CPT (Ret.) Eulalio "Ely" Arzaga Sr.

1917 - 2012

CPT (Ret.) Eulalio "Ely" Arzaga Sr. obituary, 1917-2012, Killeen, TX

BORN

1917

DIED

2012

FUNERAL HOME

Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home - Killeen

1615 South Fort Hood Road

Killeen, Texas

Eulalio Arzaga Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Dec. 13, 2012.

CPT (Ret.) Eulalio Arzaga

I'M FREE

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God has chosen for me.
I took His hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I've now found peace at the end of day.

If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Oh yes, these things, I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
Look for the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.
Perhaps my time seems all too brief;
Don't lengthen your pain with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and peace to thee,
God wanted me now-He set me free.


Eulalio "Ely" Arzaga, Sr. passed away on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. Eulalio was born on January 10, 1917 in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, Philippines.

Eulalio was raised in Ilocos Norte and educated at the Ilocos Norte Trade School. While living in Manila, he attended the Philippine School of Arts and Trade, earning an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

After graduating College, Eulalio joined the Philippine Scouts of the US Army and was assigned to HQ and Service Troop, 26 CAV Regiment, Ft. Stotsenburg, Pampanga, PI. During his Military career, Arzaga served in both WW II – surviving the Bataan Death March - and the Korean War. After WW II, he was assigned to the 1st AD, the 4th AD, the 2nd AD and ASCOM Depot, Supply HQs in Taegu, Korea.

CPT (Ret.) Eulalio Arzaga's Military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Services Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), the Good Conduct Medal w/5 Silver Clasps, the President Unit Emblem, the American Defense Service Medal , the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the National Defense Medal, the WW II Medal, the WW II Occupation Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Philippines Defense Medal, the Philippines Liberation Medal, the Philippine Independence Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, and the United Nations Service Medal.

He was a founding member of the EX-POW Centex Chapter #1 and of the Fil-American Association of Central Texas. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus #1532 and #4724, DAV #147, VFW #3892, American Legion Post #223, American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Philippine Heritage Society, The Bob Gilmore Center, American Red Cross, Assn. of United States Army, EX-POW National HQ-Arlington and EX-POW State of Texas.

He was a faithful, life-time member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years.

He is preceded in death by his parents Lorenzo Arzaga and Severa Cabel Arzaga, 3 brothers, 2 sisters, his son USAF Cpt. Eulalio Arzaga Jr., his daughter Evelyn Sergent and his first wife of 58 years, Constancia Leonardo Arzaga.

Eulalio is survived by his wife of 12 years, Anna Valdez Arzaga of Killeen TX, six daughters ; Tessie Crosby of Corpus Christi TX, Victoria Chapman of Rancho Cucamonga CA, Dorothy Saccullo of Port Charlotte FL, Constance Lilly Kittredge of Killeen TX, Shirley Riddle of Killeen TX and Carol Milloy of Sierra Vista AZ, and by 20 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. He will also be missed by 5 Step-children, 8 Step-grandchildren and 1 Step-great-grandson.

The Arzaga family will receive guests for a time of visitation on Monday, December 17, 2012 from 6 -8 PM in the chapel of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home of Killeen with a Rosary being recited at 7:00 PM. Mass of a Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 beginning at 12:00 PM at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with Fr. Vincent Romuald, SRC as celebrant. Burial with full military honors and the K of C Assembly #1532 as honor guard will follow the Mass in Killeen Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service at the Temple Veterans Administration or to St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordbowersfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
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Sponsored by Constance Lilly Arzaga-Kittredge.

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Not sure what to say?

January 1, 2013

James Wells

Mr Arzaga (I could never bring myself to call him by his first name)was a very kind man who had a zest for living and seemed to have no malice toward anyone. Although its been a good while since I've seen him, I remember in detail the stories of the war and his life. It was a great privilege to hear these as they were seldom told. There are many good memories. Our condolences to his kind and generous family.

December 30, 2012

Jose Calugas, Jr.

