AMERICAN EXILE

Manuel served in Vietnam in 1971 as part of the 3rd Marine Division stationed aboard the USS Duluth LPD-6, an amphibious warship.  "The Fighting Third" lost more than 3,000 marines killed in Vietnam.  Manuel's platoon was tasked with extracting troops who were pinned down in combat situations.

Their mother was a natural born American citizen from New Mexico, and their father was a naturalized U.S. citizen.  Both brothers were born in Palomas, Mexico. 

Valente joined the U.S. Army at 17 and was assigned to the101st Airborne (AKA the "Screaming Eagles").  He was flown to Vietnam in 1968, and stationed at Camp Eagle as the Tet Offensive was beginning.  The 101st suffered almost 20,000 casualties in Vietnam.  Valente was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic service in combat.