Noe P. Gonzales, 90, of Port Isabel, TX passed away February 26, 2010 at Harlingen Medical Center in Harlingen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Damaso Gonzales and Margarita Holland Gonzales; a sister Obdulia "Lula" Gonzales Martinez.; Brothers in law, Ruben Torres Sr. and Roberto Torres; sister in law, Amparo Torres Lopez. He was born in Port Isabel in 1919 and was the first baby delivered in this area by the late Dr. J. A. Hockaday. Dr. Hockaday also delivered James La Roche that same day. Mr. Gonzales attended Port Isabel schools and graduated from high school in 1938. He played on the Tarpon basketball team. They captured the Valley Championship in 1937. In those days the team used to play on a hard dirt floor, there was no gym. There was also no classification system, so this championship was quite an accomplishment for the Tarpons. The greatest resentment of his life was that he was not able to attain a college degree. In 1942 he attended the Harlingen Army Gunnery School. They practiced on the pre- developed South Padre Island before the first bridge went up in 1952. He also took training as radio operator. During this time he served as Technical Sergeant in the Army Air Force and belonged to the 327th Bombardment Squadron. He served as radio operator and gunner on the B-17 Flying Fortress on twenty five missions as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps before it became the U.S. Air Force. He received citations from General Doolittle, who was the Commander that led the raid on Tokyo in 1942 in revenge for the bombing of Pearl Harbor. General Doolittle gave him citation medals before he left England to head back home to the United States. On behalf of Prime Minister Winston Churchill he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf Clusters. The citations were for extraordinary achievements. Gonzales was the first man to return home from the war front. A committee honored him with a barbecue and a street dance on February 27, 1944. He served as a PIISD Board of Trustee in the 1960's for several terms. He was a great supporter of sports and the Tarpons. He helped out with C.C.D., and helped prepare food for the children in C.C.D. He was lifetime residence of Port Isabel and a life member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. He was survived by his loving wife of 66 years Amelia Torres whom in he married in 1943. Amelia is the daughter of the late Tomas and Irene Torres of Brownsville. They have three daughters, Noemi Perez (Jose Pascual (Sonny), Nydia Perez (Eddie), Ylda Garza (Manuel). Grandchildren are, Noe E. Perez, Kevin Perez, Nolan E. Perez MD, Ronald Garza, Tisa Marie Prock, Noreen Marie Perez and Erika Yvonne Sadler. Great grandchildren are, Justin Trey Perez, Cody Drake Perez, Nolan Edward Perez, Tristan Michael Perez, Shannon Nicole Perez, Natalie Rose Perez, Ethan Hunter Perez and Ty Major Sadler; 2 sisters in law, Antonia Vallejo and Alicia Tijerina; 5 brothers in law, Reynaldo Torres, Ramon Torres, Ramiro Torres, Ricardo Torres and Rene Torres. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2010 from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with a Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 705 S. Longoria in Port Isabel. A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, March 1, 2010 at 3:00 P.M. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Cremation will follow to Sacred Park Crematorium. Serving as pallbearers will be Noe Edward Perez, Kevin Perez, Nolan Edward Perez MD, Ronald Garza, Eddie M. Perez, J.P. Perez Jr. and Manuel G. Garza Jr. Full Military Honors will be held following the mass by the American Legion Post 205 of Harlingen. Words of comfort can be sent to the family of Noe R. Gonzales at www.thomaegarza.com In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Memory of Noe R. Gonzales to Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 705 S. Longoria St. Port Isabel, Texas 78578. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S Sam Houston, San Benito, TX (956) 399-1331.