Random Thought: How Will History Remember You?

 By Roy Ortega

 "The unexamined life is not worth living. It is not living that is important but living rightly." - Socrates

Like many retired people, I spend a lot of my time reflecting on my life and wondering if I've done enough to make the world just a bit better. I sometimes sit and brutally confront myself with questions about the contributions I have made, or not made, or have yet to make to help tame a world that is endlessly trying to defeat us. I realize that delving into the past is probably an exercise in futility. I should spend more of my time on more important matters like changing a light bulb. I say that in jest recognizing that even in retirement I probably still have a little more left to contribute.  

The Emperor's Club

Many years ago, I was inspired by the 2002 movie "The Emperor's Club" starring Kevin Kline that helped cement my philosophical view of the world. I watch movies mostly to be entertained and sometimes to be informed. But this film pulled firmly on my deep thoughts and made me realize I am here not just to take up space but to pass on whatever wisdom I might have accumulated over my lifetime. By wisdom, I mean wisdom that truly means something; wisdom that others can use to improve the world. 

In the movie, the idealistic teacher William Hundert points to the year 1158 B.C. and the life of Shutruk-Hahhunte, King of Ansham and Susa, who accomplished many things, but none worthy of remembering in history. Hundert's message is simple: Your life should be spent doing something truly meaningful.

Questions to Ponder  

I can recall with great regret instances when my words and actions may have discouraged, dispirited or hurt someone emotionally.

On the other hand, I can recall the times when I felt genuinely compelled to go out of my way to extend a helping hand to a person in need. Most importantly, I feel confident in having encouraged others to make good decisions that resulted in good things.

So, here are the questions we should all be asking ourselves:

-Have I lived up to the standards of honor and integrity that I've always espoused in others?

-What have I done to help make life a little easier for others?

-What tangible things (something other than words) have I done to help others?

-Have I atoned properly for the many times I failed myself and others?

Again, I harken back to the words espoused by the great philosophers of the Greek Era: "A life lived without virtue, honor and principle is not worth living."

Roy Ortega may be contacted at royortega1953.gmail.com All comments are welcome.

Dementia Not Yet on the Doorstep

 By Roy Ortega

My personal panel of medical advisers assures me I am not losing my mind yet. This week, I received
the results of a recent brain MRI. My neurologist ordered the scan based on a suspicion of possible cognitive decline. Recent episodes of acute forgetfulness stirred a major concern that I might be "losing it," as my wife puts it. 
 

Honestly, I am not prone to self-diagnose via the wonders of the internet tubes on my computer. But as a fully self-aware human, I noticed some unusual patterns swirling in my head. Lack of interest, focus and motivation. Bouts of irritability. Balance problems. And I noticed I was getting distracted easily.

Squirrel!

The activity I sensed seemed to identify closely with the onset of Parkinson's Disease or some other form of dementia. Why would I not be concerned? It just happens to run in my family. Both of my parents experienced dementia-related conditions in their old age.   

The result of the MRI confirmed a diagnosis of only one thing: Microvascular Ischemic Disease. Sounds horrible, doesn't it? A careful review of the facts shows it simply means I'm experiencing short-term memory loss attributable to the aging process. Memory loss at age 73 is about as common as constipation.  

Bottom line: Nothing to see here folks, move along.

I suggested to my neurologist that perhaps I need a psychiatrist instead. The one mental issue I want to avoid at all costs is becoming an angry and bitter old curmudgeon in my old age.

 "Get off my lawn!" 

I have given my family permission to lock me in the attic if I start behaving like a cantankerous old coot. 

Roy Ortega may be contacted at royortega1953@gmail.com 

Pvt. Luis (Louis) V. Ortega Battlefield Story

 By Roy Ortega

Pvt. Luis
(Louis) V.
Ortega

After years of pouring over endless WWII historical data, I have made an exciting discovery regarding my Uncle Louie's time in battle. The information was initially pulled from accounts recorded in official documents and personal papers of Army General George S. Patton.

I credit my brother Ruben for tipping me off to an obscure YouTube video produced by a little-known documentary production company.

My own inquiries into the incident reconciled some of the facts contained in the video, but not all. It should be noted that the production company uses AI-generated images to tell the story. But after carefully reviewing at the overall facts, I can reasonably conclude that the story is credible.

Maizieres-les-Metz, France,
1944.

The story relates to a battlefield incident that happened on October 18, 1944, in a small town in France called Maizieres-les-Metz, Maire. German snipers had reportedly begun targeting U.S. Army Medics in violation of the Geneva Convention.

