Florencio Davila of Texas stepped up when his country called upon him to fight in World War II, and now his family and community have rallied to honor his sacrifice and grant his dying wish.
Davila — a native of Waco and former Army private first class who passed away Oct. 21 at age 99 — had hoped to be buried with full military honors when his time came. But his family was recently told that such funerals by the government are on hold due to the congressional shutdown.
“As we were making the preparations, we were told due to the government shutdown [that] military funerals are not happening right now or taking place right now,” his granddaughter Sonya Guerrero told local ABC affiliate WNEP 16.
She said the Army never responded to the family’s request to ensure he received a burial befitting his service to his country.
“I was devastated. That was his one and only request, and to hear that was not going to take place, I couldn’t let it not happen,” she said.
Davila had enlisted in the Army at age 18, joining the 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion as a gunner. He was stationed in the Philippines during his service.
“He loved his country; he was a proud veteran,” Guerrero said.
Determined to grant her granddad his burial wish, Guerrero tried contacting every government official and agency she could think of, as well as reaching out to the local community for help.
Eventually, neighbors connected her to the Casualty Assistance Center at Fort Hood, which rose to the occasion and said it would help.
“The community came together,” Guerrero said, adding this advice for other families in the same position: “Fight for your loved one and what they wanted and their wishes.
“Make it happen for them. My grandfather will receive the military honors he wanted,” she said.
Davila’s family described him as a hero whose kind spiri always inspired them.
“My dad was a person who cared about other people. He cared more about other people than himself,” said Irie Cuevas, Davila’s son.
Davila will be laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery in Waco beside his dearly departed wife, Mary, whom he was married to for more than 60 years.
“The Bible says to give honor where honor is due. … He gave of himself to give to others. I’m grateful to those that helped,” Cuevas said.
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