Jose Maldonado

LCPL Jose Maldonado of Mathis, formally of Baytown, was killed while conducting combat operations in the Sangin District, Helmand Province in Afghanistan. He was 21. Maldonado attended elementary school, junior high, and a year and a ½ of high school in Baytown, and middle school and the rest of High School in Mathis. He is a 2007 graduate of Mathis High School. Maldonado excelled in both his military and sports careers. Awards he received during his sports career include: All Tournament Odem Tournament, 1st Team All District Outfielder, Honorable Mention All District Linebacker, and Shriner’s East and West All-Star Player. He worked at the HEB in Mathis from 2006-2007, then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on September 5, 2007. Maldonado was deployed to Afghanistan on September 22, 2010. Awards he received during his short military career include: Combat Action Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and he is the recipient of the Purple Heart.

Maldonado will be remembered by his family as someone who lived life to the fullest, someone who was not satisfied with the ordinary, everything had to be extraordinary. To him, if he was going to do something, he had to be the best at it. He was strong in mind, in body, and in will. Yet, he was caring and protective of those he loved. He was always playful and loved to wrestle with his cousins and siblings.

Maldonado is preceded in death by his biological father, the late Humberto Mejia of Falfurrias, by his paternal grandfather, the late Eloy Mejia of Falfurrias, and his maternal grandfather, the late Humberto Maldonado also of Falfurrias.

He leaves behind his wife Jackie De La Garza of Corpus Christi, his aunt/guardian Alicia Williams and uncle/guardian George Williams of Mathis, his brother Eric Vera of Baytown, his sister Darlynna Mejia of Mathis, his nephew Jaiden Mejia of Mathis, his brother Eddie Vera of Mathis, his sister Emily Vera of Mathis, his cousin Jessica Williams of Mathis, his cousin Stefanie Pena of Mathis, his biological mother, Oralia Maldonado of Baytown, his maternal grandmother Ester Maldonado of Falfurrias, his paternal grandmother Bertha Flores of Falfurrias, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mathis from 4-7pm, with the rosary beginning at 7pm on Tuesday December 28, 2010. Mass will also be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mathis at 10am on Wednesday December 29, 2010. Immediately following the mass, there will a procession from Mathis to Falfurrias where visitation will be held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church from 4pm-7pm with the rosary beginning at 7pm and ending at 9pm. On Thursday December 30, Maldonado will be buried at the Falfurrias Burial Park at 10am.