The City of Las Cruces named retired Army Sgt. Joey Banegas as Grand Marshal of the Electric Light Parade that begins at 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at Apodaca Park, 801 E. Madrid Ave.
The parade will travel south on Solano Drive, east on Hadley Avenue and finish at the Maag Softball Complex.
Banegas, from Hatch, N.M., was 17 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1999 and became an infantryman. Banegas served as a specialist and 50-caliber anti-tank gunner in the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry, 25th Division when, in 2004, he was chosen as one of about 100 soldiers to support a special forces group in south-central Afghanistan. His team provided extra manpower to secure nearby villages to help the Green Beret execute high-risk missions while after high value targets.
Banegas was especially honored to play a small role in these dangerous operations since his father served as a U.S. Army Green Beret.
On Oct. 10, 2004, about six months after being deployed to Afghanistan, Banegas joined a small convoy with the important task of transporting ballot boxes from that year’s Afghanistan presidential election. While he was manning the gun on the lead Humvee, Taliban fighters ambushed the convoy, and his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.
As the burning Humvee filled with smoke and was blasted with gunfire, Banegas saw his severely injured lieutenant attempting to get out of the vehicle. Banegas, with a piece of shrapnel lodged in his thigh, rescued the officer before returning to the Humvee and retrieving the gun. All 10 soldiers in the convoy survived and were successful in delivering the ballots.
After four days of recovery, Banegas ventured on a resupply mission in the same area as the incident earlier that week. This time, an improvised explosive device detonated nearby taking the lives of two of Banegas’ fellow soldiers and causing severe injuries to his right leg. Banegas ultimately lost that leg, and the injury led his to medical retirement after just six years of service.
For his actions and bravery, Banegas was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart.
While southern New Mexico is always home, Banegas now resides in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife and children. He returned to boxing, a favorite childhood sport of his, and joined the National Amputee Boxing Association. He was the first amputee to fight in an officially sanctioned amputee boxing match main event in the state of Texas. Now equipped with the confidence to pursue his dreams, Banegas also earned an advanced scuba diving certification for a pastime he has found to be incredibly therapeutic.
Though recovery from the traumatic events is a never-ending challenge for anyone, Banegas has coped by finding a way back to the activities he loves and has surrounded himself with family. Banegas says memories of his fallen friends and the sacrifices they made help keep him moving forward every day.
Joey Banegas has several family and friends in Las Cruces and Hatch and visits southern New Mexico often.
The City of Las Cruces thanks and honors Sgt. Joey Banegas, and all armed forces veterans, for their service to our country.
For a full schedule of Fourth of July events, visit the Electric Light Parade page or call (575) 541-2550.
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