In this video, Pvt. Luis Ortega is mentioned twice, once at 1:01 minutes into the video and again at 2:57.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asdGWuzSf0I#:~:text=The%20Germans%20(mist%20of%20them),medical%20people%20and%20captured%20causalities.

In Memoriam. Marine SSGT Joe Gillespie. Memorial Day 2026

 

Editor's note: The following includes the official battlefield account of the death of my father-in-law Marine SSGT Joe Gillespie. This narrative is drawn from official government records and family archives.  

Posted by Roy Ortega

---

Staff Sergeant Joe Gillespie was a 14-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps who was killed in action during the Vietnam War on September 11, 1967, at the age of 37. Born on April 1, 1930, in McCamey, Texas, he listed San Antonio as his official home of record.

Military Service and Assignment

• Unit: He served with Sub-Unit 4, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF).
• Role: His military specialty was Infantry Unit Leader.
• The Combined Action Program: His specific assignment, Sub-Unit 4, was the administrative designation for the Marines' Combined Action Program (CAP). This program integrated a squad of Marines and a Navy Corpsman directly into local South Vietnamese villages to live, fight, and build security alongside the local Popular Force militiamen.

Circumstances of Death 

Battlefield report

On the early morning of September 11, 1967, at approximately 3:00 AM, hostile forces launched a heavy attack on the CAP Alpha-6 compound located in Ga Xe Lua village. The village sat along Highway QL-1, roughly halfway between Hue and Phu Bai in the Thua Thien province of South Vietnam. SSgt Gillespie suffered fatal multiple fragmentation wounds during the hostile action.

Medals and Remembrance

SSgt Gillespie was highly decorated for his service, earning the following notable awards:

• Purple Heart
• Combat Action Ribbon
• Navy Presidential Unit Citation
• Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal (with 2 bronze service stars)
• Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation

He is laid to rest at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas. His name is permanently inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., at Panel 26E, Line 55. He is also honored locally at the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans' Memorial located at the Midland International Airport in Texas.

Inquiries may be submitted to Roy Ortega at royortega1953@gmail.com

From the Gillespie Family archives: 

Joe Gillespie and his wife
Bernice Young Gillespie

SSGT Joe Gillespie, San Antonio, TX on www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

Stop Using Immigration to Tear the Country Apart

 By Roy Ortega

A simple quote I read on social media today from Dean Withers rings very true: "Nobody in this country is struggling because of an undocumented immigrant." My mind went directly to an argument I have been making for years. Immigration is not now and has never been a national security crisis. 

So why is ICE killing people over immigration? Why are the President of the United States and his supporters using the immigration issue to incite rage and divide the American people? Why did Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti have to die? 

As a long-time journalist living on the border, I have reported on just about every aspect of the immigration issue from Mexico, El Paso, Austin and Washington D.C. I have written countless news reports, Op-Eds and blog entries using facts, figures and analyses to back up my assertions. I concluded very early on that

In DC reporting on
immigration issues
in 1986.

 there is nothing sinister about immigration. But it does one thing we can't ignore: It speaks to the racist inclinations of too many in our society.

An objective and unbiased review of the facts surrounding the immigration "issue" can easily prove that immigration is nothing to dread and certainly nothing to be fighting about. Politicians know these facts but choose to ignore them because of the obvious political gain involved.

But in terms of actual harm to our country's security, immigrants have never posed a serious threat of any kind. To the contrary. The positive economic and cultural benefits and contributions are clearly known throughout the land. No need to re-visit those numbers here. 

But amid growing public rage and discontent over our government's most recent attempt to purge legal and illegal immigrants through harsh government policies, I feel the facts on immigration should once again be brought to light.

Let me offer these facts: Immigration flow into the U.S. is normal. Over history, immigration levels have ebbed and flowed depending on a number of political and economic factors both domestic and international. Sure, there have been periods of dramatic increases, but the numbers have remained fairly constant since the 1800s. Don't take my word for it; a cursory search on Google will verify it. For your convenience, I've offered several links below. 

Here are a couple of figures from the Migration Policy Institute:

• The percentage of immigrants in the U.S. population in 2024 was exactly the same as it was in 1890 - 14.8%.
•  The percentage of immigrants in the U.S. population in 1870 was 14.4% and the percentage in 2023 it was 14.3%.

As you can see, those percentages did not change considerably over the span of 153-years. The message I get from these numbers is that immigration is a normal part of the American experience. 

