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He is one of the many senior citizens now living a calm life in the area.  Manuel Becerra grew up in a time when times were difficult for most residents in Kansas City, Kansas.  His parents lived during the depression and living conditions improved some-what during the 1940s.

As many Mexican Americans of his era, life was bittersweet.  On one hand he had the loving home life and but then he also had to maneuver his way in a society that sometimes could be cruel and discriminate.

For several years he has been the Chaplain for American Legion Post 609.  He is interested in current events.  During his life he has seen many historical events unfold.  He is a responsible person.  Though he personally experienced discrimination because of his ethnic background, the principals on which the United States was founded such as Liberty and the pursuit of happiness were always his belief and his goal.

St. John the Devine church and School (now closed) were a central part of his growing up years.  He attended the grade school and church and would later marry his spouse, the former Eliza Muñoz there at the church on November 27, 1949.  Among the members of the wedding party were Luis Madrigal, Mary L. Alvarez, Simon Alvarez, Valentin Muñoz, Celso Arredondo and Anna Matoz  One member, Daniel Duarte, his cousin served 4 years in the U.S. Navy and would later move to Michigan.

Becerra was born in the Argentine District and lived around 25th and Metropolitan.  His father worked for the railroad for 40 years.  Both parents were originally from Mexico.  After he married he and his new spouse moved to the Armourdale area.  They were part of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church.  Becerra joined the U.S. Marine Reserves and served in 1947 and 1948.  He later decided to join the Marines full-time.  On July 16, 1950 he was sent to Camp Pendleton, California for training and then on August 16, 1950 he would board ship for Japan.  When he was at Camp Pendleton, he by chance met Joe Castro of the Argentine District, a long-time acquaintance.  Joe Castro later would be shipped to Korea.

He was among 1,500 personnel on the ship.  The trip took 31 days.  Most of that time he spent looking out over the sea as the sun would rise and later as the sun set.  Later he was part of a selection process which decided who would be sent to Korea and those who would spend their active duty in Japan.  He was selected to spend his time in Japan.

He was stationed near the town of Yokosuka.  During those years there were many visible signs of World War II.  In this area were many craters created by powerful bombs.  In the port he observed many sunken Japanese ships.  There were attempts to salvage and rebuild some of the ships.  In some instances, pumps blew air into the sunken ships in an effort for them to rise to the top.  Some of the ships could have the holes repaired and then placed into re-use.  Others were beyond repair.

Becerra was part of a mortars squad.  He enjoyed his time there, but he would have to return home.  He was given approval to return to Kansas City – the Kansas River was flooding Argentine and Armourdale.  He would attempt to help his family and parents but as many, he lost most of his personal belongings and would have to start over.

Becerra and his family moved to Mexico when he had started grade school and he later would attend a grade school in New Mexico which set him back farther in his educational background.  This resulted in his dropping out of high school later.

Being treated different because of his ethnic background, dropping out of school and the devastating flood of 1951 could have embittered him, but it did not.  He has lived the responsible life and has raised a family.  Currently his family consists of his daughter, Stella and son Hector.  The family also includes 6 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Becerra remains interested in the ways of the world.  He comments “the Mayan calendar has been very accurate in predicting the activities on the Earth.  The Mayan calendar predicts the end of the Earth on December 22, 2011.  I want to live until that day to see if it is true.”

In relation to the above prediction, we have been told that there is a missing link in the interpretation of code and there is a missing link.  Hope to get back with you then.

Rudy Padilla is a columnist for the Kansas City Kansan and can be reached at opkansas@swbell.net