Antonio Amesquita Jr., enlisted in the United States Navy as an Aviation Support equipment technician and served in that capacity from 1996 to 2012. His overseas service was at Naval Air Station, Sigonella, Sicily, AIMD 900 DIV. He performed temporary active duty (TAD) all over the Mediterranean military duty stations. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Amesquita cross-rated to the Seabees as a builder. He trained at Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Mississippi. He was assigned with NMCB 14 in Operation Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004.
Before his deployment, his C School was in Naval Construction Training Center, Port Hueneme. As a planner and estimator, Sergeant Amesquita helped with the building of many projects in Iraq. He also traveled throughout Iraq to build with other task forces. Over five-thousand lost, but Amesquita wants to list and honor his friends who paid the ultimate sacrifice. All men were assigned to NMCB 14 and died in combat in Anbar Province, Iraq, in 2004. They are BU2 Michael C. Anderson from Daytona, Florida, EO3 Christopher M. Dickerson, from Eastman, Georgia, EO2 Trace W. Dossett from Orlando, Florida, SW2 Jason B. Dwelley from Apopka, Florida, SW3 Ronald A. Ginther from Auburndale, Florida, BU2 Robert B. Jenkins from Stuart, Florida and CM3 Scott R. Mchugh from Boca Raton, Florida. Many of his Seabee brothers received purple hearts from NMCB-14’s first deployment since World War II. Just two days before a mortar shattered their unit, two fellow Seabees died and six more were wounded on a TMT run. Two Seabee brothers were killed when their convoy they were escorting hit an IED.
In support of the service members wounded in action and families of the killed in action, Amesquita continues to honor the fallen by serving on the Memorial Services Detachment at Ft. Sam 
Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX. He and team members execute military honors, rifle volleys, play Taps and conduct flag presentation to the next of kin. Amesquita is a Veterans of Foreign Wars member since 2015 and is becoming a Gold Legacy Life member of Texas VFW Post 76 in San Antonio. Amesquita has also served with the Honor Guard within VFW Post 76. His goals are to make VFW Post 76 All American every year by recruiting the newest generation of war veterans. He hopes to help transform from All State and revamp to National All American Post. Amesquita says that modernization is the goal, and one day he hopes to be state and national Commander for the VFW.
Amesquita’s military decorations include Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal w/Marine Corps Combal Operations Insignia, Armed Forces Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/M DEVICE, NATO Medal, Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon (Sharpshooter) and many other awards. Born on the west side of downtown San Antonio, Texas, Antonio was raised by his parents will, faith, and love of family. His father Antonio G. Amesquita Sr. also served in the U.S. Navy. Antonio says his beautiful mother, Sarah E. Amesquita, is the one that holds his family together. Another son, Isaiah Jordan Amesquita, also served in the U.S. Navy. Antonio has one sister Veronica E. Amesquita, with two younger brothers, Michael A. Amesquita and Valentin F. Amesquita, his best friends. Antonio also has a stepdaughter Nayeli Bass De La Cruz and one grandson named Declan N. Amesquita. He has lived in Corpus Christi, TX; Dallas, TX; Havelock, NC; Jacksonville, Florida; Sicily, Italy; Rota, Spain; Hawaii and Iraq; and traveled the world. When this was written, he resided in San Antonio, TX.
“Operation New Beginnings” has begun for Antonio and he looks forward to a very long and healthy relationship with all his family and friends, old and new. At 40, the greatest blessing was to serve his many years in the Seabee Battalion and, again, he hopes to one day serve as commander of VFW Post 76. Amesquita says it is the Honor Guard that drives him to continue serving his fallen Seabee brothers. It is also his pleasure to be among the younger Seabees and older combat veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam wars. He appreciates these Veterans, not only at VFW Post 76, but all combat veteran brothers and sisters. The Veterans of Foreign Wars has been an assistance for his own PTSD recovery. He says it is his honor to stand with an outstanding group still on the Call of Duty. The Seabee motto is ”To Lead by Example and to say “We Build – We Fight” with compassion . . . Seabee’s Forever.
