FORT SILL, Okla. (Sept. 28, 2018) -- Provost Sgt. Maj. José Barbosa of the Fort Sill Directorate of Emergency Services brought a message of hope and redemption to the National Hispanic Heritage Month Luncheon held here Sept. 20.
Col. Douglas Maurer, deputy commander of clinical services at Reynolds Army Health Clinic, introduced the guest speaker as a native of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, who enlisted in the Army on May 8, 1996. Barbosa has had a distinguished military career, serving with MP companies and battalions in such far-flung places as Fort Benning, Ga.; Pusan, South Korea; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Riley, Kan., and Fort Hood, Texas.
Barbosa has attended multiple schools and is a veteran of multiple deployments, to include tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Bolivia with U.S. Southern Command.
He began by saying Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law on Aug. 7, 1988. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the month-long celebration because it's the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries.
"I can tell you that anything is possible (even) if your numbers never added up," Barbosa said. "At one point they will. Just remember that: If you put your mind and your heart and your soul toward your goal, you can make anything happen.
"Create your vision now, and what you want to be, and how you want to influence others, so that in the future you teach and mentor those who are about to go through what you've been through.
"Let me tell you a short story. Listen to this: There's a Soldier that I know. Remember how I said that anything is possible? That if you think your numbers don't add up, that at some point they will?
"This NCO that I know, his story sounds unreal. His numbers in life never added up. Everything was against him, every odds he had.
"First, he grew up poor. He grew up so poor that he couldn't even pay attention. That's poor. You've got to be broke for that.
"He was the oldest out of eight brothers and sisters. So that tells you the struggles he had trying to set the example for his siblings.
"Sadly, this kid saw his mother die in a bed, day by day, from full-blown AIDS. His stepfather was deeply into drugs. The kid would wash cars and cut grass to bring home some bread, milk, eggs, at a young age due to the struggles. His mother was 33 years old when she passed. The sad thing is she passed in front of him and his brothers and sisters.
"They lived through the rough neighborhoods in the projects where crime was a daily occurrence. He thought this was a normal life, as he didn't know any different. Without a father or a mentor (to guide him), this kid got into some trouble. He even went into juvenile detention as a minor at 17.
"When he got out after being there for a few months, something clicked. He proceeded to pursue his high school diploma with a GED, which he thought stood for a Good Enough Diploma, you know?
"He dreamed of being a successful man until one day he actually bumped into a recruiter. He said the recruiter was like a car salesman and told this kid, 'If you join, your life will change.' Well, that stuck with him.
"He then joined the armed services. Without knowing any English, he gave it his best and always remembered that anything was possible.
"In basic training he was awarded Soldier of the Cycle. He went to AIT. He took Distinguished Honor Graduate, the High PT Award, he got the AAM (Army Achievement Medal). Have in mind he did not know any English He learned quick and adapted to his environment because he wanted to be the best and to be successful despite his childhood. He did not want to go back through those struggles. It's a sad story, but it's true.
"During his career he learned by mistakes and accomplishments of others in the military. He adapted quickly and commenced attending school, colleges. Went to war.
"Remember. Let's go back to where he came from. This shows that no matter what you put your mind to, anything is possible. When you think that your numbers don't add up, stop, rethink, focus. Get some guidance, and go back at it.
"Ladies and gentlemen: 22 years later, that kid is here right now, in front of you, as a grown man and as a leader, as a provost sergeant major from Fort Sill. I'm just sharing my experiences on how my numbers never added up, on how everything was against me. But I put my mind and my heart and my soul to it, to be here.
"I'm proud of being a Hispanic American. I'm proud of my job. I love what I do. And for those who know me, you guys know that I'm always involved with the leaders, the community, the Soldiers, because I owe the military 110 percent of me, because it made me who I am today."
During the luncheon, the Lawton Mexican Folkloric Dancers performed five traditional dances in authentic attire to represent the cultures of Spain, Panama and Mexico.
This year's theme was "Hispanics: One Endless Voice to Enhance Our Traditions." Sgt. Sasha Richardson of Reynolds Army Health Clinic emceed the luncheon co-hosted by Fort Sill Medical Activity and the Equal Opportunity Office.
Social Sharing