, Colorado in 1951
Antonito, Colorado
1373 Mariposa
Lincoln Park Homes (The “Yellow” Projects)
Denver, Colorado
Saint Joseph High School
1966 – 1969
Dave was an outstanding boxer. In fact, he went undefeated throughout high school- that is, until his last fight. Dave lost his last fight of high school. I remember going to St. Joe’s gym and watching him fight. I didn’t really know about boxing, but I do remember the bloody faces and the crowd… the crowd was always very excited during these bouts.
Prom 1969
Dave with his girlfriend Marie, and his best friend Chucky Padilla and his date.
Graduated from St. Joseph High School 1969
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THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM 1969-1970
Dave served as a rifleman in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. He fought with 3/26th Marines in the DMZ. As with many Vietnam vets, Dave was reluctant to discuss his war service with many people. I, however, was determined to find out what this man had experienced in “The Nam.” So, during high school, while most students were playing sports, or dating women, I learned how to take the bus to the various libraries around the city. It was at these libraries that I would sit for hours reading any book on Vietnam I could get my hands on. I wanted to know units, battles, what insignia, decorations and medals meant. In fact, I somehow acquired a Rand-McNally map of Vietnam and would keep track of the names of the places I would learn about. After some time, I learned enough about Vietnam that Dave would open up to me about the things he experienced during his stint in the Corps.
While serving in the DMZ, Dave’s unit was on a night ambush when he was wounded in the face by a grenade. He was evacuated to Camp Butler in Japan to recover from his woulds. The grenade took out a part of his jawbone. The surgeons fitted him with a custom glass jaw, but unfortunately, his injury kept him from ever boxing again.
Dave’s combat decorations, medals, and ribbons:
Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Dave’s uniform ribbons
Dave and his beautiful wife Marie
Dave goofing around in the alley
Lincoln Park Picnics
My mom’s side of the family had their holiday picnics at Lincoln Park on the West-side of Denver. These were fun events with nearly all the aunts and uncles goofing around. But Dave was a jokester through-and-through! He was the life of the picnic, teasing, joking and many times playing pranks on anyone and everyone. Dave’s sense of humor was infectious. After he passed, the family social events were never quite the same.
Dave with his boys Tony and Vinnie 1977
Dave at his sister Stella’s house
Vietnam Veterans commemorative stamp – 1979
Today we would have recognized that Dave had PTSD after he returned from Vietnam. After some years after his return from Nam, Dave’s smile went away. That same smile that had defined him for most of his life. He surely fought some demons. Unfortunately, by 1979, those demons won. In August of 1979, Dave stunned us by taking is own life.
I remember the day well. I woke up that morning earlier than I would have when I overheard my mom talking on the phone. I heard her say, “What happened? Rick shot himself?”
Somehow hearing those words caused an immediate spike of adrenaline and I jumped up out of bed and went to eavesdrop on my mom’s phone call. I remember they said he was still alive. I was interpreting this to mean that he had accidentally shot himself; perhaps while cleaning a weapon.
Mom left to the hospital as we waited anxiously for any news. Several hours later she pulled into the driveway as we kids descended on her for an update. But as mom stepped out of the car, it was obvious that she had been crying. Her eyes were red, and she was still lightly sobbing. As she climbed the stairs up to the front door of our house, a pall fell over our household. Dave was gone. Gone forever. Never to joke and goof around again. It was the first time I had experienced a devastating loss like that. I left to Colorado State University a few days after the funeral. I could barely pay attention in my courses those first couple of weeks. Honestly, after Dave passed, that’s when I learned how to drink (Ingersoll Hall).
Dave left a saddened family behind. The earth would never be the same after he departed.
*****
pete padilla petepadilla.com
