LINGAYEN— “Valiant gave his life to a cause he sincerely believed in and it is our hope that his death will not be in vain.”

      These were the words of US Army Sergeant Richard “Valiant” Correa’s sister, Ivy Primicias-Nalupta, during the necrological service at the Lingayen Catholic Church.

      She said entering the military service was Valiant’s dream. She added that although his parents, his fiancée, and relatives dissuaded him from entering this dangerous and perilous calling, he insisted and said,” This is my life and this is what I want”.

      In recognition of his valor and dedication, Correa received posthumously the Bronze Star Medal, which is the fourth highest U.S. military award for gallantry in action, as well as the Purple Heart medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.

      U.S. Brigadier General Harvey T. Landwermeyer, Assistant Division Commander (Support) 2d Infantry Division, Korea, and a Funeral Honor Guard from the 8^th Army Korea presented the awards to Correa’s bereaved family led by his parents, Ricardo Primicias and Ma. Minda Correa.

      Correa was given full US military burial honors at the family-owned private lot, across the municipal cemetery in Barangay Maniboc here.

      “He did it for the love of country. He believed in what he did. He wanted to make a difference,” said Correa’s uncle, Jorge Correa who was the one who petitioned Valiant to migrate to the US.

      Nalupta said that Valiant, like most young men, wanted to study, planned to marry his American fiancée Corey Dell and build his own family.

      The young Correa completed his high school education in 1999 at the Lingayen Educational Center here. He enlisted in the United States Air Force on November 17, 1999 and finished a four-year term prior to enlisting in the United States Army on July 14, 2004.

TEAFUL FAMILY REUNION

His favorite lullaby was the song “A Time for Us”.

His foster father, Jacinto Acosta, told The PUNCH that he would sing this to the baby Richard “Valiant” Correa and he would sleep soundly.

Valiant would later become a US army sergeant and around noon of May 29, who just turned 25, he was killed in a bomb blast in Ilbu Falris in war-torn Irag.

His remains were brought home to Binmaley this week to his family and friends.

Valiant’s biological mother, Maria Minda Correa, had handed him over to her sister, Gloria Correa Acosta, to raise as her own two days after he was born.

Valiant spent the first eight years of his life under the care of his “Mama Glo” and her husband Jacinto.

The couple had four children and said they treated Valiant as their bunso (youngest son).

Minda took him back after eight years, but his close ties with his foster parents remained through the years. Valiant Correa continued to visit his foster parents at their residences in Barangay Malindong in Binmaley and in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Acosta couple returned to the Philippines on June 6 to see their “son” for the last time.

“We were reunited not in his wedding but in his death,” Gloria Acosta said.

LOT FOR A HERO

Valiant will be buried in a private lot across the municipal cemetery in Barangay Maniboc here.

Former 1971 Constitution Convention delegate Ricardo “Dick” Primicias, Correa’s biological father, recalled that he bought the lot ten years ago by to bail out the owner who badly needed cash, but didn’t know what to do with it.

He said he had forgotten about the 300-square meter private lot until the death of his son.

Primicias said he hardly recognized the lot he bought when he checked on it recently to prepare it as their son’s final resting place because it was surrounded by tall cogon grasses and mausoleums.

“Now, it will be used for the first time, to bury a war hero,” he told The PUNCH.–EVA

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