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Lou Trujillo
Lou was born on March 20, 1921 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. However, he has lived in Littleton for most of his life. He graduated from Littleton High School in 1941 and pursued many careers afterward. There was a very small span of time between graduation and enlisting for the war effort. He was at his home in Littleton when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Feeling a great obligation for his country, Lou enlisted on December 8, 1941. Lou attended basic training in San Diego, California. He started out by training in civilian clothes for a week due to the lack of supplies. At this time he also quickly learned to "operate some pretty big guns" as a result of threats and attacks that lurked on the west coast. Looking back on basic training, Lou admits it was tough, but he found that he gained a lot of pride and discipline among many other things. At the end of his training, he took the mandatory tests and placed third highest in the radio exam. This was ironic considering he has a bad eardrum. However, he confesses to guessing through the whole test. Because he did so well, the commander recommended that he go into radio school. At first he was reluctant, but said yes when he found out the school was at the University of Colorado. This would allow him to be closer to home. From radio school Lou went to Treasure Island near San Francisco, California, and typed drafts. This gave him the opportunity to put his name on a draft that he wanted to be a part of. The draft took him to Moffit Field in California. He became a part of the amphibious forces in the Navy. This is where his career as a sailor took off. His rank was a boat coxswain. His jobs consisted of landing troops, firing 20mm guns and 3.5 inch guns along with being a member of the commission boat USS LCI61. However, regarding his duties, Lou states, "You didn't have a specific duty. You were wherever you were needed. They didn't care about your ranks over there. You just did something to help the other guys out." During his course in the war, Lou experienced many historic moments along with visions that cannot escape his mind. He was a part of the patrol that looked for survivors of the PT 109 attack, which President Kennedy survived. Lou also patrolled for survivors of the USS Juno in which all five Sullivan brothers died. However, the most distinct story was that of the emotional experience that he had on Russell Island. Though this occurred a little over sixty years ago, the emotion he portrayed made you think it happened yesterday. Lou and his troops sat down for lunch at tables consisting of empty gas barrels and a board. They were thirty yards apart from each other. Out of nowhere, two Japanese zeros came over the hill and strafed the guys to his right. He saw seventeen men die in an instant. When telling the story his eyes wandered to a place of sorrow and a painful vision of the war. He states "I was about nineteen then and we were all young guys and we weren't used to that kind of stuff." Lou received three bronze stars for his efforts at the battles of Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Munda and Bounganville, along with a lifetime of both the memories of brotherhood and the horrors of war. When the war ended, Lou was on his way from the Panama Canal to Okinawa. He was then discharged in 1945 in San Francisco, California. His best friend Fred Hassoldt, with whom he had attended grade school, high school and boot camp, was discharged on the same day at the same place. He was four tables down and Lou threw a spoon at him to get his attention. "We joined the same day and we got out the same day." Upon finally making his way home, after train rides and hitchhiking, Lou realized home wasn't like before he left. For instance, he lost his neighbor Carl Olson at Iwo Jima. He states "It wasn't like before. You didn't see the guys you were expecting to see and you get the nightmares." He said it took about five years to fully adapt, but even now thinking back is emotional. "I think the value I got out of it is that I realized I live in a good country and that I fought with good guys." In the years that followed the war, Lou found himself as a hardworking family man. His employment ranged from an interior decorator and a painter to a paper hanger and a wood finisher. He was the father of three: two sons and a daughter. He lost his daughter, Susan Trujillo at age seventeen. However, his sons, Russell and Randy, are still with him and have given him the gift of seven grandchildren. Settled now in Littleton, Lou is surrounded with both his family and their restaurants, Mission Trujillo and Jose's. In looking at the recent tragedy of September 11th in New York, one would consider a veteran of World War II valid to state an opinion. Many have compared the attack with that of Pearl Harbor. So when asked about the recent events, the reply was both genuine and touching. He states "I cried that day; that was horrible. I think that is the most horrible thing I have ever seen and I seen some horrible things; those people were helpless. I just feel awful; I sat there and I couldn't believe it." Lou provides both insight and emotion behind American pride. His experience allows one to realize the effort that all of the veterans made to preserve freedom. His life stands for every value he gained along the way, especially those gained in the war. When talking to Lou Trujillo, one comes to the conclusion that he is a true American patriot.
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| Last page update: March 2, 2008 12:13 PM |
Lou
Trujillo is a true American patriot. Some Americans get sidetracked and
take for granted the greatness of our nation. After speaking with Mr.
Trujillo, it became very clear that he has never lost sight of his love
for America. I realize how genuine he was being when he stated "I
love it, I love our country and I still do and I always will; you won't
find a better place; there is no better place." His extensive journey
has taken him all the way from a World War II sailor at age 18 to a successful
motel owner until age 79. This man has truly endured a life filled with
both love and sorrow, and everything else in between. 