Joseph D Chavez

Lt. Colonel (Retired) Joseph (Joe) D. Chavez Obituary

      Lt. Colonel Joseph D. Chavez passed away at the Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Hospital in Albuquerque, NM on November 18, 2018. Joe was born July 17, 1925 in Belen, New Mexico to Vincente B. Chavez and Librada “Libby” Landavazo Chavez.  He enlisted in the Navy in April 1942 at the age of 17 and was stationed at San Diego, CA as a Machinist Mate 2nd Class before being transferred to the Marine Corps as Staff Sargent in the 1st Marine Division from 1942 to the end of the war. Joe was wounded in Peleieu while manning a flamethrower in battle.  In 1946 Joe was in China an as Engineer on the USS Currier and was wounded during a battle.

       Joe attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree. He entered the US Army Reserves while attending UNM and when the Korean War broke out he was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant. He fought from 1951-1953 and commanded two different Ordinance Companies in support of the 10th Corps.  He attended military schools through Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth and the Army War College where he completed a second Masters Degree. From late 1952-mid 1962 Joe was a Shop Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer for Field Artillery Batteries and was responsible for the leadership, management, training, logistics and administration of units consisting of from 120 to 400 men.  During this time he also served as Batallion Adjutant and Division Assistant G-1 and  was responsible for all personnel and administration activities at these levels of command. From 1963-1966 he was a professor of Military Science and Department Head of Military Science (ROTC), University of Illinois, Chicago, IL where he planned and supervised all instruction. 

       Joe was a combat Veteran in Vietnam from 1967 through 1968 in the US Army and held the rank of Lt. Colonel  and Deputy Senior Advisor in Vietnam. He participated in the Tet Offensive while assigned as Advisor to the 25th ARVN Infantry Division. He was wounded in an attack by the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong in February 1968.  Joe was promoted to Commander of an artillery group of 13 units scattered over a 10,000 square mile area in West Germany consisting of more than 800 men in support of the III German Army Corps.

       Upon his return to the United States he was the Chief of Plans and Operations Officer and Research and Development representative at the Nuclear Weapons School, Sandia Base, Albuquerque, NM where he trained military groups for nuclear readiness and acted as liaison between the US Army and the Atomic Energy Commission.

       He returned to Germany in 1970 and was assigned as Commander of the 57th Artillery Group in Herborn Seelbach, Germany and commanded six Battalions supporting the German Army in Northern Germany before returning to the Nuclear Weapons School at Sandia Base, Albuquerque, NM where he retired on August 1, 1972 as a Lt. Colonel in the US Army.

       Within two months he was teaching at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque before going to the Albquerque Public Schools Central Office where he worked with special needs students and developed outreach programs in which students could work for local businesses and continue their schooling.  He retired from the Albuquerque Public Schools in August 1987. During this time he also attended graduate school at UNM and earned another Masters Degree plus additional hours toward a PHD. He taught courses at UNM in the area of Special Education and from 1987 to 1992 did consulting work with many of the school districts throughout New Mexico. He also worked as an actor and appeared in several television shows and as an extra in movies. He traveled extensively throughout the world; including Europe, the old Soviet Union, South America, Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, South Pacific, Canada, Mexico and all 50 states.

       Joseph was a Masonic Lodge #638, a Shriner, Order of the Purple Heart (he had three Purple Hearts), a member of the Sister Cities and St. Mary's Episcopal Church. He was a fervent follower of UNM Lobo football and basketball.

       Joe was predeceased by two wives, Stella B. Chavez and Helen G. Chavez; his parents, Vincente B. and Librada “Libby” Landavazo Chavez; daughters, Jo Ann Sanchez and Evelyn Garcia and son, Don Chavez; brothers, Ignacio and Raymond Chavez and sisters, Adela Sanchez and Stella Barela. He is survived by his wife, Mary Helen Chavez; sister, Gertrude Torres; sister-in-law, Clorie Chavez; daughters, Carol Majeris (Jerry) and Paula Eller (Jerry) and son, Vincent Chavez (Kim); step-daughters, Elaine Ennis (John) and Janelle Yuska (Mark); and many grandchildren, great-children, nieces and nephews.