Sergeant Pernell - Age 33 - Española Herrera

SERGEANT PERNELL JOHNNIE HERRERA, 33, a resident of Española, went to be with our Lord on December 31, 2011, in Afghanistan while serving with Operation Enduring Freedom XI. Before his deployment he was employed by US Cable in Española. He was born in Los Alamos, on July 27, 1978. Pernell Herrera enlisted in the New Mexico National Guard on May 18, 2006, this same year he completed Basic Training in Fort Benning Georgia. Pernell went on to complete Advance Individual Training in Fort Gordon Georgia where he graduated from the 25 U- Signal Support Specialist Course on March 1, 2007. Pernell was assigned to Company C 1st Battalion 171st Aviation Regiment, an Air Ambulance (Medevac) Unit in Santa Fe New Mexico. Pernell used his newly acquired skills to better the unit by performing his duties to the best of his abilities. He quickly became an assist to his unit and was assigned to fill a Military Occupational Skill, a skill that would normally require formal training. Pernell took this challenge and with help from others grew very well in this position. It is within this MOS that Pernell was able to show his attention to detail, his calm demeanor, and his ability to effectively take charge and accomplish his duties to ensure that the Unit was able to accomplish its mission, a mission to save lives. Pernell continued to show these qualities of leadership and with his utmost respect and professionalism, not to mention his unequivocal attitude- always smiling, never complaining, made him a model soldier. Pernell deployed for Afghanistan on April 21, 2011, where his leadership once again showed; Pernell deployed in that MOS where he was growing in the most, an Aviation Operations Specialist, a 911 dispatcher for a war environment, if you will, this tasking required Pernell to be at his best, which he did. Pernell served in all the “camps” that the Unit was assigned to conduct Medevac Operations, a claim that only a few can make. Pernell played a vital / central role in the Medevac Mission upon which hung the lives of wounded Marines and Soldiers on the battlefield; it required Pernell to be at his station monitoring radios and computer screens for hours on end. Pernell was responsible for launching hundreds of urgent Medevac missions and his unit never dropped a mission under his watch. Pernell earned the rank of Sergeant for his unrivaled commitment to getting the job done. \r\n Pernell was preceded in death by his father, Fermin J. Herrera; maternal grandparents, Johnnie and Elma Duran and Ben Eloy Quintana Sr; paternal grandparents, Alfredo and Mariquita Herrera; uncles, Ben E. Quintana, Gilbert, Albert and Dennis Herrera; aunts, Cordy Baca and Gloria Herrera; God-mother, Chona Herrera; cousins, Maria Elena Lujan, Elizabeth Saenz, baby Chris Gallegos, Anthony Herrera, and Flaymon Sandoval. Pernell’s passions were his children, spending time with family and friends, the great outdoors and gardening. He was an avid Denver Broncos fan. He was a friend to everyone, and his kindness had no limits. He had a helping hand for everyone in need. He was also looking forward to coming home at the end of his tour in March 2012 and living out his many dreams. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends and will remain forever in our hearts. Mr. Herrera is survived by his children, Julian I. and Alicia C. Herrera; mother, Dolores M. Quintana and companion Kenny Ault; his special lady, Ysabell Romero; brother, Arthur F. Herrera; Arthur’s daughter’s Leah and Mikayla Scarborough, and their mother Marissa Scarborough; aunts, Lorraine A. Quintana, Mary Ann Lujan, Jeanette, Maxine, and Ethel Martinez and Carmelita Gonzales; God-father, Joe Herrera; uncle, Leroy Herrera; aunt, Dora Serrano; close cousin raised like a sister, Denise R. Velarde; God-daughters, Leah, Kaycie and numerous other cousins, loving relatives and friends. Public visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Espanola. Interment will take place on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, with full military honors. Serving as pallbearers, Gilbert Herrera, James Gutierrez, Chantry Baker, Nano Ortega, Miguel Avila, Ernesto Serrano. Serving as Honorary pallbearers are Maurice Serrano, Randy Trujillo, and Kane Baldonado. The family of Sergeant Pernell Johnnie Herrera has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477

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