Gilbert P. Rosas Sr. was a hero.
He was among the 1.8 million Americans who served in the Korean War as part of his stint in the Army from 1951 to 1954. During his 10-month deployment as part of the 23rd Infantry Division, he went missing in action twice and was presumed dead once. He also sustained injuries on three separate occasions that earned him three Purple Hearts as well as a Bronze Star with the “V” device for valor. He was discharged after attaining the rank of corporal.
Rosas was looking forward to the unveiling and dedication of the Korean War mural by the Manteca Mural Society on the wall of the Manteca Bedquarters on May 21. Rosas unfortunately won’t be there to see the mural heralding America’s “Forgotten War” as he recently passed away.
Rosas moved from Campbell with his wife Mary to Manteca in 2013 to be near family. For years he belonged to the Order of the Purple Heart in San Jose serving as its president. He was also an active parishioner at his church, dedicating himself to helping others.
Rosas was the grandfather of retired Marine veteran Sergeant Shay Rosas who noted “Papa’s” heroism, patriotism, and leadership is what ultimately inspired her to join the military.
Sgt. Rosas grew up in Manteca. Through her work with the Wounded Warrior Battalion, she helped arrange the meeting a few years ago of Ronnie Porta — a Marine who was severely injured and burned in the same attack that killed Manteca High graduate and Marine Cpl. Charles Palmer II — and the Palmer family.
“Because of him,” she noted, “I became a United States Marine, a Color Sergeant for several years, and deployed to Korea. Now I would like to honor him once more as my family and I say our last goodbyes to the strongest man we ever knew.”
They are hoping people will honor Cpl. Gilbert Rosas and those that served with him by donating to the Manteca Mural Society to make sure the mural will be completed. Donations can be made by logging on to www.mantecamurals.com and using the PayPal link. Checks are also accepted and can be sent to Manteca Mural Society, P.O. Box 1666, Manteca CA 95336. For more information, call Charleen Carroll at 209.823.1386.
For those who would like to pay their respects to Cpl. Salas, his rosary is Tuesday at 4 p.m. at P.F. Fry & Sons followed by a reception from 5:30 to 8 p.m. the Manteca Community Center/Manteca Veterans Center on Moffat Boulevard. His funeral is at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at P.L. Fry & Sons. A motorcade will depart at noon for the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Gustine where interment takes place at 2 p.m.
The Manteca Chamber of Commerce will provide flags to display outside P.L. Fry & Sons on the days of the funeral while Manteca Police and the Patriot Guard will provide escort service.
Ripon Veterans of Foreign Wars are providing volunteers to prepare and serve the food being purchased through a monetary donation from the Red Cross of Sacramento.
Homeless already
repopulating area
along 120 Bypass
They’re back.
A week after City of Manteca work crews cleared out more than a dozen homeless encampments along the transition ramp from southbound Highway 99 to the 120 Bypass, at least six new encampments have popped up on the Spreckels Park property Saturday.
Also Saturday evening three homeless individuals set up camp for the night outside of the Metro PCS store in the Food-4-Less shopping center on Spreckels Avenue.
At least they haven’t became as brazen as some of the homeless in San Francisco that are pitching tents on city sidewalks in the financial district, near hotels, and even out toward the Richmond district.
