Francisco "Paco" Vazquez

Francisco “Paco” Vázquez, 86, of Port Orchard, Washington, passed away peacefully on January 11th, 2023. Both of his daughters were by his side

Francisco, born on July 10,1936, was the oldest of four sons born to parents Francisco Vázquez Pueyo and Josefina Vázquez Garcia in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico.

Early in life Francisco demonstrated great intelligence and leadership qualities. At age three he entered the first grade and maintained a continuous successful academic record culminating in 1958 when he graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, with honors, at age 21. During his time at the university, he studied aeronautical engineering and was enrolled in the ROTC. This led upon graduation to a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

He successfully completed all Air Force training requirements and became a pilot. As such, he flew multiple types of aircrafts. Ranging from single engine trainers, fighter jets, propeller driven attack planes in Vietnam, a corporate jet as an air attaché, to the largest strategic bombers in the Air Force inventory.

During his 21 years of service, he served in many Air Force bases in a variety of assignments; mostly flying duties. While in Abilene, Texas, he met the love of his life, Sandra JoAnn Bostic. They were married on December 6, 1962 at Topeka, Kansas. They went on to have two daughters, Sonya Mara Vazquez and Sheila Vazquez Meadows. Sonya was born in December, 1963 at the Air Force base in Topeka, Kansas and his youngest daughter Sheila was born in August, 1965 at Clovis AFB in New Mexico.

In 1962 during the Cuban Missile crisis, at age 26, Francisco was the captain of a B47 strategic bomber in readiness for the possible outbreak of a major war. In 1966 Francisco was stationed in the highlands of Vietnam in support of U.S. ground forces. During March 9-10, 1966, at battle of the Ashau Valley, Francisco distinguished himself by bravely attacking enemy forces besieging a U.S. Army Special Forces camp and providing cover to other pilots, including personally destroying an antiaircraft gun position that threatened his mission commander, while the Commander rescued another pilot downed in the battlefield. Upon returning to base, it was discovered that Francisco’s single-engine, Skyraider A1E, had 26 bullet holes in its fuselage. For his actions in combat, Francisco was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

In 1974, Francisco was chosen to serve as a United States diplomat as the air attaché to the American Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1977, Francisco returned with his family to serve out his remaining active duty with the military at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. In 1979 he retired from the Air Force with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Francisco and Sandra decided to settle in Oklahoma to provide their daughters continuity and stability as they went through junior high and high school.

From this point on, Francisco would tell you that he was a man of leisure. He spent his time raising his family, following his favorite sports teams the Yankees and the Giants, and together with Sandra playing in a weekly bowling league. He also hosted a weekly poker game where he made it clear to others that he was willing to lose a game to keep his friends, the players, coming back. Whenever he could he would travel to Puerto Rico to visit family and rekindle friendships from his university days and Air Force years at the Old Pilots Reunion in San Juan.

Francisco was predeceased by his father and mother, as well as his younger brother Hector Vázquez. He is survived by his daughters, son-in-law Randall, his grandson Chase as well as two brothers, Amilcar Vázquez and Miguel Vázquez and Miguel’s wife, Lourdes. He is also survived by numerous beloved aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at Borinquen Memorial Park in Caguas, Puerto Rico, on Friday, February 3rd, 2023. Anyone wishing to come and speak or share memories are invited to the chapel at 11am; a Christian memorial service will occur at noon with internment of both his and Sandra’s ashes in the cemetery following the service.