THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY
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| “Mando” The Story of a Presidential Marine Pilot from the Rio Grande Valley The co-pilot, call sign “Mando” watched as his passengers, President George Bush and the First Lady, approached on March 8, 2004. He was not alone. In addition to the rest of the flight crew he had riding with him a long proud history of tradition. The day of his first “Lift” had arrived. That tradition began in the 1800’s when his ancestors, the Avilas and the Contreras helped bring the Rio Grande Valley into a new century. The Avilas had long been in the Donna area. His grandfather, Tranquilino Avila, was a deputy sheriff from 1946 until his premature death in 1956. At that time, there were no death benefits, so his son Miguel, one of 15 siblings, decided to join the Marines because he could not afford to go to college. Then courting Arcelia Contreras, granddaughter of Epifanio Contreras (the City Marshall for Ebenezer) which later became the City of Alamo. From her family, Arcelia learned the value of education and planned to attend college. She was not initially impressed with young Miguel, whom she described as “thinking too much of himself.” Growing up, she saw many family members leave to join the armed services, including her brother who she did not see for four years during World War II. Over the next three years, (they did write to each other) while she was completing college she learned that he had distinguished himself as a Marine Non-Commissioned officer by the early 1960’s. Young Miguel matured in the military and was awarded honors for leading the Marine detachment protecting the American embassy in Colombia. Miguel Avila never forgot the hardship a family can go through by losing a father, so after serving in the Marines, he pursued a career in the life insurance industry, successfully being recognized as a the top national salesman for John Hancock. Ultimately, he won the heart and hand of Arcelia. Miguel Armando Avila, nickname “Mando”, was born on July 26, 1971 as the middle child of Miguel and Arcelia. While growing up, he often played with older and bigger uncles. As often happens in large families, he became the little guy that the older ones playfully picked on, but he nevertheless was ready to compete with them. Some of them played for the 1961 Donna High School football team, which won the state championship who instilled in him, his parents believe, the will to compete and to achieve. At the same time, he was always a generous person. His mother recalls how he would make sure all the kids in the neighborhood where invited for parties and that no one was ever left out. Miguel cannot recall exactly when he decided to join the Marines. His family does recall a time at age eight, when he was given a tour of a jet plane cockpit and proclaimed he was going to fly for the Marines one day. After high school and a year of training at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, he matriculated into the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University. |
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| Miguel cannot recall exactly when he decided to join the Marines. His family does recall a time at age eight, when he was given a tour of a jet plane cockpit and proclaimed he was going to fly for the Marines one day. After high school and a year of training at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, he matriculated into the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University. His years at Texas A&M University can be described as no less than outstanding. Thanks in part he says to the rigid requirement that underclassmen in the Corps study every night from 7 to 10 pm, he graduated cum laude with a 3.25 grade point average. As a junior, he was selected to the elite “Sul Ross Volunteers”. They are the oldest student organization for the State of Texas and act as the official escort for the Governor of Texas. On several occasions Cadet Avila escorted the Late Governor Ann Richards and First Lady, Barbara Bush. In his final year, 1993-1994, at Texas A&M University he served as the Deputy Corps Commander and also received the Doherty Award for Most Outstanding Overall Cadet. Fellow classmates say that he was an inspiring leader because of the way he identified with all cadets. While attending the university he worked part-time at a gym to make ends meet and also to help keep in shape. One day while jogging, Ramiro Galindo, the owner of the gym introduced him to the Republican candidate for governor. Little did he know that 10 years later their paths would cross again. To get to the position he held in March of 2004, “Mando” had to complete 2 years of flight school and have over 1500 hours of exceptional flying time in Marine helicopters. On June 30th of 2003, he was awarded the Navy and Marines Achievement Medal for his role as a frontline operations officer and flight operations officer for Operations Infinite Moonlight and Eager Mace. In August of 2003, Captain Avila joined the Presidential Helicopter Unit, the famed HMX-1. He began a heavy training schedule that lasted from August 2003 until March 8, 2004 when he had his first “Lift” on “Marine One”. That morning he had met his parents at the airport. His mother, now a retired Spanish History teacher, has severe problems walking due to chronic knee ailments. He asked her if she wanted a wheelchair but she refused because she did not want to inconvenience her son or make him late. For reasons she cannot explain, she had no pain that day in her knee and was able to walk normally. Across from the White House is an area called the Ellipse, near the Washington Monument he situated his parents to watch the events for his first “Lift”. When he approached the White House south lawn for landing he flew over his parents and gave his mother the “Gig Em Aggies” thumbs up sign. The events of that First Lift were fortuitously captured by coin |
