Gilberto Castilleja Romero

Private First Class Gilberto Castilleja Romero 

1932-1994 

Gilberto Castilleja Romero was born in Houston, Texas on October 23, 1932 to Eustaquio and Cresencia Romero. He grew up with 4 sisters and 4 brothers. At a young age, he received the nickname of “Chiveto”. 

Gilberto enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 25, 1953. He served as Private First Class with the 865th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion during the Korean War. He received the Korean Service Medal, the UN Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He transitioned from active military service on December 29, 1954 to the Army Reserve under the UMT and service act. He was honorably discharged on January 31, 1961. 

After Gilberto’s active military service, he met his future wife, Maria Victoria Torres, whom he married on March 12, 1955. He worked as a merchant seaman for approximately two years. He went to barber school and learned to cut hair. Then, he was employed by Roadway Express, Inc. where he worked for 35 years until his medical retirement in 1987. 

During their marriage, they had nine children – 3 daughters and 6 sons. In 1957, Gilberto and Victoria lost their first-born son who was only 3 months old. Although it was a devastating loss, they continued to have children and raise a family. He loved his family and wanted the best for them. He stressed the importance of education to his children. He provided love, strength and support for each and every one of them. He would take time to offer advice to each of them. He taught his children to respect their elders and to work hard. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his family. He had a strong work ethic. There was a time that he broke his back and because he was the sole bread winner, he would still get up every morning, put on a back brace and would go to work to support his family. 

Gilberto adored all of his grandchildren. He would dance with his granddaughters by having them stand on his feet and dance with them around the room. He would play cards with them and teach them to count money by allowing them to use the loose change to place bets during the card games. He would spoil all of his grandchildren and stick up for them no matter what. 

Gilberto endured many years of suffering from the complications due to diabetes. Towards the end of his life; in December 1993, he was in a coma. Through the grace of God, he came out of the coma and the first person he asked for was Robert, his first-born grandson, because he thought he had missed seeing Robert prior to him leaving for boot camp for the United States Marine Corps. Gilberto demanded to be released from the hospital to go home to spend Christmas with his grandchildren. The doctors reluctantly allowed it and discharged him on Christmas Eve. He knew that would be his last Christmas. He was admitted back into the hospital 24 hours later, Christmas evening, and passed away approximately two weeks later in January 1994. He wasn’t able to see Robert graduate from boot camp in the summer of 1994 but we knew he was there in spirit watching so proudly. 

Gilberto was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He had a larger-than-life personality. The Frank Sinatra song, “My Way”, was played at his funeral because that is the way he lived his life, “his way”. He will never be forgotten. 

Gilberto’s plaque lists Bible chapter 1 of the Book of Joel. Verse 3 states: “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.” 

Gilberto’s plaque is located on the H wall, East side, Row 5. His plaque is next to his co-grandparent, Corporal Pedro Ortega Mendoza, and their oldest grandson, Staff Sergeant Robert Pedro Mendoza.