Miguel A. Borrero “Papi,” Sr.

Miguel A. Borrero “Papi,” Sr., 87, of Beaumont, died Sunday, December 10, 2017, at Harbor Hospice, Beaumont. Miguel A. Borrero was born January 20, 1930, in Yauco, Puerto Rico. He was the son of Francesca and Pascual Borrero. Miguel was the oldest of five children.

Upon graduating from high school, he attended Business College. After graduating, he started his career as a bookkeeper at a local business. He was drafted by the U.S. Army and was sent to the front lines of Korea. He was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division. He received a Combat Infantry Badge among other ribbons. While in Korea, he was severely injured in a battlefield incident where he was the sole survivor from his bunker. He spent six months in the hospital.

After he returned from Korea, he married Judith Giovannetti on May 14th, 1955. He accepted a new assignment in Virginia, where he and Judith began their new lives in the U.S. In 1956, they had their first child.

After assignments in Puerto Rico and Germany, they were sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana in 1962 and moved to a neighboring sleepy, little town, Leesville, Louisiana. By this time, they had three children, then added two more children to the family while in Leesville.

They were then sent to Panama for a few years. An assignment at the U.S. embassy led them to Honduras.

While in Honduras, he drove up on an accident scene and saved a man’s life on the side of the road and helped carry a woman to safety at the same scene. He never spoke of his heroic acts because he was a very humble man.

In 1970, he was deployed to Vietnam, but not before ensuring that his family was relocated back to Leesville, Louisiana. The family was now complete with six children. Five daughters and one son.   After his safe return from Vietnam, Leesville became their forever home.

Sergeant First Class Borrero retired from the Army in 1974 with an honorable discharge and then worked at Fort Polk in civil service for 20 years.

He served his community as a little league, softball and pony league umpire. He traveled all over Vernon Parish calling games. He was also involved in his local church, serving as an usher and treasurer for the church.

His hobby was running his own flea market business. He traveled surrounding parishes and set up shop to sell all types of things. He took the first letter from each of his children’s names to create “Leremy,” the name he chose to call his business.

After losing Judith, his bride of 50 years, he spent his final years in Beaumont, Texas. He succumbed to congestive heart failure on December 10, 2017, and is now reunited with the love of his life.

He was a soldier, patriot, and hero. He is survived by his six children, their spouses, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild: daughters, Ellie Gordy and husband, Michael, of Houston; and Ruth Wilson and husband, Michael, of Houston; son, Miguel A. Borrero, Jr. and wife, Imelda, of Menifee, California; daughters, Liz Swacker and husband, Thomas, of Houston; Eileen Weidman and husband, Steve, of Dallas; and Yvette Borrero and Janet Davis of Beaumont; grandchildren, Stephanie Fletcher and husband James; Samantha Gordy; Nichole Hazard and husband Tyler; Aaron Wilson; Angela Borrero; Liana Borrero; and Rachel Weidman; one great-granddaughter, Ashlynn Fletcher and one great-grandson, Robert “Nicholas” Rubalcava. He is also survived by his brother, Guillermo Borrero; his sister, Gladys Borrero; and his brother, Edwin Borrero all of Puerto Rico.

A gathering of Mr. Borrero’s family and friends will begin at 2:00 p.m., with a Celebration of His Life to follow at 3:00 p.m., Friday, December 15, 2017, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A family committal was held at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Association, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250, www.dav.org; or the Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Fund, www.crowdrise.com/carlosbeltran.