Epifanio "Joe" Resto-Carrion

RESTO-CARRION, Epifanio (Joe), age 92, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 29, 2020. He was born to Ramon Resto-Felicinao and Guillermina Carrion in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. He was the oldest of five siblings. In August 1947, Joe started his long distinguished military career by joining the Puerto Rico National Guard. In 1952, he separated from the Guard at the rank of Corporal. His separation was in-order to allow him to join the United States Army at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. He received his initial training at Camp Tortuguero, Vega Basa, Puerto Rico. In 1953, he was assigned in Neu-Ulm, Germany where he met the beautiful and loving Miss Ingried Merke. They were married on March 5th, 1955 and remained married for 61 years until her passing in 2017. From 1956 to 1958, the family moved to Fort Carson, Colorado. In 1958 to 1963, they lived in Ramersdorf-Perlach, Munich, Germany. They returned to Fort Carson, Colorado in 1963 and stayed there until July 1965 when Joe was deployed to South Vietnam. Upon his return in 1966, they were reassigned to Augsburg, Germany until 1968. In 1968 they were reassigned to Fort Riley, Kansas. While there, Joe attended the Military Intel School at Fort Holabird, Maryland. Upon graduation in 1972, they were assigned to Fort Amador, Canal Zone, Panama. While stationed there, Joe became a Master Mason and then a Shriner. From 1974 to 1975, Joe was assigned to Busan, South Korea. From Korea, Joe was assigned to Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas where he retired in 1978. After retirement, Joe went to work for the Defense Investigative Services (DIS) of the Department of Defense. Joe’s military awards include: Achievement of Merit; National Defense Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster); Vietnam Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm; Bronze Star Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Good Conduct Medal (8th Award); and Meritorious Service Medal. From 1978 until his passing, Joe was a fraternal member of the Alzafar Shrine, AF & AM, Army Lodge # 1105. As a Shriner, Joe was a member of the Hospital Corp which involved taking children to the Shriners Burn Hospital in Galveston, Texas and the Texas Orthopedic Hospital, Houston, Texas. From 2003 to 2018, Joe was a volunteer civilian member of the San Antonio Police Department: VIP (volunteer in policing); COP (cellular on patrol) and PST (Public Safety Team). Joe is survived by his brother Raul Resto-Carrion (Bronx, New York) and son Edgar Resto-Carrion (San Antonio, Texas).