Veteran Services Collaborative Connection
I had the pleasure of meeting Ernesto several weeks ago when the Santa Clarita Veteran Services Collaborative selected him, his lovely wife, Alyssa, and their sons, Sonny and Zachery, among 43 applicants to receive a home at no cost.

Ernesto’s heartwarming speech moved me to quickly meet him to create this Veterans page; thus we recently met for three hours.

Hart High School
Ernesto Trevizo was born July 4, 1988 at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and grew up in Newhall, graduating from Hart High School on May 19, 2006.

Ernesto Trevizo (right) Gave A Hart T-Shirt To Citizen In Iraq (left). Location: Ramadi, Iraq

Ernesto received his diploma later because he was implicated in Hart High School’s infamous April 29, 2006 riot, of which he was wrongly accused of being an instigator.

During junior year, Ernesto became interested in joining the U.S. Marine Corps, which greatly displeased his parents since the Iraq War was in full bloom.

Ernesto’s parents knew that their fellow church parishioner, Army Specialist 4 José Ricardo Flores-Mejia, was tragically killed Nov. 16, 2004 in Mosul, Iraq by an insurgent’s improvised explosive device (IED).

Nevertheless, at age 17, Ernesto joined the USMC on their delayed entry program, though he needed his parents’ approval, which was simply not forthcoming.

His unfortunate entanglement in Hart’s 2006 riot delayed his entry into the Marine Corps; however, his recruiter helped restore Ernesto’s reputation.  At age 18, Ernesto was free to enter boot camp, which he did September 7, 2006.

Ernesto Trevizo (center) & His USMC Buddies

U.S. Marine Corps
Following three months of boot camp at San Diego, Ernesto took a one-month temporary assignment as a recruiter’s assistant in Santa Clarita, which he found exhilarating, wearing his impressive new uniform around town.

In January 2007, Ernesto was assigned to Infantry Training at Camp Pendleton for two months and then the 1^st Battalion, 9^th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

As Ernesto arrived, his new unit was reactivated, which enabled him an opportunity to participate in their patriotic Reactivation Ceremony. By then, Ernesto was making good friends as he grew to revere the USMC’s strong traditions.

Ernesto Trevizo’s Unit (Ernesto Center Right)

Iraq Deployment
In March 2008, Ernesto’s infantry unit deployed to Kuwait, where they prepared one week to convoy to Ramadi, Iraq, which lies about 70 miles west of Baghdad.

Located along the Euphrates River and roadways to Jordon and Syria, Ramadi is strategically positioned as a key trade route and huge target for Iraqi insurgents.  Ramadi was known at that time as the most dangerous city on Earth.

Ernesto said, “Our ride to Camp Ramadi from Kuwait was long and thankfully peaceful, not knowing what to expect entering enemy territory.  We stayed at Camp Ramadi only four weeks before convoying to our area of operation at Joint Security Station Nasser.”

Ernesto and his fellow Marines’ assignment was training fresh Iraqi police personnel.  JSS Nasser was literally a collection of several ramshackle houses that accommodated 50 Marines and 100 Iraqi police officers.

JSS Nasser’s security perimeter consisted of two check points protected by T-metal barriers and concertina wire.  The U.S. mission in Iraq had become transitioning combat and security operations to Iraqi military.

Ernesto Trevizo Humanitarian Service Medal

Alyssa Marie Lara
Digressing back to the real world, Ernesto had been seriously infatuated with his beautiful high school classmate, Alyssa Marie Lara, whom he dated before joining the Marine Corps.

After becoming a Marine and back home on a leave of absence, Ernesto dropped to one knee and presented his beauty queen a beautiful diamond engagement ring.

On December 29, 2009, they were married at “The Chapel of Love” in San Fernando and had a fun-filled reception at a nearby American Legion Hall.  Ernesto proudly wore his Marine Corp uniform.

JSS Nasser
The most significant event of Ernesto’s Iraq tour of duty occurred April 22, 2008 when an Iraqi insurgent suicide bomber drove a tanker truck loaded with 2,000 pounds of explosives up to JSS Nasser’s front gate and detonated.

Two hours earlier, Ernesto was relieved of duty by Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter, who joined Corporal Jonathan Yale. Both Marines were instructed to block entry by any suspicious individuals or vehicles.

Jordan Haerter (Left) & Ernesto Trevizo (Right)

Ernesto said, “Those two courageous Marines were my buddies, and they stood their ground firing away as that rogue truck barreled towards them.  Stopping that truck saved at least 100 lives, as a massive crater was blown up directly in front of them, instantly killing Haerter and seriously wounding Yale, who perished several hours later.”

That enormous blast damaged nearby houses and a Mosque was destroyed.  Both Marines were awarded the Navy Cross for valor, second only to the Medal of Honor.

Ernesto was the first Marine to reach Jordan Haerter and Jonathan Yale, but seeing that Haerter was KIA, he immediately rendered aid to Yale while his fellow Marines re-established security and wondered what’s next.

Back to Camp Lejeune
In October 2008, Ernesto’s tour of duty ended and he returned to Camp Lejeune to a massive welcoming celebration by their fellow Marines and family members.

Ernesto was thrilled to wrap his arms around Alyssa.  In February 2010, Ernesto deployed with the 24^th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Mesa Verde for seven months.

Their first stop was a humanitarian mission distributing food and supporting Haitians following the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake of January 12, 2010.  They went on to ports in Spain, Greece, Djibouti, Jordan, Croatia, etc., before returning back to Camp Lejeune.

Ernesto Trevizo Iraq War Campaign Medal

Honorable Discharge
On October 6, 2010, Ernesto received his honorable discharge, so it was back to Southern California, where the Trevizos settled in Lancaster and he landed a job in aerospace for the next four years.

Next, the family moved to Newhall, where Ernesto recently gained employment with the Veteran Administration.

In December 2019, Ernesto submitted his application for a free home offered by the Santa Clarita Veteran Services Collaborative, and to his and Alyssa’s complete shock, they were selected among 43 applicants.

Ernesto said, “When Elliott Wolfe phoned me, I couldn’t believe my ears as Alyssa began jumping up and down and screaming for joy.  It was like a miracle.”

Ernesto stays in touch with his squad buddies, and realizing some are suffering with post-war issues, he is committed to helping veterans for the remainder of his days.

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