I first met Capt. Arzaga April 7-10, 2012 during the 28th National reunion of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society at Fort. Stotsenburg , Clark in the Philippines. It was a pleasure to talking to him of his ordeal in Bataan.

I met his wife and daughter Lily who accompamied him at the reunion. He was always the first to get up for breakfast and ready to go on the tour.

The memorable event that followed on the tour to Capas Tarlac on our way back from Cabanatuan prison Camp. He was crying at the memorial wall where the names of the prisoners who died in the prison camps was engraved. He found his brothers name there for the first time.

My father was a also a Philippine Scouts with the 88th FA PS . Capt. Jose Calugas,Sr Medal of Honor recipient and I am sure they knew each other during and after the war.

My sympathy and prayers for the family of Capt. Arzaga. God bless!
Jose "Joe" Calugas, Jr.
President PSHS

December 27, 2012

Andrea Holi

Love u grandpa...it has been a honor to be your grandaughter

December 18, 2012

Jill Hunter

Melissa,
I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your grandfather. I know he meant a lot to you. Please accept my deepest condolences for your family loss. May his memory be eternal.

December 18, 2012

We will all miss Daddy, he touched so many lives. Daddy was truly an amazing person who conquered a mountain in life and reached the top. So full of knowledge, a terrific person husband and a fantastic father. Just to have known him was an honor.

My love and support will always be here for you. I will keep everyone in my prayers.

Love your sister of the heart, Chrissy

December 18, 2012

Anthony Rama Maravillas

My father, SSGT. Ricardo Maravillas (US Army, Ret. and a Phil. Scout in the Bataan campaign) had the honor and pleasure of sitting next to Capt. Arzaga, a fellow Philippine Scout, at the Phil. Scouts Heritage Society reunion, May 2008, Burlingame, CA. I also had the opportunity to chat briefly with the captain at that same event. Capt. Arzaga was a gentleman, a real soldier, and a hard-and-true Philippine Scout! - Dr. Anthony Rama Maravillas, Fairfield, CA

December 18, 2012

It was a pleasure and honor to speak with him and meet his family at the Philippine Scouts Heritages Society Reunions here in California.
Thank you for your service and your company amongst us.
Our condolences on behalf of the members of the Los Angeles Nininger Chapter. Frank Lopez, Secretary.

December 17, 2012

Emily Morris

Please accept my heartfelt sympathy for your loss of Capt. Arzaga. I feel so blessed to have met him and will always remember his warm smile and kind heart. He will be greatly missed, but he is home now within the arms of Jesus.
May God give your entire family peace and comfort.

December 17, 2012

Margaret Fowler

Shirley, my heart reaches out to you and your family. I'm praying for comfort and peace from our Heavenly Father to embrace all of you.

December 17, 2012

Lino & Maria Gonzales

So many great memories of your parents. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

December 17, 2012

Our sincere and deepest sympathy are with all of you at this time of sorrow. Especially our friends Carol and Sonny. Our prayer's will be offered at Our Lady of the Mts. for all of you. Laura & Leon Vander-Heyden, Hereford, AZ

December 17, 2012

Linda Geschwandtner

My deepest sympathy to Mr. Arzaga's family. He was a wonderful man. A very close friend of my father. My dad had such respect for him. The two of them were always going somewhere together. Perhaps now, they are driving around in Heaven. May he rest in peace.

December 17, 2012

Zenaida Crisostomo Slemp & PSHS Tacoma Chapter

Lily and family,
We had such a memorable time during our Philippine Scouts Reunion Tour in April. Your Dad sat behind me on the bus and he had such a wealth of knowledge about the sights we visited. Plus, he had quite the sense of humor. This is a time I will always remember. We will continue to keep the Legacy of the Philippine Scouts alive. Our prayers are with you. We hope to see you and your family at the next PSHS Reunion.

December 16, 2012

Our deepest and sincerest condolences to the entire Arzaga family. May God's love surround you all in your time of sorrow. We are sadden by the loss of Mr. Arzaga that we respect and very proud for all his accomplishment.

Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Natividad and Family

December 16, 2012

Darlene Haun

What a rich heritage your father has given each of you. His greatest accomplishment was raising such wonderful children to continue on with the heritage... Blessings to you all.

December 16, 2012

Danny and Faye Liquete

Our condolences to the Arzaga family. Our parents were very close friends. Now they are together again watching over us.

December 16, 2012

Linda Dagan Finney

My condolences to the Arzaga family. I have known your family since 1960 and your family is like family to me. The friendship our parents had with each other is so special and I am thankful it has continued. Uncle Arzaga was a hero in every sense... he loved you girls very much. He will be missed.

December 16, 2012

Frank Enriquez

Our condolences to the Arzaga family. It was an honor to have known you during our stay in Killeen.

December 16, 2012

Gen Silverio

Our condolence to the family. This gentleman was a hero in the truest sense.

December 15, 2012

Our sincere condolences and best wishes go out to the Arzaga clan. "Uncle" Arzaga leaves behind a rich and vast legacy in the family he nurtured and discipled for over 70 years. We are so blessed to have known him and the joy he brought to us.
I'll never forget the Cadillac which became his trademark. Until we meet again...Ollie & Lucy Garcia

December 15, 2012

Victor Verano

My condolences to the Arzaga family. It was an honor to have met and known him through the PSHS. Godspeed Capt. Arzaga.

Posted by Victor Verano

December 15, 2012

virginia ramirez

my deepest sympathies for the Arzaga family. I have been one of the fortunate ones to call him "Uncle". He has been a dear family friend. He was there for our family during some of our deepest sorrows. And he has been my father's compadre...He will be missed

December 15, 2012

Patricia Zartman

Pat & Hank Zartman

December 15, 2012

Philip Garcia

On behalf of the Fort McKinley, Manila chapter it was an honor to have met you and joined us on that memorable reunion. Thank you for your sacrifices.You will not be forgotten.

Los Angeles and Manila Chapters

Posted by Philip Garcia

December 15, 2012

Kurt & Pam Hentschel

Our prayers are with you. May God bring comfort to you and your family.
God bless you.
Kurt and Pamela Hentschel

December 15, 2012

Edie Campbell

Dearest Carol and Dorothy and all the Arzaga sisters wishing God's comfort in your time of sorrow. So happy to meet your dad at his birthday celebration. He raised an amazing family.

December 15, 2012

Rudy Cabigas

It was an honor meeting Capt. Arzaga during the Philippine Scout reunions. To be with him in the Philippines this year at the original 26th Cavalry Fort was an Honor.

Our prayers are with the family. The trooper is now at ease..

The Cabigas Family, Scotts Valley, California

December 15, 2012

Cleo & Larry Remmert

We are deeply sorry for the loss of your dear father. I meet Mr. Arzaga in the 70's and he always welcomed me to his house. He tried to teach me how to play mahjong, but never could understand the game. He will be missed by all. Rest in Peace Mr. Arzaga.

December 15, 2012

arthur santos

We only met Daddy briefly in his visits to the philippines with Aunt Anna but we cherish and are honored to meet this great person. From all of the Santos family, our hearfelt condolences to the Arzagas

December 15, 2012

Deana Sawdey

My thoughts and prayers are with your family during this time of sorrow.

December 15, 2012

Leonore Johnson

My sincere condolences to the immediate and extended family of Mr. Arzaga. You girls have been such great daughters to a wonderful father. May all your precious memories comfort you now and in the future. Your dad is an American hero, and I count it a privilege to have known him.

December 15, 2012

Judy Myers

May God hold you in his arms and heal the sorrow you all feel. We are with you in your thoughs and prayers today

December 15, 2012

Kerry Barker Taylor

Please accept our deepest sympathies for your loss. Your father/grandfather led a rich and fruitful life. He is now home and in great company, though I know he will be missed. I hope the many wonderful memories you have will offer you comfort and strength. Love & Prayers

December 15, 2012

Roxanne Fletcher

I am so sorry to read this... I had the great pleasure of meeting and spending a little time with him. He was a great man. You guys will be in my prayers and I wish I could be there.

