Alex Salinas

He was preceded in death by his parents, Celso and Petronila Salinas; his bothers, Lamar Salinas and Octavio Salinas; his sister Delia Salinas Harborth and his beloved spouse, Maria Norma Salinas.

Alex served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Floresville, Texas and joined the US Army in January, 1941. On December 7,1941, he was on a troop transport ship headed to the Philippines, but due to the attack on Pearl Harbor, his ship was diverted to Australia; then on to the Dutch East Indies where he was taken as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese on the island of Java in 1942. He spent 3 ½ years as a slave laborer in Japan in Nagasaki (building ships), and in Japanese coal mines until the atomic bomb ended WWII. He returned home and after 1 ½ years in the hospital at Fort Sam Houston, he went on to attend Trinity University where he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Biology.

In 1951 he married Maria Norma Riojas. They were married for 59 years, until 2010, when she passed away. Alex worked for the San Antonio City Health Department for 30 years, until his retirement.

Alex was a past National Commander of the American Ex-Prisoners of War and was a Life Member of the "Lost Battalion" 131st Field Artillery, and USS Houston Associations. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

Alex is survived by his sisters; Maria Celia Cruz and Viola Gutierrez, and a brother Amadeo (Mike) Salinas. He is survived by his three children; Alex C. Salinas (Raquel), Norma I. Reyes, and John C. Salinas (Cheryl); all three of San Antonio. Also, he is survived by the following grandchildren; Andria Rodriguez, Cecilia Salinas, Edward Salinas, Alisha Kiger, Adam Salinas, Christian Salinas, and Jason Rivas, Amie Jimenez, Krystal Jimenez, and the following great-grandchildren; Alejandro Rodriguez, Antonio Rodriguez, Oceana Rivas, and Marcus Jimenez as well as numerous cousins and relatives.

The family would like to thank the staff of Oak Park Nursing Home and Christus Santa Rosa Hospice for their care of our beloved Dad over the last 16 months. May he rest in eternal peace with our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven.

The family will be receiving guests at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Road, at 6:00pm on Thursday, May 4, 2017. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00pm that same evening. A Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke's Catholic Church, 4603 Manitou Road, at 1:00pm on Friday, May 5, 2017. Interment with full military honors will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.