By RAUL GARCIA JR

Robert Soto found the inspiration to serve his country in middle school long before he would go on to fight in the Vietnam War with the United States Marine Corps. 

He recalls the famous statement President John F. Kennedy spoke at his presidential inaugural address inspired him, and when he was of age he took his bravery with him into the battle fields of the Vietnam War.

“I nearly lost my life three times,” Soto recalled. 

Soto said he left school early leaving behind a passion for Mercedes High School FFA Club.

In a valiant effort to serve his country he would don the U.S. Marines jacket, leaving behind his wish of having an FFA jacket.

Soto served in the U.S. Marines between 1966 to 1970. Prior to enlisting his was involved in FFA and sports.

“I didn’t wait to be drafted, I volunteered to fight in the Vietnam War,” Soto said. “And I never got an FFA Jacket while I was a student.”

Now many years later,  after surviving the Vietnam War, and after countless conversations with his family around the dinner table discussing his yearn for the FFA jacket he never had; his son Marco Soto, 48 took maters into his hands to request the National FFA organization to award his dad an honorary FFA Jacket for his commitment to FFA and service to the United States of America.

The FFA organization went one step further after granting Soto an FFA Jacket. They made him an Lifetime Member of the FFA.

“I’m so happy, and so  proud to now have an FFA Jacket,” Soto said. “I can now attend the stockshow wearing my very on FFA jacket.”

Soto was inspired from a young age by the Stockshow and eagerly waited for the season when all the horses and farm animals were brought into the Stockshow grounds. 

He recalls during his time at Taylor Elementary he always had a close eye’s view of the farm animals from his classroom window.

“From a young age I would go to the Stockshow,” Soto said.  “I just enjoyed being there. It’s like a safe haven.”