River Oaks Examiner - News
Soldier, scholar led extraordinary life
By CYNTHIA LESCALLEET
A decorated soldier who became a college history professor, Eduardo Alberto “Ed” Peniche died Aug. 16 at age 83 after a stroke earlier in the week.
His two career paths blended well, said his son, Carlos Peniche, who said Peniche had all the discipline of a military man but also had the “passion and expressiveness of his Latino heritage.”
Deemed a wartime hero in two countries, the United States and his native Mexico, the late Peniche led a well-documented life, as is fitting the historian he was, the younger Peniche said.
Many of the certificates and awards of Peniche’s very full life were on display at Tuesday’s memorial service at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, including the education visa that first brought him to the U.S. just before World War II and his citizenship papers from 1952.
Peniche was proud to be an American, said military historian Col. John Antal, retired, who befriended Peniche in the course of research for the books and historically accurate video products he writes.
“He saw in the United States of America a nation that was based on good principles” including merit, Antal said.
The Examiner profiled Peniche, an Upper Kirby resident, in September when he received a long-delayed second Purple Heart for injuries in the ferocious Battle of the Bulge. He had also earned two Bronze Star awards for his wartime valor.
As a testament to Peniche’s grit and attitude, a battle site marker bears his name at the Airborne Monument in Longchamps, Belgium, and reads “Stele Peniche.”
Those who knew him (and even Peniche himself) said he was small in stature but big in spirit.
“It was amazing how upbeat and positive he was. He was so energetic,” said Fran Burke of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, who had been working with Peniche on various veteran projects and become his friend and his fan.
Burke also noted his passion for education.
In an interview last fall, Peniche said the accomplishments in his life came from his can-do attitude, his persistence and his lifelong quest for education.
The qualities brought him not only opportunities but responsibilities, he said. Peniche embraced both in a life spent pursuing its fullest promise.
Born in Mexico, Peniche came to the U.S. on a student visa in 1943. At age 17, he registered for U.S. military service.
Peniche had wanted to be a pilot but ended up an airborne infantryman with extensive advanced training as a bazooka-man.
He served with the 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles, from D-Day to V-E Day.
As an example of the mettle that earned him his awards, Pencihe was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, and dragged himself 150 feet through heavy enemy fire to report his unit’s seriously wounded soldiers and destroyed anti-tank and communications link.
Post-war, Peniche’s student visa expired. He returned to Mexico, where he was an officer in the Mexican Army and and helped found the military’s aireborne school.In 1952, he became a U.S. citizen and re-enlisted in the U.S. Army. As a career soldier, he served in Korea and Vietnam, and he was rated an expert linguist in five languages.He continued to seek an education while in the service and later earned a master’s degree in Spanish American Literature. He taught Spanish and Latin American Culture for more than 20 years at Central Virginia Community College.In his later years, as a semi-retired professor, he was a frequent lecturer on the importance of education.Peniche is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lois Dean “Deanie” Peniche; son Carlos and his wife Angela; son John and wife Suzanne; daughter-in-law Kaye Ferrell; and five grandchildren. His son Frank and a granddaughter predeceased him.
Carlos Peniche said the family thinks his father’s life was book-worthy, not only for the drama of his service and the interesting family life spent all over the world but for “how he live through all these things” with grace and duty.
His two career paths blended well, said his son, Carlos Peniche, who said Peniche had all the discipline of a military man but also had the “passion and expressiveness of his Latino heritage.”
Deemed a wartime hero in two countries, the United States and his native Mexico, the late Peniche led a well-documented life, as is fitting the historian he was, the younger Peniche said.
Many of the certificates and awards of Peniche’s very full life were on display at Tuesday’s memorial service at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, including the education visa that first brought him to the U.S. just before World War II and his citizenship papers from 1952.
Peniche was proud to be an American, said military historian Col. John Antal, retired, who befriended Peniche in the course of research for the books and historically accurate video products he writes.
“He saw in the United States of America a nation that was based on good principles” including merit, Antal said.
The Examiner profiled Peniche, an Upper Kirby resident, in September when he received a long-delayed second Purple Heart for injuries in the ferocious Battle of the Bulge. He had also earned two Bronze Star awards for his wartime valor.
As a testament to Peniche’s grit and attitude, a battle site marker bears his name at the Airborne Monument in Longchamps, Belgium, and reads “Stele Peniche.”
Those who knew him (and even Peniche himself) said he was small in stature but big in spirit.
“It was amazing how upbeat and positive he was. He was so energetic,” said Fran Burke of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, who had been working with Peniche on various veteran projects and become his friend and his fan.
Burke also noted his passion for education.
In an interview last fall, Peniche said the accomplishments in his life came from his can-do attitude, his persistence and his lifelong quest for education.
The qualities brought him not only opportunities but responsibilities, he said. Peniche embraced both in a life spent pursuing its fullest promise.
Born in Mexico, Peniche came to the U.S. on a student visa in 1943. At age 17, he registered for U.S. military service.
Peniche had wanted to be a pilot but ended up an airborne infantryman with extensive advanced training as a bazooka-man.
He served with the 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles, from D-Day to V-E Day.
As an example of the mettle that earned him his awards, Pencihe was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, and dragged himself 150 feet through heavy enemy fire to report his unit’s seriously wounded soldiers and destroyed anti-tank and communications link.
Post-war, Peniche’s student visa expired. He returned to Mexico, where he was an officer in the Mexican Army and and helped found the military’s aireborne school.In 1952, he became a U.S. citizen and re-enlisted in the U.S. Army. As a career soldier, he served in Korea and Vietnam, and he was rated an expert linguist in five languages.He continued to seek an education while in the service and later earned a master’s degree in Spanish American Literature. He taught Spanish and Latin American Culture for more than 20 years at Central Virginia Community College.In his later years, as a semi-retired professor, he was a frequent lecturer on the importance of education.Peniche is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lois Dean “Deanie” Peniche; son Carlos and his wife Angela; son John and wife Suzanne; daughter-in-law Kaye Ferrell; and five grandchildren. His son Frank and a granddaughter predeceased him.
Carlos Peniche said the family thinks his father’s life was book-worthy, not only for the drama of his service and the interesting family life spent all over the world but for “how he live through all these things” with grace and duty.
Copyright © 2009 - Houston Community Newspapers Online