El Paso, Texas

 
Now, at this point you've probably noticed I haven't made a distinction between legal and illegal immigration. In review of the facts, illegal immigration carries a much different tenor than legal immigration. In this regard, I offer this information from the Office of Homeland Security Statistics:

• There were 527,459 apprehensions of illegal immigrants between 2023 and 2024.
• There were 10,319 apprehensions of illegal immigrants in 1934, the lowest since 1925.
• There 1,813,729 apprehensions of illegal immigrants in 2000, the highest since 1925.

These numbers serve to amplify one basic assertion from the federal government: Customs and Border Protection historically has been effective in arresting and removing undocumented and criminal immigrants. No major issue there except one: Border Patrol officers are forced to work under nearly impossible policy directives that change with every government administration.  But overall, the numbers clearly show CBP is doing its job. 

Fundamentally, immigration is part of who we are. But it must not be used as a political weapon against our own citizens. Dean Withers is right. Nobody in this country is struggling because of an undocumented immigrant.

You may reach me at royortega1953@gmail.com. All comments welcome.

U.S. Immigrant Population and Share over Time, 185.. | migrationpolicy.org

Key findings about U.S. immigrants | Pew Research Center

The Ortega Blog: Fact: America's Southern Border is Extraordinarily Well-Protected

Immigration is not a national crisis and never has been: Roy Ortega

The Ortega Blog: Don't Tell Me the Border Is Not Secure

Random Thoughts About Getting Old

By Roy Ortega

Things that used to matter to me don't seem to matter as much anymore. Some things don't matter at all. For example, I am no longer interested in fighting off the ravages of old age. I'm here. I'm old. Come get me, old age. I'm yours.   

Don't freak out. This is not a cry for a mental health intervention. I'm genuinely mulling over a legitimate question.  Once you get to a certain age, you enter into the valley of diminishing returns; The more time, emotion and hard work you put into something, the less meaning you get back from it. It doesn't matter what you do, certain facts will engulf you. You will get sick. You will become far less important to the world around you.  At this point, you are forced to choose one of two paths; Accept old age happily or spend your remaining years fretting uselessly about it. 

I'd Rather Be a Pleasurable Old Gent Than a Bitter Old Curmudgeon

Sure, everyone wants to live longer. But old age is not for the weak-minded. 

If I ate nothing but quinoa salads and drank vitalized bottled water, I will still die right on time like every other male in America my age. The average life span of a male in America is 75. I'm 73 this year. 

The social implications of being an old man are clear. Mainly, you develop plenty of reasons to be pissed off about everything. Your opinion doesn't matter much anymore. Every decision is a negotiation that you always lose.  It's a daily fight to remain relevant. Why even bother?

Harder workouts at the gym won't extend your life by any more than a few minutes at best. So why bust your ass at the rec center? In my case, I work out at the rec center three times a week not because I want to live longer but because it feels good. That's my point. Live life to be happy. 

I worked hard all of my life to make sure my olden years would be comfortable. They are. I have everything I need and want. I have no money issues. No mortgage. No major worries. My wife and I live far better than probably 80-percent of the people in this country. 

Don't Worry, Be Happy

A close relative is two years younger than me and spends most of his time worrying obsessively about his health and appearance. Me, on the other hand, I do everything possible to wreck my health. I eat what I want, and I drink what I want. A little good sipping bourbon is one of my few remaining joys. I wake up most mornings with purpose, pride and positive energy. But here's the rub: He and I will get to the finish line pretty much at the same time. Guaranteed. 

Don't get me wrong. I pay close attention to my health and my living habits. But I have stopped worrying about what's ahead in life because I know exactly where I'm headed. I plan to stay happy on the way there.

I may be reached at rortega54@elp.rr.com. Your thoughts are always welcome.

  

In 2026, Look for Peace, Happiness

 By Roy Ortega

I have heard it said that before you start a new year you should rid yourself of the burdens of the past year. In this regard, I have plenty to unpack. 

The year 2025 was a tough one for my family. Serious illness, loss and uncertainty all entered our lives like uninvited guests. There was some sadness interspersed with moments of great joy. When you add the increasing ugliness of our national politics, it was easy to feel defeated and depressed. 

But we endured. As a family, we became stronger, more supportive of each other and full of resolve. 

For me, the rules for 2026 will be the same as those of 2025. I will refuse to let things overwhelm me and I will encourage others, especially my family, to do likewise.     

My message for the new year is simple: 

Let go of past burdens. 

Never stop searching for your own peace and happiness. 

Laugh a little. No, laugh a lot. 

Enjoy life. 

Happy New Year!