My Dad's Obituary

Jaime Almoite Bernal

Fifteen months after suffering a debilitating stroke, Jaime Bernal,
a three war veteran, loving husband and father, teacher and advocate
for the economically challenged, died of respiratory failure at the age
of 87. Born at Pangasinan, Philippine Islands on 12 June 1911, Jaime
left his hometown on his own and immigrated to America when he
was only 18 years old. After completing high school in San Jose, CA.,
he worked his way up from being a farm hand in Oregon and
California to becoming a restaurant owner in New York City. Jaime
hen moved to Bangor, Maine where he worked for the B & A Railroad
Company. In 1943 Jaime joined the U.S. Army. As a member of an
elite commando unit, the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion (Special), he
participated in operations in the enemy occupied Philippine Islands
during World War II. Jaime and his fellow commandos were organized
with guerrilla fighters, passing themselves off as local villagers as they
conducted sabotage and intelligence gathering activities. One of his
units' most significant events of the war included the destruction of
Balete Pass on Highway 4, a choke point in the enemy's route of
retreat as General MacArthur's forces would push towards Manila.
After conducting a clandestine landing by submarine, Jaime and a
crack team of three fellow commandos set up the demolitions and
destroyed the pass while defending against numerically superior
enemy forces. Shortly after the war, Jaime left the Army and returned
to work for the railroad. But after five years he once again enlisted in
the U.S. Army, just in time to experience more combat as a
communications specialist during the Korean Conflict. Before retiring
in 1968 at Ft. Lewis, Jaime again saw more combat action in Vietnam.
Jaime's personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Combat
Infantryman's Badge, eight battle stars, and assorted unit awards and
campaign decorations. Between wars, Jaime earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Maryland. After his retirement from the
military, he pursued graduate studies at the University of Puget
Sound and the Universidad de las Americas in Mexico City.
Maintaining a focus on education, Jaime taught at McCarver
Elementary, Laughbon Jr. High School, Dupont High School and Lakes
High School. He concluded his teaching career by establishing the
English as a Second Language curriculum at the Clover Park Voc- Tech
School and publishing a student textbook for the state program. Jaime
was also an exceptionally active member in several community
organizations. He was a member of the Elks Lodge #174 where he
served as the Chairman of the Washington State Elks Scholarship
Program. He was twice elected President of the Filipino-American
League, was on the board of the Tacoma Public Library, served on the
Human Relations Commission and on the Advisory Board of the Pierce
County Aging and Long Term Care Agency. He was an active
participant in several Affirmative Action committees. He also worked
to organize and establish ethnic meal sites for senior citizens through-
out Tacoma. Jaime was married for 43 years to the lovely and late
Felicidad Mangonon, who passed away in 1988. He is survived by
daughter Linda, sons Richard, Ben and Ronnie and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday (Today) until 9 PM with a family rosary recited
at 7:00pm at Mt. View Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be 11:00 am
Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998, St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 5505
108th St. S.W. in Lakewood. Burial with full military honors will follow
at Mountain View Memorial Park. Memorial may be sent to the MVS
Scholarship Fund at the Tacoma Elks Lodge #174, 1965 S. Union Ave.
Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home. 584-0252.

Pub Date: 12/4/1998
Tacoma News Tribune