Israel Lugo-Jorge Wins Veterans Honor

israellugoWest Bronx resident Israel Lugo-Jorge was honored earlier this week, along with fellow Bronxites Cedric Smith and Bronx Chronicle Publisher Sal Conforto, in Albany, being inducted into the State Senate’s Veterans’ Hall of Fame.
Lugo-Jorge was born in Puerto Rico, but has called the city home since he was a year old. In 1967, at the age of 19, Sergeant Lugo-Jorge felt called to serve his country in the Vietnam War and enlistedin the Armed Forces.Sergeant Lugo-Jorge completed his basic training at the historic FortJackson in South Carolina and went on to Fort Eustis in Virginia, where hespecialized as a crane operator. He served as a Specialist (E4) for the 1stLAW Command, 394th Battalion in Quy Nhon, Vietnam where he unloadedincoming ships and volunteered to travel on convoys escorting Air Forceequipment and guarding trains against enemy forces. His company waslater dispatched further north in Vietnam where Sergeant Lugo-Jorge wasthen assigned to company 1098 (LCM Boat).
Sergeant Lugo-Jorge served a total of two tours in Vietnam. After his active duty, Sergeant Lugo-Jorge continued to serve his countryin the Army National Guard until he was discharged in 1978. Today,Mr. Lugo-Jorge focuses his efforts in serving his community and fellowveterans. He hosts various veteran functions at, and along with, the Claremont Community Center that are centered on honoring those whohave serviced to our nation as well as the Bronx community. He has received the Vietnam Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Medal, the New York State Medal and, most recently, the Veterans Honor Plaque from the Tainos Lyons Club.

 

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