Mario Lopez Kirker
Father, Veteran, New Mexican.

Mario L. Kirker was born November 26, 1925 in Santa Rita, Grant County, NM now referred to as "Born in Space" to residents of the area. The town of Santa Rita was located on top of what is now the open copper pit years ago; there was too much copper under the town so many of the homes were moved to other small towns in the area. The mine was the home of the former Kennecott Copper Corporation, Phelps Dodge and now Freeport-McMoRan. Mario was the oldest of the five (5) boys and one (1) sister born to Juan and Rita Kirker.

Mario attended kindergarten and first year of elementary school in Santa Rita beginning in 1934. The Santa Rita building was considered an exceptional school structure at the time due to its red brick along with running water, electricity and dual outhouses behind the building, one for each sex. The most difficult obstacle encountered was the language barrier. Many students conversed in Spanish while the teachers spoke English. Students were discouraged from speaking a "foreign" language; those caught were disciplined with a paddling.

While Mario was in the First grade, the Kirker family was forced to move out of Santa Rita as a result of his uncle's involvement in the labor movement. The family moved to the town of Central, NM (now named Santa Clara). Teaching in school was through memorization of textbook material and reading was taught by memorizing word groups instead of using phonics.

Upon arriving home from school, chores of chopping wood and fetching water were a necessity. There was a community well where water was obtained for cooking, drinking, bathing, laundry and cleaning. Mario eventually received his GED and went on to take a few classes at Western New Mexico University as an adult.

Mario left school when in the 6th grade due to the illness of his father. He had to help provide for the family by working at a lumber yard for $14.00 a week. Even though he was a short man, he managed to carry sacks of concrete and help load purchases onto trucks. At age 17, Mario decided to enlist in the Navy to help the family. He learned when he took his physical that he was short one (1) pound of the required 110 pounds necessary to enlist. He informed the doctor, "are you going to deprive me of serving my country over one pound?" The doctor informed Mario, "you're in!" Since he was 17 years old, his father had to sign for him to enlist into the Navy.

Mario was "officially" enlisted in the Navy on April 7, 1943 (World War II). He embarked in the Navy ship named the LST 123 which was assigned to the Asiatic Pacific Theater; his entire tenure in the Navy was with the LST 123. Mario was trained as a diesel mechanic also known as the "Black Gang," He was the only barber there and he collected $.50 a head for a haircut. Mario assisted in four (4) battles, the first being the Battle of the Green Islands, February 15, 1944; however, he arrived after the beach was secured. The next battle, The Mariana Opp. Battle of Guam, July 21-28, 1944, the American's recaptured the Japanese-held island of Guam in 1941. The ship was attacked three (3) times by kamikaze pilots. Mario was the first gunner and he was given credit for knocking down two (2) Japanese planes when he was ordered to fire. One Japanese plane armed with a torpedo dropped the torpedo in a direct line to the LST 123. Another vessel passed between the LST 123 and the torpedo. The 105-man crew of the LST 123 and the 150 Marines on board were saved by Kirker's actions. The third battle was The Battle of Leyte, October 20, 1944, the recapture and liberation of the Philippine campaign and end of almost three (3) years of Japanese occupation. The final battle was the Battle of Luzon, January 4-15, 1945, in the Philippines. The LST 123 made through the war unscathed.

Mario earned the Asiatic Pacific Medal with a total of five (5) stars and Philippine Liberation medal when serving on the ship. With the assistance of Christopher Saxman, Senator Martin Heinrich and staffer Juanita De Lira Gabitzsch, Mario was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon on July 21, 2021, 75 year late! The New Mexico House of Representatives and the State of New Mexico also recognized Mario for his service on July 21, 2021.

Mario along with a few other Word War II veterans was honored by the Honor Flight of Southern New Mexico and El Paso organization October 3-5, 2019 with the trip to Washington DC with no expense to the veteran. It was an honor bestowed to the Kirker family by the organization. Mario never stopped talking about the trip and the kindness of the flight personnel.

