Chief Warrant 0fficer 4, retired, Fernando Michael "Jerry" Huerta was born on September 29, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Roberto L Huerta Sr. and Mercedes Maria (Robles) Huerta.
   He was married to Janice Coppage and was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
   Jerry was retired from the US Army, having served in Korea, Panama, and three tours in Vietnam. His 33 years were spent serving in the 1st, 5th, and 8th Groups (Special Forces); 101st, 11th, 82nd, and 173rd Division (Airborne); 2nd, 8th, and 33rd Division (Infantry); and 187th and 508th (ARCT).
   He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnamese Master Parachutist Wings, three Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal with an Oak Cluster, five battle stars on his Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, as well as the Legion of Merit.
   He was a board member of the 101st Airborne Division Association, the American Legion and was a Kentucky Colonel. Jerry retired from Civil Service at Fort Campbell.
   A resident of Clarksville, Tennessee, he was 82 years old when he passed away at home on February 17, 2016.
   Preceded in death by his parents, by his infant son Robert Huerta, grandson Evan Hurt and by his brother Roberto Huerta, he was survived by his wife; a son; two married daughters; two married brothers; two married sisters; another sister-in-law; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
  Funeral Services were held at the Chapel of Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, and burial was in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, with full Military Honors.

[The Leaf Chronicle, Clarksville. TN,  Friday, February 19, 2016]

   CWO4 (retired) Fernando “Jerry” Huerta, age 82,of Clarksville, passed away Wednesday, February 17, 2016, at his residence.
   Jerry was born September 29, 1933, in Chicago, IL, to the late Roberto L. Huerta, Sr. and Mercedes Maria Robles Huerta. He was also preceded in death by his infant son, Robert Huerta; grandson, Evan Hurt; and brother, Roberto Huerta.
   Mr. Huerta was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He was retired from the US Army, having served in Korea, Panama, and three tours in Vietnam. Mr. Huerta’s 33 years were spent serving in the 1st, 5th, and 8th Groups (Special Forces); 101st, 11th, 82nd, and 173rd Division (Airborne); 2nd, 8th, and 33rd Division (Infantry); 187th and 508th (ARCT).
   He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnamese Master Parachutist Wings, three Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal with an Oak Cluster, five battle stars on his Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, as well as the Legion of Merit.
   He was a board member of the 101st Airborne Division Association, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, and was a Kentucky Colonel. Jerry retired from Civil Service at Fort Campbell.
   Funeral service will be held Monday, February 22, at 10:00 AM, at the Chapel of Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, with Father Christiano Nunes officiating. Burial will follow at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, in Hopkinsville, with full military honors. Visitation will be Sunday, February 21, from 1:00 to 5:00PM, and Monday, February 22, from 9:00 AM until the hour of service at the funeral home.
   Military personnel will serve as pallbearers.
   Jerry is survived by his wife, Janice Coppage Huerta; son, Mark Huerta of Adams, TN; two daughters, Patricia (Kent) Hurt of Clarksville and Michelle (Noah) Huerta-Miller, of Chile; two brothers, Frank (Dorothy) Huerta and Ernie (Susan) Huerta; two sisters, Margie (Hugh) Tucker and Lola (Rodger) Schmidt; sister-in-law, Teresa Huerta; seven grandchildren, Rachel Robinson, Grace Hurt, Ashley Griffis, Kaitlyn Huerta, Michael Huerta, Christina Huerta, and Margarita Huerta-Miller; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
   Arrangements are entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040.

[The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville, TN. 20 Feb 2016, Sat, Main Edition, Page A4]

Grave maker for Fernando M. Huerta in Section 04, Site 610, Kentucky Veterans Cemetery, West Hopkinsville (Christian county), Kentucky.

Fernando was commissioned as a WQ-1 on 23 Match 1968 and was promoted to WO-2 exactly one year later. The dates of his continued growth to WO-4 are not known.