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Brigadier General Gilbert E. Sena of Santa Fe died peacefully on Friday, March 15, 2002 after suffering a long illness. Gillie was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 3, 1921. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ray Sena, Sr. and Barbara Chavez Sena; his brothers, Robert, David and Ray, Jr., Sena; and his father and mother-in-law, Cesario and Deloisa Ortiz. General Sena is survived by the love of his life, Reyesitas Ortiz Sena, his soulmate since July 10, 1943 when they married in Shreveport, Louisiana. His children adored him, Juanita Sena-Shannon and husband, Marty, Elizabeth Griego and special friend, Jose Camacho, Gilbert Sena and special friend, Ellen Trabka, and Patricia Sena. His cherished grandchildren who will deeply miss"Bampo" are Susan and Santiago Lopez, David and Christina Shannon, Joshua and Candace Gonzales, Michelle Griego, Bonnie Jane Sena and Michael Sena. Gillie also leaves great-grandchildren to carry on his love of life, Santiago Martin Lopez, Brianna Shannon Lopez, Nicolas Tomas Lopez, Caitlin Ashley Shannon, Jacob Martin David Shannon and Shaylee Gonzales, who will soon have a baby brother. His caregivers during his illness also became family members-J.R. Constable, Jessica Taylor and Frankie Curtis. Gillie is survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, Eleanor Sena, Alice Sena, Lucy Sena, Valentina Ortiz, Flora Ortiz, Donelia Roybal, Helen Ortiz, Frank Ortiz, Reynaldo and Stella Ortiz, Gene and Rosina Clayton, Jerry G. Aranda; and many, many nieces and nephews whom he was close to and made him very proud. General Sena's early childhood was spent in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He grew up in the depression era and had vivid memories of bread lines and the many impoverished people who lived close to his family. He remembered fondly the year of 1931, when his mother accepted a teaching position in El Rito, New Mexico where he spent his teen years and made friendships that would last the rest of his life. General Sena began his career in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He enlisted immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a flying cadet (bombardier). He attended service schools at Fort Bliss, Texas, Ellington Air Forces Base in Houston, Texas, advanced bombing school at San Angelo Air Base, Texas, and navigation training at Carlsbad Air Base, New Mexico. Upon being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force in February 1942, Gillie was assigned to Barksdale Field in Louisiana as a bomb instructor of the B-26 Martin Marauder. He then joined the B-24 bomber group and met his pilot and lifelong friend, Captain Donald H. Purdy. This friendship with Purdy and the thoughts of his crew always brought tears to his eyes and memories both fond and painful of those who survived and those who died during the war and since. On March 19, 1943, Gilllie was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant and, after several bombing missions in the Pacific, he became Squadron Bombardier Commander. In 1944, the young Lieutenant led the first daylight raid of 200 airplanes to bomb the Phillipines prior to the Leyte landing. As World War II came to a close, General Sena's future would begin to present itself as a career soldier with United States Military. He returned to New Mexico as a member of the Army Reserve and would again be called to active duty during the Korean conflict of the 1950's. On August 14, 1952, Gillie was reassigned to the New Mexico National Guard and spent the next 19 years associated with the Army reserves. From 1961 through 1976, during the Vietnam conflict, he was assigned active duty with the Selective Service System at the New Mexico State Headquarters in Santa Fe. Under the command of Lt. General Lewis B. Hershey, he became the Chief of the Field Division, supervising 30 local Selective Service boards throughout New Mexico. Gillie made many close personal friends of members of those boards. During his Selective Service career, he was promoted to Chief of Manpower, Deputy State Director and, in 1968, State Director. On March 11, 1976, Gillie received his final military assignment to White Sands Missile Range and became Chief of Human Resources, responsible for all training of personnel working for the United States Army stationed there. He retired form service a full Colonel on December 1, 1976 and, on September 7, 1984, was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and reinstated to inactive duty. Among the citations awarded to General Sena during campaigns at Bismark Archipelago, New Guinea, East Indies, and the Philippines, were the National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Pacific Campaign Medal, Phillipines Presidential Unit Citation, ACM, World War II Victory Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Device, and the Meritorious Service Medal. Until his death, he continued membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, and the Reserve Offices Association. General Sena believed strongly in participating in the Santa Fe Community and served as a Santa Fe City Counselor and one of the first directors of the Santa Fe Boys Club. He loved to work in his garage on his vintage cars and spent many precious hours enjoying gardening and yard work. Golf was a passion for Gillie and many of his buddies. A Rosary will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, the parish he and his family love. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa Street, 984-8600.
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