Stokes, Henry Clay (b. , d. ?)

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Note: Roberto HANDY
Birth Date: 13 Jul 1908
Death Date: Mar 1982
Social Security Number: 454-22-6436
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Texas

Robert's Fall

As a young man, Robert and his brothers did many chores. One was to close the gate to the family ranch. This day was Robert's turn. He rode his horse out to the gate, but never returned to the house. Concerned, his brother Chauncey Jr. went looking for him. He found the horse close to the gate roaming free, chewing on some grass. Worried, he soon found Robert on the ground with his head bleeding. It seemed that Robert, in his hurry to get home after closing the gate, had hit his head on a tree branch, knocking him off the horse on to a piece of tin partially buried in the ground. (Little shack homes were made and abandoned often during that time, breaking apart, pieces scattered all over)

Chauncey Jr. quickly picked him up, put Robert in front of him on the horse, and got him back to the ranch. He feared that it might take too long a time to get a doctor, because he had already been out in the elements injured for a while. Eduvijes did what she thought best and cleaned the wound. She used the only thing they had that could sanitize the wound: pure alcohol, pouring it directly over the large gash on his head. She followed up with thread and needle, sewing up the wound. He slept, or was in a coma for 3 days. Waking finally, he seemed normal. Only later did the family notice that he seemed to have spells when he got angry.

He became a good man, and married Elvira Hernandez. They had fifteen children, thirteen of which survived. He was a stern father, but also caring. He provided for his family, and helped his brothers and sisters when help was needed. He was a smoker, but always seemed in good health, until he was forced to retire from his city job at 65. He had his first heart attack a short while after, and never completely recovered. Other heart attacks followed until he passed away in a nursing home in Weslaco, Texas.

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Note: Adalberto (Bert) Handy enlisted in the Navy at age 20 with his cousin Robert Clark in Edinburg. They had a little trouble joining though, seem Bert was under weight, so he went to a near by fruit vendor, and bought 4 lbs. of bananas, ate them all, and that brought up his weight enough to join. They were sworn in the Navy in Houston, Texas.

Bert made a career in the Navy, serving from 1954 to 1975 totaling 21 of service:

Recruit Training Command, San Diego, California
Naval Air Technical Training Unit, El Centro, California
USS Roanoke (CL-145)
USS Essex (CVS-9)
USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39)
USS Ranger (CVA-61)
Naval Inactive Ship Command, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14)
USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)

Though his career took him to many ports of call, and he serviced on many ships there were some times that were note worthy. During his service on the USS Champlain, an aircraft carrier, the ship picked up the first manned space capsule containing Alan Sheppard. Later on the USS Ticonderoga, another aircraft carrier, the ship picked up the astronauts from Skylab.

He retired (transferred from active to duty to Fleet Reserve) on July 1, 1975, as a Machinist Mate First Class.

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Note: Jose YBARRA
Birth Date: 16 Nov 1925
Death Date: 15 Apr 1988
Social Security Number: 450-40-1737
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Texas

Death Residence Localities
ZIP Code: 78539
Localities: Edinburg, Hidalgo, Texas

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