|
|
Roberto G. Zapata
Service #: 1961638
June 1961 to May 31, 1991
Boot Camp: Platoon 234, MCRD San Diego, California
Highest Rank: MGYSGT
Schools:
1962 Rocket Launcher 3.5/Portable Flame Thrower.
1964 Rifle Mkship
Instructor School WTB. S.D. CA.
1966 Mech Fund NATTC
NAS MFS TN.
1966 AVN Struc Mech (HYD) NATTC NAS MFS TN.
1966 CH-46A A/F MCAS El Toro NAMTD.
1967 CH-53A Enlisted Fam.
MCAF Santa Ana, CA.
1967 CH-53A Hyd Maint MCAF Santa Ana, CA.
1968 SNCO Leadership CRS. MCAS El Toro, CA.
1968 J79 ENG – 8 Hot Sect. and Related MCAS El
Toro, CA.
1970 NAMTRA DET Instructor CRS. NAS
MFS, TN.
1977 A/C Maint.
Officer CRS. NAS MFS, TN.
MOS:
0351 Rocket Launcher Wpns
PLT.
Secondary
Rifle Mkship Instructor
0652 Hyd Mech General A/C
6055 UH-34,
CH-46A, CH-53A Hyd Mech
6059 A/C
Airframes Chief
6019 A/C
Maintenance Chief
Weapons
Qualifications/Familiarization:
Rifle SS
(M-1) Boot Camp
Rifle Expert
Requal Bar (M-14) 4th
Award
Rifle Expert
(M-16)
Pistol
Expert Requal Bar (45 Cal) 3RD Award
Pistol SS
(9MM)
B.A.R. Fam Fire
M79 GL Fam Fire
Flame
Thrower Fam
3.5 R.L.
Primary Wpn AS 0351
Awards:
Combat Air
Crew Insignia (W/3 Stars)
Meritorious
Service Medal
Air Medal
(W/Bronze Arabic Numeral “4”)
Navy
Commendation Medal
Presidential
Unit Citation (W- 1 Star)
Navy Unit
Commendation
Good Conduct
Medal (10th Ward)
Meritorious
Unit Commendation
Vietnam
Service Medal (W/2 Stars)
National
Defense Service Medal (2nd Ward)
Sea Service
Deployment Ribbon (W/2 Stars)
Republic of
Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross (W/Palm and Frame)
Vietnam
Campaign Medal (W 1960 Device)
Meritorious
Mast
Duty
Stations:
Camp Pendelton 1961-1962 Camp San Mateo
Okinawa,
Japan 1962-1963 Camp Schwab
Camp Pendelton 1963-1964 Camp Las Pulgas
Camp
Matthews 1964-1965
Camp Pendelton 1965-1966 Stewart Mesa
MFS, TENN.
1966 Aviation School
MCALF Santa
Ana, California HMM-165 1966
Vietnam Ky Ha HMM-165 1966-1967
MCALF Santa
Ana, California HMMT-301 1967-1968
MCAS Keneohe Bay, Hawaii H&MS-24 1968-1969
MCAS Iwakuni, Japan H&M-15 1969-1970
MFS TENN Namtradet Instructor School 1970
MCALF Camp Pendelton NAMTD 1040 OV-10A Bronco 1970-1974
MCAS Iwakuni, Japan H&MS-12 1974-1975
MCAS El
Toro, California VMGR-352 1975-1977
MCAS El
Toro, California H&MS-13 Airframe Chief 1977-1978
MCAS Futenma, Okinawa VMGR-152 Maintenance Chief 1978-1981
NAS Dallas,
Texas MAG-41 Production Control/Maintenance Chief 1981-1985
MCAS El
Toro, California H&MS-13 Production Control/Maintenance Chief 1985-1987
MCAS El
Toro, California MALS-11 Maintenance Chief 1987-1991
Operations During Vietnam
Operation
Hastings
Operation
Prairie
Operation
Stone
Sgt. R. G.
Zapata awarded Air Medal
Ky Ha Vietnam, 1967
Relaxing after
night crew shift 1967
Ready to fly a re-supply mission
R. G. Zapata
being promoted to Master Gunnery Sergeant
By Colonel
Iron Mike Sullivan
M/Sgt. R. G. Zapata MGySgt. R. G. Zapata
Marine Corps Ball
NAS Dallas Tx 1983 Marine Corps Ball NAS Dallas 1984
Marine Corps
Ball
MCAS El Toro
1991
Bobby and daughter Yvonne
get ready to go biking
Son Xavier, Bobby, Son
Robert
Left to
Right
Dau. Diana,
her son Brandon, Dau. Yvonne and Bobby's
Son Robert
Left to
Right
Yvonne,
Bobby, and Diana
The effects
of 30 years of awards
Left= Uvaldo Garza, Right= Bobby Zapata, Texas Mini-Reunion
I was born in Brownsville, and I
graduated from Brownsville High School in May 1961. I joined the Marine Corps on June 1, 1961 and
decided to make a career out of it. I
retired in May 31, 1991 in MCAS El Toro, California.
After my retirement, I moved to San
Antonio, Texas. I play golf, fish, and
most of all I love riding my road bike. I
ride everyday and enter competition races and duathlons.
I am married to my lovely wife, Maria
Teresa, whom I married in 1963. I am
very proud of her because she was the Mom and Dad for our four children when I
was gone on deployments. She supported me
and the Marine Corps all of the time. Through the goods and the worst. We have four children. Diana is the oldest. She is married and has one son, Brandon. She is a MSGT in the USAF. Her husband, Steve, is also a MSGT in the
USAF. Yvonne, the second
oldest, lives in California. She
has a son, Chris, and he is in the USAF.
Xavier is the oldest son. He has
a daughter, Nina. Xavier is a engineer with Shell Oil in California. Robert is the youngest. He still lives with us. He works at UTSA in Information Systems.
Semper Fi
Roberto G.
Zapata
MGYSGT USMC
Retired
Bobby & Terry Zapata at the Texas Mini Reunion
February 2005, New Braunfels
