Hero Street: A Historical Documentary Film Series

Memorial Day Service to be held at Hero Street Monument Saturday, May 27

"And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave." ~ Joseph Rodman Drake

 

Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country.

 

A special Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at the Hero Street Monument, on the corner of Hero Street (2nd Street) in Silvis, Illinois on Saturday, May 27th at 10:30 a.m.  All are welcome!

 

Only a block and a half long, Second Street in Silvis, Illinois lost six young men in World War II and two in the Korean War, more than any other street in America.  Hero Street, as it is now known, has provided over 100 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929.

We honor the memory of the Hero Street Eight: Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Solis, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños; and all of the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces.

HeroStreetMovie.com

We Remember Mary Munoz Ramirez of Hero Street

Mary Munoz Ramirez with filmmaker Kelly Rundle, co-producer of the "Hero Street" documentary series. 
 
We extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Mary Munoz Ramirez who passed away at the age of 98 at her home in Silvis, Illinois on Saturday, September 24, 2022 with her loved ones surrounding her. As her obituary notes, she was the last original resident of Hero Street. 

A rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. Tuesday, September 27th, followed by visitation until 7 p.m. at Schroder Mortuary, 701 1st Ave, Silvis, Illinois.

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 28^th at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 800 17th St, Silvis, Illinois. Entombment will be in St. Mary’s Mausoleum, 2301 3rd St, East Moline, Illinois. Memorials may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

Mary was born May 15, 1924 in Silvis, Illinois the daughter of Ysabel and Victoria (Montecino) Munoz. She married Louis A. Ramirez August 18, 1944 in Moline, llinois. He passed away August 5, 2008. Mary worked for the Rock Island Arsenal during WWII. She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, and crocheting.

Survivors include her children Victoria (Ronald) Dumoulin, Rosemary (Douglas) Korty, Louis Jr. (Vicky) Ramirez, Linda (Dale) Roseman, Steve (Patti) Ramirez, Robert (Georgia) Ramirez, Jim Ramirez, and Susan (DeWitt) Young; son in law John Wassenhove; 18 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Martina Wassenhove; grandchildren Angelica McKinney and Jerome Dumoulin; great grandson Alexander Roseman, and 11 siblings. John, her brother, was one of the Hero Street eight who was killed in action in Korea on August 27, 1951 during the Korean War.

Mary Munoz Ramirez with Tammy Rundle, co-producer of the "Hero Street" documentary series. 

We were fortunate to sit down with Mary and do an on-camera interview about her brother John, who served and died in the Korean War. He was one of the eight heroes of Hero Street. "The Last to Fall from Hero Street: John Munos' Story" (Episode 8 of the "Hero Street" documentary series) is currently in production.

Memories Haunt Soul of Hero Street Survivor

Tanilo Sandoval stands in the Rock Island National Cemetery at the graves of his brothers Frank Sandoval and Joe Sandoval.

This story was written by Marc Wilson for the Quad City Times in November 2010 for Veterans Day. We felt it was a fine story to share this Memorial Day weekend.

Note: Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, a U.S. public holiday in May. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service.

Of death and heroes, Tanilo Sandoval is an expert.

On a crisp and sunny autumn day, after a prairie wind storm had blown most of the brightly colored leaves from the towering oaks and elms, Tanilo guided me through the 25,000 graves at the U.S. military cemetery on Arsenal Island.

The vastness of the white markers could overwhelm, but Tanilo knows where the bodies are buried. He’s been a regular here for more than 60 years. Many times, he’s heard taps played. Many times he’s walked the vast graveyard alone, silently visiting his fallen brothers. Many times tears have trickled down his long, white beard.

Three of his brothers are buried here, so are four of his childhood friends. Two other gravestones serve as memorials for friends whose bodies never were found after they were killed in combat. Memories haunt his soul.

When President Woodrow Wilson proposed the first Armistice Day, he said, “…reflections will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service… .” 

 

Congress formally made Armistice Day a federal holiday in 1938, and in 1954 changed the name to Veterans Day.

 

We can honor veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice. We can bury them with high tributes, erect monuments and declare holidays in their memory. But we cannot talk to them.

 

Their story is left to be told by their their friends, sisters and brothers. That’s why I asked Tanilo to guide me through the white grave markers on Arsenal Island.

Tanilo is from Hero Street U.S.A. — the single block in America that suffered the most combat deaths in World War II and Korea. From some 35 poor homes in Silvis, Ill., more than 80 men went to war. Six – including two of Tanilo’s brothers – died in World War II. Two more of Tanilo’s friends from the same street died in Korea.

 

Tanilo, now 84, is one of the last survivors who knew all eight of the heroes. He and all five of his brothers served in the U.S. Army. Two died in combat, a third was wounded in Korea and died shortly after returning home. His father, Eduvigues — a Mexican refugee who never gained American citizenship — died on Veterans Day in 1967.

 

Our first stop was Joe Gomez’s grave, in the cemetery’s Korean War section. Then we walked in silence to the southern edge of the cemetery, on a knoll overlooking the tree-lined Mississippi River. Tanilo’s brothers Joe and Frank rest side-by-side in the row nearest the river. Tanilo paused a moment between his brothers’ graves and closed his eyes.

 

Then he pointed three graves away in the same row as his brothers to the grave marked Claro Solis (Soliz). Then Tanilo led me to Tony Pompa’s grave, just a few rows to the north. Then we walked east between the rows of graves to Peter Masias’ final resting place.

 

We then walked silently up a slight grade a hundred yards or so to the area designated for memorial markers for slain veterans whose bodies were never recovered. Tanilo pointed out Johnny Munos’ marker, then Willie Sandoval’s.

 

We walked to the graves of two Medal of Honor winners, and to another pair of brothers buried side by side. Tanilo showed me the side-by-side graves of two men from Illinois who were killed on the same day in February 1948 while fighting in the U.S. Army’s 30th Infantry Division. He pointed to the graves of Buffalo Soldiers in the Civil War section of the cemetery. We visited the monument of the Unknown Soldiers. He is too much of an expert about sad things.

 

Tanilo has been visiting the cemetery regularly since 1947, when his brothers were buried. He regularly drove his parents — Mexican citizens who never learned to drive or speak fluent English — to the cemetery to place flowers on their sons’ graves until his father died in 1967, and his mother, Angelina, died in 1984.

 

“Now the duty of delivering flowers to my brothers is mine alone,” Tanilo said as he sat on a bench overlooking the endless sea of white markers.

 

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2020: The Rock Island Arsenal invites families and the Quad-City community to honor the nation’s fallen and pay respects to those laid to rest at the Rock Island National Cemetery by placing flags or flowers on grave sites Saturday, May 23, 2020 through Monday, May 25, 2020, 8A-8P.

Through its fiscal sponsor the Moline Foundation, the Hero Street documentary film series received partial funding from the Regional Development Authority (RDA), Illinois Arts Council, the Illinois Humanities, Humanities Iowa, National Endowment for the Humanities, Quad City Arts Dollars—provided by Illinois Arts Council Agency, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation and John Deere, the Quad Cities Community Foundation, LULAC Iowa, Mexican American Veterans Association, the City of Silvis, and individual contributors. The project also received a production grant from the Moline Foundation. The views and opinions expressed by these films do not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations.

Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated independent film production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois.

To PRE-ORDER the DVD for Riding the Rails to Hero Street (release date late March 2020) or A Bridge too Far from Hero Street (release date April 2020) or Fourth Wall Films' Emmy-nominated and award-winning film Letters Home to Hero Street (co-produced with WQPT), CLICK HERE!

Memorial Day Commemorations & Cancellations

CANCELLATIONS

HERO STREET MONUMENT MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM - CANCELLED: "In light of the COV-19 epidemic the Hero Street Monument Committee will NOT be hosting the Memorial Day Program this May 2020." Visit HeroStreet.org for more information.

HERO STREET MEMORIAL PARK MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM - CANCELLED: For information visit https://www.silvisil.org/quick-links/hero-street.html.

ROCK ISLAND NATIONAL CEMETERY MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM - CANCELLED: "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Cemetery Administration made the difficult decision to NOT host public events for Memorial Day, including the mass placement and retrieval of gravesite flags by any groups. Cemetery staff will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony to officially commemorate Memorial Day. While we cannot extend an invitation to the public to attend due to health and safety concerns, NCA will share pictures of the event on Facebook and other social media." Visit https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/rockisland.asp for more information.

Rock Island National Cemetery is not marking graves this year or issuing flags to mark individual grave sites.

OTHER MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATORY OPPORTUNITIES

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL & NATIONAL CEMETERY - QC PUBLIC INVITED TO VISIT & HONOR THEIR LOVED ONES: The Rock Island Arsenal invites families and the Quad-City community to honor the nation’s fallen and pay respects to those laid to rest at the Rock Island National Cemetery by placing flags or flowers on grave sites Saturday, May 23, 2020 through Monday, May 25, 2020, 8A-8P.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, visitors must follow several guidelines: 1) All visitors must enter and depart through the Moline gate, and everyone visiting the Arsenal who is over age 16 must have a valid ID; 2) Those without a visitor’s pass can obtain one from the Visitor Control Center, which will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday through Monday; 3) Visitors are restricted to groups of six passengers per vehicle, but families with more than six members who reside together will be allowed on the installation to access the cemetery; 4) Groups are limited to no more than 10 people anywhere on Post — that limit includes the cemetery; 5) The Rock Island Arsenal Museum and Lock and Dam 15 remain closed.

ONLINE ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL MEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATION - While there will be no formal Memorial Day ceremonies at the Arsenal this year, First Army will make available First Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Thomas S. James Jr.’s Memorial Day speech via its Facebook and Twitter pages on Friday, May 22. For immediate viewing: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/753581/first-army-memorial-day-message. In the video, James highlights the story of a local World War II soldier who fought under the First Army flag, first on the beaches of Normandy through the Battle of the Bulge and into the heart of Germany.

James will also participate in a private wreath-laying ceremony on Memorial Day with cemetery officials.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT - AN AMERICAN TRADITION - On the eve of Memorial Day (Sunday, May 24th at 7:00PM on IPTV-PBS), a star-studded lineup will grace the stage for one of PBS’ highest-rated programs. This multi-award-winning television event honors the military service and sacrifice of all our men and women in uniform, their families and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Visit: https://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/

Through its fiscal sponsor the Moline Foundation, the Hero Street documentary film series received partial funding from the Regional Development Authority (RDA), Illinois Arts Council, the Illinois Humanities, Humanities Iowa, National Endowment for the Humanities, Quad City Arts Dollars—provided by Illinois Arts Council Agency, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation and John Deere, the Quad Cities Community Foundation, LULAC Iowa, Mexican American Veterans Association, the City of Silvis, and individual contributors. The project also received a production grant from the Moline Foundation. The views and opinions expressed by these films do not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations.

Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated independent film production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois.

To PRE-ORDER the DVD for Riding the Rails to Hero Street (release date late March 2020) or A Bridge too Far from Hero Street (release date April 2020) or Fourth Wall Films' award-winning film Letters Home to Hero Street (co-produced with WQPT), CLICK HERE!

Rundles talk "Hero Street" Documentary Series on WQUD March 8

Filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films will join Gary Farral on WQUD Vintage Radio 107.7 during his Big Band Era program at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 8th to talk about their Hero Street Documentary Film Series and the recently released Riding the Rails to Hero Street and A Bridge too Far from Hero Street--William Sandoval's Story, as well as the Emmy-nominated and award-winning Letters Home to Hero Street--Frank Sandoval's Story (co-produced with WQPT-PBS).

The Rundles are currently in production on the fourth installment of the series, An Infantryman from Hero Street--Joseph Sandoval's Story.

Only a block and a half long, Second Street in Silvis, Illinois lost six young men in World War II and two in the Korean War, more than any other street in America.  Hero Street, as it is now known, has provided over 100 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929.

"Hero Street" producers Tammy & Kelly Rundle join Gary Farral on WQUD 107.7 to talk about Hero Street.

Hero Street, a multi-part documentary series by Emmy®-nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle, will explore the personal and family sagas behind each of the eight heroes and tell the compelling true story of an ongoing struggle to memorialize Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Soliz, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños.

The series will combine interviews with family members, friends, veterans, community leaders and historians with vintage photos, film, and archival materials to tell an unforgettable story of American courage, character and perseverance.

The multi-part documentary project is in memory of Frank Sandoval, Tony Pompa, Claro Soliz (Solis), Joseph Sandoval, Peter Masias, William Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John Munos, 2nd Street was renamed Hero Street, USA.

~ ~ ~ ~

Through its fiscal sponsor the Moline Foundation, the Hero Street documentary film series received partial funding from the Regional Development Authority (RDA), Illinois Arts Council, the Illinois Humanities, Humanities Iowa, National Endowment for the Humanities, Quad City Arts Dollars—provided by Illinois Arts Council Agency, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation and John Deere, the Quad Cities Community Foundation, LULAC Iowa, Mexican American Veterans Association, the City of Silvis, and individual contributors. The project also received a production grant from the Moline Foundation. The views and opinions expressed by these films do not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations.

Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated independent film production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois.

To PRE-ORDER the DVD for Riding the Rails to Hero Street (release date late March 2020) or A Bridge too Far from Hero Street (release date April 2020) or Fourth Wall Films' award-winning film Letters Home to Hero Street (co-produced with WQPT), CLICK HERE!

 

Fourth Wall Films Documentary DVDs make Great Holiday Gifts - with Free Shipping & Gift Wrap

#shopsmall with Fourth Wall and support a community-based business. We tell timeless and timely American history and mystery stories, like stories "Hero Street" documentary film series.

Purchase a DVD of one of our award-winning movies as a Holiday gift, and receive FREE shipping. FREE gift wrap and message upon request. Order by December 19th to receive in time for Christmas!

To PRE-ORDER the DVD for Riding the Rails to Hero Street (release date February/March 2020) or A Bridge too Far from Hero Street (release date April 2020) or Fourth Wall Films' award-winning film Letters Home to Hero Street (co-produced with WQPT), CLICK HERE!

Thank you for supporting our work!

Order here: http://www.fourthwallfilms.com/dvds.htm

 

Two Hero Street Memorial Day Services Announced

Two special Memorial Day Services will be held on Hero Street, USA (1st Avenue and 2nd Street) in Silvis, Illinois this year.


Tanilo Sandoval places flags and flowers at his brothers' graves, Frank and Joseph Sandoval of Hero Street, USA. The brothers were among eight men from Hero Street, USA in Silvis, Illinois who gave their lives during WWII and the Korean War.

The Hero Street Monument Memorial Day Service will be held Saturday, May 25 at 10:30 a.m.

On Saturday, May 25th at 10:30 a.m. at the Hero Street Memorial Monument, located on the corner of 1st Avenue and Hero Street in Silvis, Illinois the service will feature keynote speaker Colonel Stephen C. Marr, Commander U.S. Army Garrison, Rock Island Arsenal; and guest speaker Lieutenant Colonel David M. Manrrique, Commander U.S. Air Force 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, NE.  In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held at the gymnasium in George O. Barr Elementary School, 1305 5th Avenue, Silvis. For more information about this free public service, visit HeroStreetUSA.org.

The Hero Street Memorial Park Service will be held on Memorial Day Monday, May 27 at 11:00 a.m.

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th at 11:00 a.m. at Hero Street Memorial Park, located on Hero Street, the service will commence with speakers Brian Munos, a retired Navy SEAL, and Colonel Ricky Kimmel, US Army Sustainment Command, from the Rock Island Arsenal. For more information about this free and open to the public service, call 309-792-9181.  Bring lawn chairs for seating.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Only a block and a half long, Second Street in Silvis, Illinois lost six young men in World War II and two in the Korean War, more than any other street in America.  Hero Street, as it is now known, has provided over 100 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929.

Hero Street, a multi-part documentary series for PBS broadcast by Emmy®-nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle, will explore the personal and family sagas behind each of the eight heroes and tell the compelling true story of an ongoing struggle to memorialize Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Soliz, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños.

The series will combine interviews with family members, friends, veterans, community leaders and historians with vintage photos, film, and archival materials to tell an unforgettable story of American courage, character and perseverance.

Part 1: Riding the Rails to Hero Street and Part 4: A World Away from Hero Street will premiere in November 2019 near Veterans Day.  Part 3 in the series: Letters Home to Hero Street, a co-production of Fourth Wall Films and WQPT premiered in 2015, won film festival awards and a regional Emmy nomination.

The multi-part documentary project is in memory of Frank Sandoval, Tony Pompa, Claro Soliz (Solis), Joseph Sandoval, Peter Masias, William Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John Munos, 2nd Street was renamed Hero Street, USA.

To view Fourth Wall Films' award-winning films on DVD, visit http://www.fourthwallfilms.com/dvds.htm.

Dr. Jose Amaya assists with Hero Street documentary

Dr. Jose Amaya during his interview for "Riding the Rails to Hero Street".

Marshalltown Community College
Friday / September 29, 2017

It’s a rare individual who isn’t inspired by stories of courage and character. When those stories take on epic proportions, they often become destined for a much larger audience. Such is the case with the story of Hero Street in Silvis, IL.

Marshalltown Community College Humanities Faculty Dr. Jose Amaya was interviewed earlier this month by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle for a Fourth Wall Films historical documentary entitled “Riding the Rails to Hero Street.” Dr. Amaya is a Fulbright Scholar who previously taught Latino Studies at Iowa State University, and he helped put the Hero Street story within the larger context of Mexican and U.S. history in the early 1900s for the filmmakers.

“A few years ago, I was introduced to Hero Street in Silvis, IL,” says Dr. Amaya. “Long story, but the short version is that 57 Mexican-American men enlisted in the U.S. military to fight in World War II. They were all from Hero Street, a one-and-a-half block long street in Silvis. Amazingly, only 22 families lived on this street. It wasn’t named Hero Street then, but the city renamed the street in 1969 to honor the men who enlisted.” To date, Hero Street has provided more than 100 service members since Mexican-American immigrants settled there in 1929.

Dr. Amaya visited Hero Street in 2008 when he worked as Hy-Vee’s Director of Diversity. He loved the story and the history there, and encouraged the Silvis Hy-Vee store director to donate to a memorial, which he says the store director was happy to do. “I always felt I’d hear more about Hero Street somehow,” he says. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when he was approached to provide historical background on Mexican-American migration to Iowa and Illinois (specifically the Quad Cities area) by Kelly and Tammy Rundle, who run a small film company (Fourth Wall Films) in Illinois.

The Hero Street Monument located on the corner of 1st Avenue and Hero Street, USA (2nd Street) in Silvis, Illinois.

“The Rundles are making a new documentary on the Hero Street men and their story,” says Dr. Amaya. “I was truly honored to be interviewed, and I mean that, because eight of these men made the supreme sacrifice in a country, a state, and even a city that occasionally discriminated against them, their families, and their culture. They didn’t ask questions … they just served. Their lives and their legacy make me proud to be an American.” The documentary won’t be out for months, but it’s anticipated to air on PBS in Illinois or Iowa. Additional information is online at www.HeroStreetMovie.com.

“The Rundles know what they’re doing with this incredible story. It’s a rare American tale that deserves to be told, and I hope it gets the attention it deserves. I’ve suggested that it be shown in Marshalltown and Ames, and perhaps in more unlikely venues like libraries and schools. The Orpheum Theater Center also comes to mind, particularly since the Rundles filmed ‘Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg’ and have screened films in that theater before.”

According to the website, Emmy-nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle “will explore the personal and family sagas behind (eight of) the heroes and tell the compelling true story of an ongoing struggle to memorialize Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, William Sandoval, Claro Soliz, Peter Masias, Joseph Sandoval, Joseph Gomez and John S. Muños.”

Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated independent film production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois.  To view Fourth Wall Films' award-winning films on DVD, visit http://www.fourthwallfilms.com/dvds.htm.

"Riding the Rails to Hero Street" Needs YOU

The first film (in story order) in our new "Hero Street" film series is fully funded, and the production phase is nearly complete. But, you can still help us bring this project successfully to the screen.

"Riding the Rails" tells the story of the immigrants’ journey from Mexico to Cook's Point in Davenport, Holy City in Bettendorf, Iowa, and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad train yards, and boxcar homes, in Silvis, Illinois. The families of Hero Street experienced both acceptance and discrimination in their new community. Around the time of the great depression, the families were removed from the rail yards and some moved box cars or built homes on 2nd Street in Silvis. Only a block and a half long, the street lost six young men in World War II and two in the Korean War, more than any other street in America.  The anticipated release of "Riding the Rails to Hero Street" is May 2019 near Memorial Day.

Because film is a visual medium, we are always on the lookout for old photographs. In this case, we are looking for photos of the Silvis rail yard and 2nd Street circa 1917-1930. You won't need to part with your original photo. If you are in the Quad Cities area, we can come to you and copy it quickly onsite.

Do you have stories about how your ancestors who traveled from Mexico to Silvis, and then to 2nd Street? We would like to hear them!

Please email us at: [email protected] YOU can help us tell this important American history story.

Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning independent film production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois.  

To order Letters Home to Hero Street, or other award-winning films by Fourth Wall Films, click HERE!

Brother of Hero Street Eight's Willie Sandoval Passes Away

Ruben Sandoval and his sister Rufina Guerro during their interview for the Hero Street documentary film produced by Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films.

Ruben Sandoval, 95, of Silvis, passed away Saturday, March 3, 2018, at New Perspective Senior Living in Silvis. He was the brother of Willie Sandoval, one of the Hero Street Eight from Silvis, Illinois.Funeral services are 10 a.m. Thursday, March 8, 2018, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 800 17th Street in Silvis, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at Van Hoe Funeral Home, Ltd., 1500 6th St, East Moline where memorials may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. A rosary will be recited prior to visitation at the funeral home at 4 p.m. Entombment will be at St. Mary's Mausoleum, 2301 3rd St, East Moline.

Ruben was born July 2, 1922, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a son of Joseph and Carmen (Morales) Sandoval. He graduated from United Township High School in 1940 and was a 1941 Dispatch Golden Glove Boxing Champion with the Viscioni Tigers Boxing Gym in East Moline. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1943, proudly serving our country as a Gunner's Mate on the USS Gallup (PF-47), and was honorably discharged in 1946. He married Ramona Garcia, Oct. 23, 1948, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. She preceded him in death on March 6, 2008.

 

Click HERE to read the rest of Ruban's Obituary printed in the Moline Dispatch.