Herminio Vargas' Obituary
Herminio Vargas
May 27, 1919 B August 20, 2008
Herminio "Miniong" Vargas, 89, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on August 20, 2008. Born at Ft. William McKinley in Rizal, Philippines, he served in the Philippine Scouts' Infantry Division. Herminio, a WWII Prisoner of War, survived the 1942 Bataan Death March in Luzon, Philippines. Committed to freedom and democracy, he was one of the first Filipino soldiers to volunteer to serve in the Korean War. In 1956, he and his loving wife of 63 years, Eliza, brought their four children, Ernie (Mary), Elizabeth (Woody), Maria (Elmer), and Herminio, Jr. (Patricia), to Lakewood, WA where they raised their family and became part of the Filipino-American community. After 24 years of military service in the U.S. Army, Herminio worked as a barber at Madigan Army Medical Center. After his retirement in 1995, he became very involved with the American Ex-Prisoners of War, Tacoma Chapter. He enjoyed spending time at the Tacoma Senior Center with his wife, daughters and friends, dancing and singing. With his endless energy and enthusiasm for life, he could out-dance anyone. Herminio will be greatly missed by his wife, children, granddaughters Victoria (Michael), Joanna and Brooke (Zach), and the lights of his life, his great-grandsons Hunter, Nicholas, Trenton and Tyler. The oldest of 14 children, he will be missed by his siblings. Herminio was a strong role model for deep family values and commitment. In remembering his incredible life, no words have truer meaning than the lines from his favorite song My Way, "Eto think, I did all that and may I say, not in a shy way, oh no, oh no not me, I did it my way." A mass celebrating his life will be held Saturday, August 23, 2008, 9 a.m. at St. Frances Cabrini, Lakewood, WA, followed by a gravesite ceremony at Mountain View Funeral Home. Donations in Herminio's memory may be made to the American Ex-Prisoners of War Tacoma Chapter.
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