West Texas Veteran receives Bronze Star 34 years after Gulf War heroics

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – 34 years after his heroic efforts, retired Army reserve Master Sergeant Cipriano DelBosque received a bronze star, one of the highest military accolades.

A 1991 Operation Desert Storm Rescue mission led to DelBosque recognition Saturday, a day he said he would not forget after recusing nearly 1,200 Kuwait citizens during combat during the Gulf War.

“Of course, I was scared, but the adrenaline kicks in, and you can’t be afraid, or you lose your life. So you got to do the best you can to continue on with the march,” DelBosque said.

His friend Leroy Haynes says DelBosque exemplified the military way in his actions that day and every day thereafter.

“Never give up, which is our military way of doing things. Keep pressing forward. As you can see, his friends worked hard, going as hard as he did when he was in the military. Great man. Well deserved,” Haynes said.

After 30 years in the armed forces, DelBosque retired and became a barber at Dyess Air Force Base. He then opened his own shop, where he shared many of his heroic stories and smiles with his customers, friends, and family, including his grandson, Paul Aguirre.

“He was my first haircut. A lot of those haircuts were some of the best conversations I’ve had in my life,” Aguirre said.

Delbosque raised Aguirre to know not only his heroic actions but the merit that led to them. Aguirre said he carries those lessons with him daily.

“He always taught us to have honor and diligence and to treat people the way you treat anything else in business. In how you wake up, how you make your bed, how you prepare your meals – you do it with the absolute extent of your heart,” Aguirre shared.

Delbosque said he wouldn’t think twice about his heroic actions that day, hoping his story inspires others to choose braveness.

“I was just doing my job. I could do it again. If I could,” DelBosque said.

State Representative Stan Lambert and the Texas General Land Office also presented awards. DelBosque was the last of the battalion to get his bronze star.