Photo By Cecil Johnson | Fred Chapal, an Army civilian serving with the Network Enterprise Center, turns 90...... read more read more
SAN ANTONIO - In 2006, the Army unveiled its new slogan “Army Strong” with the words, “There is nothing on this green earth stronger than the U.S. Army, because there is nothing on this green earth stronger than a U.S. Army soldier.”
One Joint Base San Antonio civil servant has been a living example of “Army Strong” for 70 years. Fred Chapal, a Department of the Army civilian serving with the United States Army Signal Network Enterprise Center turns 90 years old Monday.
Chapal entered the Army June 12, 1943 and is a World War II veteran. He served as a gunner with Company A, 87th Chemical Mortar Battalion and experienced combat duties in five major campaigns, including Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe.
The 87th Chemical Mortar Battalion served 326 days in combat, during which 11 soldiers were killed and dozens were wounded. During his time overseas, Chapal vividly recalls when Winston Churchill told the British people, “Never give up!”
Chapal is recognized as the oldest civil servant with the Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command (Army) as well as Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. In addition, he is among the six oldest federal employees serving in the Army. Chapal has been a civil servant for 30 years and today serves as a logistics technician.
“People ask me all the time … 'why don’t you retire?'” Chapal said. “I have got to be doing something and since I don’t play golf, I would rather be working. As long as I can get out of bed, I just come to work.”
A Texas native, Chapal was born June 17, 1923. He is a direct descendent of the Macedonio Vela family, who in 1867 purchased and founded the 80,000-acre Laguna Seca Ranch in south Texas.
“I am proud of my family heritage. My mother’s name was Raquel Vela and her grandfather founded the Laguna Seca Ranch which is a famous ranch located in Edinburg, Texas,” Chapal said.
“There is a historical marker at the ranch stating that my aunt, Tia Carlota, took a bag of oranges from a traveling priest and started the whole citrus industry in the Rio Grande Valley.”
Chapal married his wife Dorothy in 1948, and together they have raised two children and nine grandchildren.
This year, the Chapals will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. The NEC, in partnership with Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, celebrated Chapal’s 90th birthday June 17 at JBSA-FSH.
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2013 12:47 |
| Story ID: | 108783 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 784 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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