Henry T. Capiz

The son of migrant workers from Mexico, Henry was drafted out of high school in March  1944. While in infantry training at Camp Hood Texas, he volunteered for airborne training. He was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia and received his wings in October of 1944.

He was in a group of troopers shipped to the Philippines and assigned to the 503rd Pcht. RCT and took part in the liberation of the Philippines.

After the war ended he was sent to the 11th Airborne Division in Japan. He came home and was discharged at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin in May 1946. 

He joined the Minnesota Air National Guard in 1948.  He was called up in March of 1951 for the Korean War, and served as a Basic Training Instructor in the states. After college graduation in 1957, he became a First Lieutenant in the Air Force Medical Service assigned to the Minnesota Air Guard 133rd USAF Dispensary.  he was called up again in 1961 for the Berlin Crisis.

In 1964, he transferred to the 133rd Aero Medical Evacuation Squadron as commanding officer and was placed on flying status on C-130's.  He served a short tour of duty in 1969 at Clark Air Force Base handling casualties from Da Nang, Vietnam.  He was promoted to LTC in 1972, and retired in 1974.

The Tucson Chapter would also like to thank Lt.Col. Henry Capiz for his interest and involvment with our chapter.