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Sergeant Major Ret. Johnnie J. Salazar, age 83, passed away on January 12, 2008. He was born on April 10, 1924 in Bakersfield, California to the late Tiburcio and Josephine Salazar. As a teen, John worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps in California before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He served in WWII as an aerial gunner and photographer on the A-20 “Night fighter” aircraft in the 155th Night Photo Recon Squadron in Europe and participated in the reconnaissance support for D-Day. John was awarded the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf clusters and a Presidential Unit Citation for flying 32 missions over enemy territory. A graduate of the Army Language School, John’s 24-year military career spanned WWII, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. It included service in the Airborne and Special Forces, culminating as an instructor at the U.S. Army Jungle Warfare and Counterinsurgency School in Panama in the early 1960’s. Upon his retirement at the highest enlisted rank in the Army in 1966, John embarked on a new career as a high school Army ROTC instructor. He was the Senior Military Instructor and Chaminade Guard drill team moderator at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, Texas for 20 years, from 1967 - 1987. Upon his retirement from Central Catholic, John put his instructional background and public speaking experience to further use and became a very active member in Toastmasters International. He achieved the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster and over the past 20 years was instrumental in the establishment of numerous Toastmaster clubs throughout the greater San Antonio area. John provided service to both God and his country. He was a 4th Degree Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, an Affiliate Member of the Marianist Society at Central Catholic and a member of the Alamo Chapter of the Special Forces Association. John is survived by his loving wife, Lois Ann Wiggers Salazar of Evansville, Indiana. They shared almost 58 years of love, marriage and a passion for travel, especially throughout Europe. They were blessed with five children, Johnnie J. Salazar, II of Walnut Creek, California and his wife, Anne; Terry L. Salazar of Dallas and his wife, Pamela; Layne Christine Roetzel of San Antonio and her husband, Mark; Lisa Marie Kazor of Dallas and her husband, John; and Leslie Ann Roetzel of Dallas and her husband, Kerry. John was preceded in death by his sister, Marie and his brother, Ruben. He is survived by six siblings who reside in California; his brother, Tony Salazar and wife, Rosario; sister, Elena DeAnda and husband, Billy; sister, Carmen Langfield; sister, Vivian Garcia; sister, Carolina Holguin and husband, Henry; and his sister, Rose Ann Barnes; as well as numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. John was especially proud of his twelve grandchildren, Eric, Lindsay, Patrick, Ian and Kathleen Salazar; Tyler Salazar; Christine and Robert Roetzel; Katrina and Kendall Kazor; and Brennen and Liam Roetzel. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers are requested. Donations can be made in John’s name to either the SMAJ Johnnie J. Salazar Memorial Fund at Central Catholic High School, 1403 N. St. Mary’s Street, San Antonio, Texas 78215, or to the Johnnie J. Salazar Memorial Fund at the American Heart Association at http://honor.americanheart.org/goto/john.salazar. SERVICES Visitation will be from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm Thursday, January 17, 2008 at Mission Park Funeral Chapel North, with a Rosary at 7:30 pm. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10:00 am, Friday, January 18, 2008 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 9800 Marbach Road, San Antonio, Texas 78245, with a reception in the St. Rose Parish Hall thereafter. Interment with full military honors will take place at 1:00pm at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas 78209.

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Johnnie J. Salazar

April 10, 1924 - January 12, 2008