Sp. Eduardo Torres’ family gathered in the shade of a live oak at Mount Olivet Cemetery, sitting in folding chairs about 100 yards from where their beloved son and brother were buried.
They wore white T-shirts with his name, a beaming photo of him in uniform and the years of his short life – 1999 to 2021.
Torres’ family honored an outspoken and passionate son and brother whose ambitious dreams for a career in the U.S. military were cut short. For most of his young life, enlistment had been a dream for Torres, his sister Elizett Amezcua said.
Joining the military was “the only thing he could really talk about,” she said.
Torres’ passion and love for his country were echoed Monday by veterans, civilians, elected officials and special guests.
U.S. Navy Capt. Beau Hufstetler, the commanding officer of NAS JRB Fort Worth, described the sacrifice service members and their loved ones make every day, again and again, throughout their careers. Hufstetler’s wife described the feeling as “having to hold your breath, waiting to receive confirmation that your loved one is safe again,” he said.
“It’s a pattern that repeats itself hundreds of times over the course of a soldier’s career,” he said.
For many families, that feeling of holding their breath ends in sadness.
Hufstetler spoke of three Texans who had died serving their country. The first two were names familiar to some of those present: Major Horace Seaver Carswell Jr., a World War II hero, and Marine Corps Pfc. Whitt Moreland, who sacrificed himself while warning his comrades to avoid an exploding grenade.
The last story Hufstetler shared was one he knew: Cmdr. Brian Bourgeois of the US Navy. Bourgeois and Hufstetler were football teammates at the U.S. Naval Academy. Hufstetler remembered a friend who was a good listener, but at the same time determined and relaxed. Born in Texas, Bourgeois died on December 7, 2021 from a stroke injuries sustained during a training exercise. He was the commander of SEAL Team 8 at the time of his death.
“Each of these courage profiles represents the fighting spirit of the many heroes who gave their lives for our country,” Hufstetler said.
For the Torres family, they carry their loved one’s fighting spirit with them in the form of small silver bracelets with their son and brother’s names engraved on them. Torres’ squad had the bracelets made after their comrade died of a self-inflicted wound in 2021. Amezcua wore those bracelets on Monday with her mother Cristina Torres and brother Oscar Torres, in honor of their brother and son.
If you are a service member or veteran in crisis, help is available. Call 988 then press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
