For the past several months, Paul Armendariz has been working in the quiet intervals of his days on a “passion project” that bridges generations of sacrifice. Using wood, glass, and a deep well of respect, Armendariz has crafted ten memorial “honorary boxes”—shadow boxes designed to ensure the stories of his fallen family members never fade into the periphery of history.
The project began at home, with his own father.
The Paratrooper: Paul Armendariz Sr.
The first box Paul created was for his father, PFC Paul Armendariz Sr., an Army paratrooper who served in the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The box is a dense tapestry of WWII history, featuring the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the “Ruptured Duck” discharge badge.
Most notably, the display honors his father’s role in “Operation Varsity” on March 24, 1945. As part of the largest single-day airborne operation in history, the 507th dropped over the Rhine River near Wesel, Germany. It was a perilous mission; out of the 9,387 paratroopers involved, nearly 2,000 were lost. Yet, the bravery of men like Paul Sr. paved the way for V-E Day, as they spearheaded the advance into the heart of Germany until the war’s end on May 8, 1945.
The Gunner and the Marine
The project quickly expanded to include Uncle Cruz Armendariz and Paul’s father-in-law, Raymond Hansen.
Cruz served as a medium tank gunner in the 193rd Tank Battalion (U.S. Army). His story is one of harrowing survival, particularly during the Battle for Kakazu Ridge on Okinawa. On April 18, 1945, Cruz was part of the greatest single battle loss of American tanks in the Pacific. Of the 37 tanks that entered the fray, only eight emerged under their own power. Cruz was severely burned and spent days hiding in a cave while trapped, eventually earning the Purple Heart for his resilience.
Similarly, the box for PFC Raymond Hansen (USMC)–Armendariz’s father-in-law–captures a witness to history. Serving with the 5th Marine Division on Iwo Jima, Hansen landed at the base of Mount Suribachi on “Green Beach.” He was there on February 23, 1945, watching from the black sands as his fellow Marines raised the flag—an image that would define the war. Hansen carried a Japanese bullet in his hip for the rest of his life, a silent reminder of the 25 days he spent in the “hell” of Operation Detachment before being wounded.
A Legacy of Service
The collection also honors Hector Seys, a WWI veteran who served in the occupation of Austria-Hungary in 1918.
Interestingly, there is a box for Paul himself. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Paul Jr. is characteristically humble about his own service, preferring to let the spotlight remain on his ancestors. “I just want to honor those who have fallen,” Armendariz said , already looking toward the next box he plans to build. In the wood and bronze of his workshop, the spirit of American bravery lives on.
As Memorial Day approaches, these ten boxes serve as more than just decorations; they are tactile reminders of the cost of freedom. Through his craft, Armendariz ensures that when the community thanks the dutiful service of the fallen on May 25, the names Hansen, Seys, and Armendariz are spoken with the honor they earned.