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| cidence. Noted military photographer Karen Nutini happened to be at the White House and caught the event on film and later gave it to Captain Avila. (Thanks to Copy Zone in McAllen for providing an oversize scanner used to produce this story) During his four-year assignment to HMX-1 (the maximum time a gifted pilot may stay with the unit), then Captain, now Marine Major Avila visited 6 countries, 23 states, and 37 cities. Part of his duties included being assigned as the “WHLO” or White House Liaison Officer. Working with the Secret Service, Air Force One team, and other authorities this involved the detailed planning of logistics and security for all presidential trips. As an advance team leader Major Avila arranged and planned the first ever Presidential Helicopter landing in New York’s Central Park. Despite being a part of the “Marine One” Team, Major Avila humbly refers to himself as just another “Marine”. Although he has flown for two Presidents at once, kings, and princes, he says the greatest thrill he gets is when a group of young Marines gets into his helicopter and looks at him with confidence. Since completing his tour with HMX-1, the Major has been attending Command and Staff School to get ready for further promotion. He was the only Marine representative chosen for the prestigious Western Hemisphere Cooperative for Security School, which is a high level think tank for all Western Hemisphere allies of the United States. It’s possible he will be appointed to Lt. Colonel in 2009 which will put him into a strategic and operational administrative position but will regretably reduce his flying time. I spoke to him while he was on a road trip taking a little time off and getting his car from the east coast to the west coast. Soon he will be joining the HMM-161 Greyhawks training in Yuma Arizona. While there, he will be updated on the latest intelligence on enemy tactics before deploying to Iraq. When asked how it felt to overfly a combat zone he told me that anytime anyone is in a helicopter, combat zone or not, there is a possibility of danger. Although he has never crashed, from time to time he has had to make emergency landings due to equipment problems or other conditions. He believes that one of the greatest weapons the Marines have is that they are serious students of war and tactics, that they use not just their muscles but also their wits in battle. Training, knowledge of their equipment, trust in their buddies, and a keen understanding of the enemy gives them the edge. I asked him what would he like for us to say in the article. He remarked that going to Texas A&M was the most invaluable experience in his life. The Aggie experience taught him how to “make opportunities for oneself”. Everywhere he goes in the military he meets fellow Aggies who are playing a vital role. An old tradition of wearing the Aggie ring on the left hand even over the wedding ring (by the way ladies Major Avila is still single) has been renewed by Aggie military members. This tradition goes back to before World War II and reoccurred in the Korean War when Aggies played a role in the U.S. military forces caught in the Chinese onslaught at Chosen Reservoir, and continues today. It’s significance, no doubt, a reminder of the Marines unbreakable commitment to each other in moments of life or death. His favorite food is the caldo de pollo made by his mom. The most important days of the year are Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and of course the Aggies vs. Texas football game. Major Avila likes A&M’s chances this year. Both Tejano and Country Western music sounds are in his music collection. (I wonder if Vincente Fernandez realizes he has been played on the Presidential Helicopter). He does hope to marry some day and is on the look out for a woman with a good personality, confidence, and a streak of independence. He has promised his parents he will be back from the war. It is understandably hard for his mother to talk about what could happen to him but at the same time she says she is happy he is doing what he wants to do and knows he is well prepared. In fact, the most fearfull moment for her was when he first soloed over water because to her he seemed so young and inexperienced at that time. Well things have changed alot for Major “Mando” Avila since that first solo flight and since the 9/11 attacks. One look at Major Avila and you know our armed forces are ready, willing and able in their calling to defend our country. He along with many, many other Upper Valley young men and women are preparing for new tours of duty in the Middle East. We ask all our readers to wish these fine young and brave members of the United States Armed Forces, Gods speed and a safe return home. We want to thank the Major and all his family and friends in the Donna area who provided information and photos for this article. Major, we expect to see you home as soon as possible for a well deserved rest. By Tony Magaña |
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| JUNE 2008 | CONTACT US |
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| Copyright 2008 Contempo Magazine, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
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