Stephanie Herseth Sandlin: “Frank Tejeda was a quiet and reserved man who truly embodied the spirit of all Americans. The grandson of Mexican…”

“Frank Tejeda was a quiet and reserved man who truly embodied the spirit of all Americans. The grandson of Mexican immigrants, Tejeda, grew up on San Antonio's tough south side; a place he loved and a place that was always home. Frank Tejeda was an achiever, whether it was in his beloved south side neighborhood, a Vietnam jungle, ivy league universities, or the Halls of Congress. He was a leader, someone others looked up to and revered. Tejeda, who died Thursday after a long battle with brain cancer, was 51 years old. At 17 years old Tejeda was expelled from school. Tejeda then joined the Marine Corps and soon found himself on the battlefields of Vietnam, something that would shape the rest of his life. During his Marine service, Tejeda earned a Bronze Star, the Commandant's Trophy, Marine Corps Association Award, the Colonel Phil Yeckel Award, and a Purple Heart. His proudest achievements were his military accolades. The Marines were a way of life for Frank Tejeda and his service to his country did not end when he left Vietnam. Frank stayed in the Marine Corps and later went to officer candidate school where he earned the highest academic average in the history of the corps. Even in Congress, Tejeda was still a marine. He served as a major in the Marine Corps Reserve Capital Hill Unit. Sadly, his greatest military accolade might have come posthumously as he was awarded the Silver Star by Navy Secretary John Dalton at his funeral Monday.”