December 15, 2012

Melinda (Mallari) Kevin & Ruby Swan

Dearest cousins and family, thank you for sharing your courageous journey in caring for your father and each other. I remember him quiet-spoken, always with a little smile that started in his heart. He is so dearly missed.

Love, peace and condolences to you ...

December 15, 2012

Sylvia Gamble

He was a true soldier. For God and Country and will be missed by many. Carol, to you and your family my deepest sympathy.

December 15, 2012

Connie Milner

My fondest memory of Mr. Arzaga was him taking us to the out of town high school games. He was so sweet to do that. I think he enjoyed them as much as we did. Kudos for being such a man of integrity, bravery, honor, an excellent friend and neighbor and most of all for doing such a great job raising his family. You are a great example on how to live your life to the fullest. You will be missed. Lots of love

December 14, 2012

Janice Holladay

This was an amazing man. I remember his birthday party last year. I had always known him as "Carol's dad" and, like most kids, had not given much thought to his own life. I learned about his story last year and was so moved. To know someone who had lived so much, been through so much, both good and bad, and then to see him have such joy in that very life at his party last year......He began to shape my life differently. I wondered how he found the joy in life, how he seemed so full of life. He has become somewhat of a beacon for me. I think of him when I suffer difficult times and try to muster the strength and the will to move through my life in a better way. Thank you, family, for sharing your father with so many of us. He was and still is an inspiration. He will be missed, but he will be remembered and will continue to have a positive influence on my life and on the lives of many others.

December 14, 2012

David Kittredge

My heartfelt condolences to all the Arzagas and their vast extended families. Ely was a great man who lived a storied life. His history is amazing as is the family that he created after surviving WWII. I feel honored to have known him and to actually be a part of that vast extended family.

December 14, 2012

John newton

You are in my thoughts
John

December 14, 2012

Kathryn Bradford

Our thoughts and prayers are with Carol, Sonny, Brandi, Sonya, and the rest of the family. Carol, your dad was an amazing man and was a true hero. He made his mark on earth and will do so in Heaven. God's blessings to the Arzaga family. Love and blessings from the Bradford family.

December 14, 2012

Edie Campbell

My sweet friends Carol and Dorothy as well as all the Arzaga sisters. I am sadden by the loss of your Father that you all so dearly loved. So pleased that I did get to share time at his 95th birthday and the trip to Fredricksberg to honor his amazing career as a brave Filipino soldier serving our country and to survive the Japanese prison. My thoughts and prayers are with you to find comfort and peace.

December 14, 2012

Our thoughts and prayers are with all the Arzaga families. I've (Judy Garcia) known 'Uncle' Arzaga and his family for almost 60 years now. He and his family were one of the first Filipino families our family befriended when they arrived in Ft. Hood, TX. We arrived in the U.S. in November 1950 and met the Arzagas in 1953, I think. We've been friends ever since. What a blessing it has been to know him and his wonderful family!! He will live in our hearts forever, and my heart will be filled with the memories of the many joyful times our families spent together (picnics, all-night mahjong games, parties for any/all occasions, etc.). I know he's in heaven playing mahjong with my parents. May God's love surround you all in your time of sorrow...sending our deepest sympathy & love, Judy & Mike Evans

December 14, 2012

L. Delores Gautier

May God, our Heavenly Father, give you His peace during this time of sorrow. The USA has lost a WW II veteran, a POW & a true American hero. He sacrificed much for the sake of freedom. Family, cherish your heritage & memories. My prayers are with each of you.

December 14, 2012

Linda Ramirez

My sincerest and deepest condolences to the entire Arzaga family. I am deeply saddened by Uncle Arzaga's death and the loss being felt by his close-knit family, especially his daughters. The love and devotion you surrounded him with not only throughout his life but especially in the past few months was amazing. I am in awe of all of you. I know he took great pride in his military service, but I'm sure he was more proud of you. He left this life knowing he was greatly loved. I will remember him fondly always as part of my life in Killeen and later. God bless you all.

Showing 1 - 45 of 45 results

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