- Date Of Birth: August 1, 1922
- Date Of Death: August 5, 2017
- State: Florida
Victor Manuel Hernandez
Victor Manuel Hernandez. 95, died peacefully, Saturday, August 5, 2017, surrounded by his
loving family. Born August 1, 1922, and raised in a sugar mill hamlet near Ponce, Puerto Rico, he competed his formative education and went to Louisiana to attend LSU. WWII interrupted his studies; he became a fighter pilot and flew with the 8th Air Force, stationed in England. On his 39th mission, Dec. 4, 1944, while escorting bombers, engine failure forced him to parachute near Frankfurt Germany. He became a prisoner of war and was detained at Stalag Luft I near the town of Barth, Germany on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Russian soldiers liberated the camp on May 19, 1945. That same year he resumed his studies at LSU where he graduated as a mechanical engineer. On November 18, 1945, he married Anna Laura Nalley, the love of his life.
Victor was a life-long aviator.
In addition to his parents Victor was preceded in death by his wife Anna and brother Ruben Hernandez. He is survived by his two sons, Victor Hernandez, Jr. and wife Cathey of Melbourne, Fl., Marshall Hernandez and wife Adele of Roswell, Ga. and daughter, Carmen Durham and husband Wayne of Greensboro, N.C.; his two brothers Raul Hernandez of Atlanta, Ga. Edgardo Hernandez and wife Ada of Melbourne, Fl. and his sister Haydee Zayas of San Juan, Puerto Rico; grandchildren, Anne Brady, Cathey Emeline Simpson, Alexandra Mia Bailey, Michael Jankovic, Gregory Hernandez; great grandchildren, Christian Brady, Emma Kate Brady, Mia Bailey; and extensive family in Puerto Rico and Louisiana, as well as his many friends in the 503rd and Indian River Colony Club, his Florida residence.
Victor’s family will celebrate his legacy with family and friends at Indian River Colony Club on September 9, from 9:00am until 12:00pm.
