In memory of my dearest son, "The
Big Ern."
-Gloria Caldas
Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco-Caldas
A son...a brother...an
uncle...a friend
A captain...a hero...a man...a Godsend
A smile so bright...his heart led the way
With eyes full of light on the darkest of days
The moment you met him you knew from the start
as a baby or grown man he'd stolen your heart
His hugs were so strong you could feel his heart
and he melted yours each time you would part
There are so many words to describe him today
But a Soldier of God is the very best way
His fiancée,
Michelle Sorrel, wrote:
First and foremost, Ernie
loved the Lord and wanted others to know about his
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was not shy about it.
He was passionate
about Christ and hoped that others would come to know
His saving Grace and
His unconditional love. Ernie was passionate about life
because he had
found his life in Christ. He knew who he was without Christ
and that true
life began when he trusted that his salvation came through
Christ alone,
through His death and resurrection. It is through this
saving Grace that
Ernie lived an abundant life. If there is nothing else
that people know of
Ernie I would want them to know this. He would want them
to know this.
"But when the goodness
of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because
of works done by us in righteousness, but according to
his own mercy, by the
washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
whom he poured out
on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that
being justified by His
Grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal
life."
Titus 3:4-7
__________________________________
Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco-Caldas
of San Antonio, TX age 28 was killed in action on December
28th 2003. He died in Iraq while performing a support
mission with the 1-504 HHC scouts of the 82nd Airborne
Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
An improvised explosive device
hit his vehicle. Three of his fellow soldiers were wounded.
Ernie had been in Iraq since September of the current
year. He had also served in Afghanistan with the 82ndAirborne
Division as a platoon leader. Ernie was a graduate of
the Army’s Jumpmaster, Ranger and Airborne courses.
He attended Infantry Officer training in Fort Benning,
Georgia and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the
year 2000. Ernie was a graduate of Texas A & M, Class
of ’98, where he had been a member of the Corps of
Cadets and was a Ross Volunteer.
He was a member of the 1993
graduating class of Churchill High School in San Antonio,
Texas, his home of record since 1991. Ernie was a classically
trained guitarist who loved Rock and Country music. He
was a gifted singer and an excellent dancer. Ernie had
a contagious smile, and whatever Ernie did, he did with
great enthusiasm, humor, and total dedication. He was
the finest son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend
and companion a person could have and was looking forward
to being the same as a husband.
Ernie was dedicated to his
faith, his country, his family and his profession. A truly
natural born leader, Ernie lived his life courageously,
always looking out for others. Ernie was born in Hartford,
Connecticut on the 10th of August of 1975.
He was raised in Puerto Rico,
his parent’s birthplace. He is survived by his fiancee
Michelle Sorrel, his mother Gloria Caldas-Levine, his
father, José M. Blanco; his sister, Carmen Pendergraff;
his grandparents Joe and Lee Caldas; his nephew Trystan
Pendergraff. He is also survived by his brother-in-law,
Blaine Pendergraff; his step-father, Barry Levine; his
step-mother, Taimi Blanco, and his aunts and uncles, Joanie
and Dr. Jerry Maymi, Patricia and Dr. Rafael Santiago,
José and Tamara Caldas.
He will be sorely missed
by all including his eleven cousins; Natalie, Carlos,
Mariel, Erika, Alec, Nicole, Christian, Jessica, Rachel,
Javier, and two-month old Shoshana. Ernie, their eldest
cousin, was a source of fun and inspiration. This is truly
the passing of a great soul and spirit.
In lieu of flowers, please
make donation to the Ernesto M. Blanco-Caldas Memorial
Scholarship Fund, c/o Sterling Bank, Box 200010, San Antonio,
TX, 78220.
Captain Blanco's Platoon
published a website in his honor;
"He was loved by
all who knew him.."
click on the pictures or the URL's:
http://www.geocities.com/sdajumpmaster/blanco01.html
http://www.geocities.com/sdajumpmaster/blanco02.html
http://www.geocities.com/sdajumpmaster/blanco03.html
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Capt. Ernesto M.
Blanco-Caldas
Born in Hartford, Connecticut on
Aug. 10, 1975
Graduate of Texas A&M, Class
of '98
Killed in action on December 28th
2003. He died in Iraq while performing a support
mission with the 1-504 HHC scouts of the 82nd Airborne
Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Visit his memorial
at Fallen
Heroes Memorial
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