Victor M Hernandez

Victor Manuel Hernandez Victor Manuel Hernandez. 95, died peacefully, Saturday, August 5, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Born August 1, 1922, and raised in a sugar mill hamlet near Ponce, Puerto Rico, he competed his formative education and went to Louisiana to attend LSU. WWII interrupted his studies; he became a fighter pilot and flew with the 8th Air Force, stationed in England. On his 39th mission, Dec. 4, 1944, while escorting bombers, engine failure forced him to parachute near Frankfurt Germany. He became a prisoner of war and was detained at Stalag Luft I near the town of Barth, Germany on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Russian soldiers liberated the camp on May 19, 1945. That same year he resumed his studies at LSU where he graduated as a mechanical engineer. On November 18, 1945, he married Anna Laura Nalley, the love of his life. Victor was a life-long aviator. His Army career included service in the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam. He had assignments to various Army Posts both stateside and abroad in Germany and throughout Central America. As the Commanding Officer of the 503rd Aviation Company, in Germany, he cemented decades long friendships with the men and women there. Bi-yearly reunions with them covered decades with warm remembrances and continued to the end of his life. In addition to his parents Victor was preceded in death by his wife Anna and brother Ruben Hernandez. He is survived by his two sons, Victor Hernandez, Jr. and wife Cathey of Melbourne, Fl., Marshall Hernandez and wife Adele of Roswell, Ga. and daughter, Carmen Durham and husband Wayne of Greensboro, N.C.; his two brothers Raul Hernandez of Atlanta, Ga. Edgardo Hernandez and wife Ada of Melbourne, Fl. and his sister Haydee Zayas of San Juan, Puerto Rico; grandchildren, Anne Brady, Cathey Emeline Simpson, Alexandra Mia Bailey, Michael Jankovic, Gregory Hernandez; great grandchildren, Christian Brady, Emma Kate Brady, Mia Bailey; and extensive family in Puerto Rico and Louisiana, as well as his many friends in the 503rd and Indian River Colony Club, his Florida residence. Victor’s family will celebrate his legacy with family and friends at Indian River Colony Club on September 9, from 9:00am until 12:00pm. His military burial will take place at the National Cemetery in Canton, GA. on September 29 at 11:00am followed by a reception at Atlanta Country Club at 1:30pm. Victor will be remembered for his strength of character, devotion to duty, steadfast leadership, and love of his family. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Fisher House Foundation, Inc., 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850. (888) 294-8560, donate.fisherhouse.org. To sign his guest book go to www.beckmanwilliamson.com