BORN: Joe was born on February 22, 1940 in Crowell, Texas. He died on February 7, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona.
RESIDENCE: Last residence was 7101 East Cuernavaca, Tucson, AZ 85710 (520-886-2379) (tucsonjoe@aol.com) He was buried at South Lawn Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona on February 20, 2024.
EARLY CHILDHOOD: Joe (Chich�) was born in Crowell (Foard), Texas. He is the second of nine children born to born to Jose Rios Brown and Josefina Valladares His early years were spent in the Crowell area, at one time living at (i) the Leija homestead, (ii) the Guy Morgan place (northeast of Crowell), (iii) Borger, Texas, and finally in 1949, the family moved to their home on E. Austin St. in Crowell. The family never left the state of Texas until the summer of 1954, when the older kids were old enough to work. The family accomapanied some other families from the area (the Cerdas from Crowell, the Carmonas from Munday, Texas, and the contractor, a Rev. Chapa) on a migratory trip to work in Wisconsin picking cherries. Later on coming down through Illinois working in the tomatoes fields picking tomatoes.
During the next six years, from 1955-1961, the family went to work in the beet fields in the Greeley, Colorado area from about May to September/October of each year. Those years, during the fall and winter months he worked odd jobs, after the cotton picking season was over. Free times were spent mowing yards, and hunting rabbits with some the guys who had dropped out of school.
In 1961 he worked construction up until he started working for Mr. Guy Morgan plowing wheat and growing cotton. As part of his compensation he shared-cropped 30 acres of cotton with Mr. Morgan. He worked there until his enlistment in the Air Force in 1962. He did not go to Colorado with the family in 1961, he stayed behind to work at the farm.
EDUCATION: He started elementary school in the Crowell Independent School District (CISD) in 1946 and attended from the first through eighth grades. He graduated from grade school in May 1955.
While in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Forbes AFB, he took and passed the the high school level general education development (GED) test on October 29, 1963. He then enrolled at Washburn University in Topeka Kansas, and took some courses through the United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI).
Later on in his career, he completed a course on Advanced Management while working at the NCO club. After his last tour of duty in Tucson Arizona, having retired from the U.S. Air Force, he attended Pima Community College and graduated in May 13, 1992 completing the requirements for Associate Degrees in (i) Applied Science and (ii) General Studies simultaneously.
He then attended Tucson University and completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in April 29, 1995. He is presently working towards a Masters in Business through Kennedy-Western University of Cheyenne Wyoming.
MILITARY: In January 1962, he received his draft notice in the mail, so he decided to enlist in the Air Force instead. On January 11, 1962, he enlisted in the military (U.S. Air Force, AF18620762), and served for 22 years, 8 months, and 20 days, retiring as a staff sergeant (E-7) in September 30, 1984. He went through basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas, and advanced training for Liquid Fuel Systems Maintenance (code ____) at the Technical Training Center at AFB in Amarillo, Texas. He graduated in April 17, 1962 and was assigned to Forbes AFB, Kansas.
On September 18, 1963, he shipped out to Guam (of the Mariana Islands in the Pacific) to help maintain the fuel system at the aircraft refueling depot for US aircraft on their way to Vietnam.
On March 15, 1965, he was transferred to Homestead AFB, Florida. He had married and was accompanied by his wife Mary Louise Kuba. While there, he received the Air Force Commendation Medal for his prompt action and saving a soldier's life. It happened one afternoon in August 1965, he received a frantic call from his neighbor's wife. Her husband (a soldier) had accidentally pinned himself under his car while working on it. Joe immediately responded by lifting the car and pulling him out, then proceeded to expertly administer first aid and CPR. He remained with him until the arrival of professional assistance. He was also awarded the Hurricane Betsy Medal in September 1965 for special recognition in the recovery efforts subsequent to hurricane Betsy.
On June 966, his unit was sent on temporary duty (TDY) to Forbes AFB, KS for training in preparation for duty in Vietnam. However, orders were changed and they were sent (unaccompanied) to Thailand with the RED HORSE unit. While stationed there he received the Commendation Medal for designing and building a portable refueling station for Air Force vehicles. His unit also built the base and runway for the B-52 Bombers used during the Vietnam conflict.
On August 2, 1967 he transferred to Vandenburg AFB, California. He was assigned to the Missile Maintenance Field for the Titan III B.
From there he went to Edwards AFB, California on July 1, 1968 and was stationed there until June 23, 1969. While stationed there, his unit built a JP-5 fuel tank farm and refueling system for the C-5A, the biggest aircraft transport in the U.S. Air Force. While at Edwards AFB, he attended and graduated from the Noncommissioned Officers (NCO) Academy. He received his diploma on March 23, 1969.
July 23, 1969, he was shipped to the United Kingdom (England) for a four-year tour of duty. His son Joey was born in Southruislip, England, on July 27, 1970 during this tour. During this time his duties consisted of being the liaison between the Air Force personnel and the local people. He was also in charge of administering the Air Force contracts with the local contractors. This amounted to about $12 million per year.
He returned for the second time to Vandenberg for another tour. This time he was sent on TDY three times to Johnson Atoll to deactivate the base. He was assigned once again to the Missile Maintenance Field, however, this time he had to learn the THOR weapon system.
September 23, 1976, he arrived at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, assigned to the 390th MIMS to provide maintenance for the Titan II Propellant Transfer System. He was there to help with the deactivation of the 390th SMW in 1985.
When he received orders to transfer to Wichita, Kansas, he decided it was time to retire, so on October 1, 1984, he retired fom the military, in Tucson, Arizona.
CAREER: His career in the Air Force as a fuel specialist spanned over 22 years which included assignments at many different Air Force Bases stateside and overseas (See MILITARY: ).
While stationed at his last assignment in Tucson Arizona, he worked part-time as a Security Guard for three years until his retirement from the Air Force. At that time he accepted the position as Director of Security he held until 1985, when he resigned to accept a position at the NCO Club at Davis-Mountain AFB, Arizona. He worked there for ten years, until 1995 (after obtaining his Associated Degrees, and while attending Tucson University), to work at the National Bank of Arizona as a courier. He was elvated to Administrative Assistant, but later on reverted back to his courier (in lieu of a layoff) after some cutbacks at the bank. He worked there until October 2002. He went back to work as a courier in February for a new bank (Allaince Bank of Arizona). The new bank was founded in December 2002. He now plans to retire agin in June 2004.
OTHER ACTIVITIES: As a young man, he enjoyed playing baseball with the local Mexican/Black team playing against the neighboring towns on Sundays. He also enjoyed hunting, an activity he still enjoys. He is a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veteran of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion. He is a board member of the 390th SMW. In 1990, he and his wife Dolores, went to Europe and visited seven countries while visiting Dolores' daughter (Christie Winger) who was in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany.
MARRIAGE: Joe has married three times.
CHILDREN: Joe and Mary had a son and daughter from his first marriage.
He also has another son:
And a stepdaughter:
