Meeting Jesus
While attending a “Jason Gibbs for Santa Clarita City Council” campaign event several months ago, I met Jesus Henao and learned that he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, so naturally I asked him to send me his photos.

Finally, we were able to meet, where we engaged in a very entertaining conversation.

Marine Corps Enlistment
Jesus H. Henao was born December 12, 1969 at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Hollywood, but grew up in nearby Sun Valley, graduating from John H. Francis Polytechnic High School on June 19, 1987.

During his senior year at age 17, Jesus enlisted for four years in the USMC’s Delayed Entry Program after securing his father’s approval.

USMC Logo

Jesus’ parents had emigrated from Marsella, Colombia, where his father was experienced as an Army combat soldier battling revolutionaries. Jesus proudly mentioned that his grandfather, Fabio Garcia Salazar, ran for president of Colombia before dying of a sudden heart attack.

Jesus entered boot camp October 12, 1987 in San Diego’s Marine Corps Recruitment Depot (MCRD) for three months of intense training.

Next he was assigned to the U.S. Army’s Fort Sill for two months of artillery schooling. Following graduation, Jesus’ platoon sergeant said, “Oh, you’re from California. You’re going to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.”

Mediterranean Combat Training
It was early 1988 when Jesus joined Charlie Battery, 1^st Battalion, 10^th Marines, 2^nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, where he was based the remainder of his entire service with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Jesus H. Henao Marines Section

The main thing Jesus loved about being a Marine at Camp Lejeune was their camaraderie. However, he had barely arrived when his unit shipped out to Puerto Rico for one month of “Green Water Work-up” training in preparation for a six-month Mediterranean Sea Cruise taking him to Spain, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, Sardinia and Israel.

At each stop, they conducted combat training. While at sea, these Marines went on high alert and prepared to invade Libya as Muammar Gaddafi threatened terrorist attacks, though he backed down, having had his home bombed in 1986 under President Bush 41.

Southwest Asia Service Medal

Higher Rank Pursuit
Jesus said, “At age 19 I finally began realizing I needed a purpose in life and to become a man, which I give great credit to my mentor, Corporal Jack Cooper. Cooper trusted me and he inspired me to pursue a path to higher rank and personal responsibility.”

In the summer of 1989, Jesus’ unit was assigned to USMC 29 Palms in California for desert training, where Jesus excelled overseeing his artillery section of 155 howitzers.

Jesus H. Henao Portrait

Next, it was back to Camp Lejeune, where Corporal Cooper recommended Jesus for a Meritorious Corporal Promotion competition that was limited to 1,000 Marines, the top 1 percent.

The review, led by Battalion E-7 NCO’s and higher, consisted of barrack inspections, marching troops, USMC history and combat and artillery knowledge.

Jesus studied something fierce, as he just ate up this competition, which is exactly why he came in first place. Jesus is very proud that he made corporal with only two years of service.

No Desert Storm Action
In January 1990, Jesus flew to Okinawa for six months, including a few months of duty in South Korea, and then it was back to Camp Lejeune and a two-week leave of absence followed by an eight-month deployment to the Persian Gulf.

In late 1990, our military began building up forces in the region in preparation for pounding Saddam Hussein’s troops out of Kuwait.

Operation Desert Storm that liberated Kuwait was so short-lived that Jesus’ unit was not ordered into action, thoroughly irritating those gung-ho Marines.

Jesus H. Henao Firing M198

Jesus said, “All the way back to Camp Lejeune in July 1991, everyone was ticked off.” On August 12, 1991, Jesus received his honorable discharge on an “early out” to attend college.

Meeting Carolina
Jesus attended Glendale Community College for two years and then the University of Southern California (USC,) receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Science and Public Policy in June 1999.

Jesus takes great pride in earning his college degree through his hard work, diligence and his own resources. In the spring of 2001, Jesus’ friend, Moses, (no joke) attended a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints dance, where he met the beautiful Carolina Gomez, impressing Moses; thus he managed to secure her phone number.

Moses didn’t elaborate, but her phone number was for his good buddy, Jesus. Carolina, a native of Colombia, was visiting Santa Clarita, taking an internship when she was baptized a Mormon one month earlier.

When Moses gave Jesus Carolina’s number, he said, “This girl will be your eternal companion.”

Spontaneous Romance
When Jesus finally called Carolina, they simply didn’t hit it off, but three days later, they spoke again, and as their conversation turned to their church, their chemistry began developing, so Jesus set their first date.

Jesus H. Henao Wedding

Carolina abruptly cancelled that date on a phone call, so he said, “What are you doing now?” This led to a four-hour impromptu lunch date, which inspired a warm friendship.

Three weeks later, following the kidnapping of Carolina’s father by Colombian guerillas, she hurriedly returned to her parents’ home.

Soon her father was released, which prompted Jesus to suggest paying her to return to Santa Clarita and work in his business, which she readily accepted.

On arrival at LAX, Jesus presented her with a dozen long-stemmed beautiful rose,s which thoroughly flattered Carolina. On September 13, 2001, they were married at their Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Valencia.

American Dream
As Jesus successfully built his budding real estate business, Leola Commercial, Inc., he and Carolina had three children and they purchased a new home in north Valencia.

Carolina started her own prosperous local architectural business, Charc Design. Jesus serves as bishop of his church’s Spanish branch consisting of 150 patrons, and for three years, he coached West Ranch’s freshman football team.

Clearly, Jesus and Carolina have achieved their American dream.

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