Mario married his wife who resided in Concho, Arizona, upon returning home in 1945 from the military. As Mario was born and raised in the Santa Rita, New Mexico, he and his wife resided in New Mexico. The family grew to two (2) girls and two (2) boys. Mario applied for a job as a diesel mechanic at the local mine but did not get the position even though the company advertised "diesel mechanics wanted." Mario became a blacksmith molding 20 foot metal rods used to drill into the rock to use explosives to expose the copper underground. Due to several labor "strikes" initiated by the union, Mario was forced to find another line of work. In the meantime, Mario had a small building with a gasoline station located on the same property as the residence. The children helped run the station and his brother-in-law assisted in the auto repair business. At a later time, the same building operated as a television repair shop (use of television tubes were used), then A body repair and paint business was opened, and finally an auto and furniture repair and recovery/upholstery business was opened and remains there to this day. The younger of Mario's two boys runs the upholstery shop.

Mario could not rely on the business to support a family so he sought work as a police officer where he was employed by the town of Silver City. He became the Chief of Police in Central (Santa Clara), the Chief of Police in Bayard and a truant officer for the Cobre Consolidated Schools located in Bayard, NM;  a total of 35 years in law enforcement. He completed his working history as a security officer for the mine of which he finally retired in 1987.

A good work ethic was instilled to each of his four children along with the enforcement of getting a good education, which became invaluable lessons as the children grew up. The children were taught to work hard and treat people the way they wanted to be treated. Mario was a disciplinarian and all the boys, including cousins, got their fair share of spankings. The boys all knew the degree of their punishment by the time Mario got home from work. Mario's barber strap was used for spankings which included a thick piece of leather. The boys at one time "hid" the strap but it was found. As the boy's grew older, the strap stayed hidden for several years. When finally located much later, the leather was shriveled up and not usable!

A short story will give you a little chuckle about Mario. When his oldest daughter lost a tooth, it was placed under the pillow so the tooth fairy would leave a little money. Upon waking in the morning, she went running to mom and dad and told them the tooth fairy had left her a quarter! Mario quickly stated, "about the tooth fairy, she told me to tell you to give me 15 cents change." There went the belief in the tooth fairy!

Mario's biggest hobby was researching and reading about history. One family member stood out not only to Mario but to his children and other friends and family members and that was the history of his great, great grandfather, James Kirker, a trapper and Indian fighter. He arrived in the city of New York from the Scotland/Ireland area in 1810. James became a prisoner of war in the War of 1812 against the British. James' visit to the Santa Rita, NM area as a trapper and copper miner was the beginning of the "Kirker" name in the area. Books have been written about James Kirker along with a documentary from an Irish group who traveled James' trips including the Grant County area to interview the family.

The last 10 years of Mario's life was spent talking about the "war." He was diagnosed with PTSD, his hearing was damaged when he was a gunner as well as a diesel mechanic in the ship. He would discuss the torpedo that almost hit the ship along with all the human parts seen on other ships during the war. He would cry and talk about it to anyone who would visit him or go to the shop for some upholstery work. He was still very happy to have served and to fight for his county. He would suggest to his grandsons and great grandsons to join the Navy and to follow in his foot-steps. He was asked to attend many functions relating to "veterans' activities" especially in the schools or community. The last request was for the Fourth of July parade in Grant Count this year, 2024. Because of his health, he was unable to attend; however, the group managed to get an enlarged photo of Mario that was carried by a young student at the front of the parade. What an honor!

Mario lived a long happy life; he lacked three (3) months to turn 99 years old when he passed August 13, 2024. His life was difficult when he and his family were growing up, especially going through the depression as many other families did as well. All in all, Mario was a happy, proud man who made a huge impression with everyone he encountered, family or friends! He was an awesome father, friend, employee, business man and confidant! He loved each and every one of his 22 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, and 19 great-great-grandchildren and of course, his favorite comment to all of them was "get your education!"