Sgt. Elpidio Velez, Sr.

BROWNSVILLE, TX. - Elpidio Velez, Sr., lifelong resident of Brownsville, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, nephew, and friend, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, the 27th of September 2023 in Brownsville, Texas at the age of seventy-seven.

Elpidio was born on August 21, 1946 in Brownsville, Texas, son of Pedro Velez and Adela Saiz Velez, a family of modest beginnings but rich in family values. He attended Cromack Elementary School, Faulk Middle School, and Brownsville High School.

At twenty years old, Sgt. Velez was inducted in the United States Army on November 29, 1966 and received his Basic, and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Polk in Louisiana. In May 1967, he received orders for Vietnam and upon his arrival, he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division’s Legendary 27th Infantry Regiment Wolfhounds. His permanent assignment was with Charlie Company 2nd Battalion of the 27th. His unit was headquartered in Cu Chi, III Corps Tactical Zone (CTZ) where he saw action in places such as the Iron Triangle, the Ho Bo Woods, and the A Shau Valley, and participated in major combat Operation Junction City and Tet’s counteroffensive.

Sgt. Velez was critically wounded by hostile fire and was medevaced to the 12th Evacuation Hospital in Cu Chi and was later transferred to Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Colorado. Upon being released from the hospital, Elpidio returned home and married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Ninfa. They both served as youth coordinators at Christ the King Catholic Church, where they also spent countless hours volunteering. He attended Texas Southmost College and pursued an occupational certificate in Automotive Mechanics. Together they had two children, Kimberly Ann and Elpidio Velez, Jr. While Epilido was very strict and disciplined in raising his children, he was a very loving father and husband. A humble man, he was always willing to help anybody in need. He loved his grandchildren and was fortunate to have met his great-grandson Axel via video call, just one week before his passing on Wednesday.

For his service and bravery, Sgt. Velez was awarded two Bronze Stars with “V” device and Oak leaf cluster, two Purple Heart medals, the Vietnam National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Badge with Rifle Bar, the Army Overseas Service Bar, and the Valorous Unit Award Cu Chi District.

A story titled “Battle-tested Friendship and “Friends Forever” about Sgt. “Short Round” Velez and his comrade and friend Sgt. Roque Cruz was featured in several newspapers. The two served together in the 25th Division while stationed in Vietnam. When Sgt. Velez was shot not once, but twice while his platoon was in a heavily concentrated Viet Cong area known as “The Iron Triangle,” Sgt. Cruz picked Velez up and rushed him into a waiting helicopter. Before letting him go, Cruz grabbed a black rosary bead and placed them in Velez’s hands and yelled, “Everything was going to be okay.” Cruz was later told that Velez did not survive on the flight back to an Army hospital in Japan. Nearly thirty years later, to his surprise, Cruz found out that his old buddy Velez had indeed survived and was also living in Texas. After much searching, the two eventually reconnected in Brownsville and reminisced on their friendship and days in the service.

He was preceded in death by his loving and devoted wife of fifty-one years, Ninfa Velez; his parents, Pedro Velez, Sr. and Adela S. Velez; and by his brother, Jose Alberto Velez (Nora).

Elpidio is survived by his children, Kimberly Ann Velez-Resendez (Cruz) and Elpidio Velez, Jr. (Ruby); grandchildren Ivan, Adam, Kacey, Kayleann, Nataly, Brianna, and Priya; great-grandson, Axel Ulysses Resendez; his brother, Pete Velez (Juanita); his sisters Ana Milan, Josie Velez, and Lupita Mata (Bob); and numerous extended family members.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, the 1st of October 2023 between the hours of three o’clock in the afternoon and nine o'clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o'clock Sunday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at twelve noon on Monday, the 2nd of October 2023 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 1055 Military Road, Brownsville. Interment with military honors will then follow, via an escorted procession, at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4464 Old Port Isabel Road, Brownsville.

Memories of Elpidio may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.