Col. Hector Rafael Ponton Ret.

Colonel Héctor R. Pontón was born in Corozal, Puerto Rico on 25 July 1936. After graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Puerto Rico’s Business Administration and ROTC cadet programs, Col. Pontón was commissioned as an infantry Officer in the Regular Army in 1958. After completing the Airborne and Infantry Basic Officer Course at Fort Benning, Col. Pontón was assigned to the US 7th Army in Europe where he served as an Infantry, Antitank and Scout Platoon Leader in the 3d Armored Rifle Battalion (ARB) of the 51st Infantry Regiment, 4th Armored Group, V US Corps. 

Subsequent assignments saw Col. Pontón serving with the 4th Infantry (IVY) Division, Fort Lewis, Washington as a Battle Group Assistant, the 9th Infantry Division (ARVN) as a Battalion Advisor during his first tour in Vietnam, the Infantry Career Officer Course at Ft. Benning, Georgia (1965), and a company command tour with the 1st Infantry Training Brigade at Fort Ord, California. He then served overseas again, this time with the 7th Infantry (BAYONET) Division in Korea as the G-3 Plans and Operations Officer. 

From Korea, Col. Pontón was next transferred directly to Europe in 1967 where, for the first time, he temporarily left the Infantry to serve as a Budget Officer in the Comptroller’s Division, United States Army Europe Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. Upon returning to the continental United States, Col. Pontón attended the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia (1970) before returning to the Infantry and Vietnam for a second tour. During this tour, he served as the Battalion S-3 and later as the Battalion Executive Officer in the 2nd Bn, 503d Inf, 173d Airborne Brigade (HERD). 

In Washington, Col. Pontón served as an action officer in the Command and Control Division of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Army Staff, from 1971 to 1974. Following this assignment, he reported for duty as a Battalion Commander in the 1st Infantry Training Brigade at Fort Polk, Louisiana. 

In 1976 Col. Pontón was selected to attend the resident course at the US Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was transferred upon graduation, to the Institute for Military Assistance, Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a student in the Foreign Area Officers Course (Latin America Division). While at the Army War College he earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg State College, Shippensburg, PA, which included a summer internship in the US Congressional Office of the Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner in Washington, D.C. His next two assignments in his alternate specialty were Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation at the US Embassy in San José, Costa Rica, and later Army Section Chief of the US Military Group at the US Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. 

Upon returning to the US, Col. Pontón was next assigned as the Infantry and Special Forces Coordinator on the staff of the US Army Readiness Region VIII, in Denver, Colorado. In this role, he addressed the needs of Army National Guard and Army Reserve units across a 10 state contiguous area. 

In his final assignment, Col. Pontón was transferred to Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. as the US Army’s senior representative on the faculty of the Inter- American Defense College, an international postgraduate academic institution under the Organization of American States, for senior military and civilian officials from the Western Hemisphere. 

Col. Pontón received numerous prestigious military awards throughout his distinguished career, including the Bronze Star Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Valorous Unit Award, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. In addition to these awards, and in recognition of his remarkable service, the Army Foreign Area Officer Association (AFAOA) will induct Col. Pontón into their 2025 AFAOA Hall of Fame.  

In 1988, after retiring to Lake Charles, Louisiana Col. Pontón attended McNeese State University from which he obtained a teaching certificate for the teaching of Spanish. He also registered as an Interpreter/Translator (English/Spanish) with Federal and State District Courts as well as Workman’s Compensation Tribunals in Louisiana. As such he participated in the translation of legal documents, the taking of depositions with private law firms and in court appearances involving litigation of workplace injuries and/or the administration of civil and criminal justice matters.

During retirement he enjoyed golfing in the morning, sailing in the afternoon and singing with Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church Choir.  

The last milestone in Hector’s life was his move to Villa Maria Retirement Center where he and Bernadette lived fully and contentedly surrounded by dear hearts and gentle people. 

Hector was predeceased by his parents Ramon Manolo Pontón and Carmen Nieves Pontón of Caguas, PR. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Anna Bernadette Monlezun-Pontón from Lake Arthur, LA, son Antoine Adolfo Pontón and his partner Ryan William Lenz of Raleigh, NC, Also his brother Orlando Pontón of Carolina, PR, sister Maria Josefa Pontón-Nieves of Caguas, PR, his beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends.  

We heartily appreciate: Villa Maria Retirement Center Director Becky See, Administration all Staff and residents, Caretakers: Courtney Murray, Enola Ardoin, Marilyn Sims and Amanda Higginbotham. Dr. Carisa Torres-Vazquez, Lake Charles VA Clinic, Heart of Hospices’ Christi Jeffels, R.N. and The Team, as well as a battalion of prayers warriors. 

The Family of Lee Joseph and Anna Gertrude Hensgens-Monlezun “knew him as Hector, The Protector, the steady head of the ship of state in his role as husband and father. We were all fortunate to have him and to be blessed by him. We will miss everything about this remarkable man.”

Visitation for Col. Pontón will be Tuesday, December 10, 2024, from 4:00pm until 8:00pm with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00pm at Johnson Funeral Home, 4321 Lake St. Lake Charles, LA. 70605. Visitation will continue at the funeral home Wednesday, December 11, 2024, beginning at 9:00am and lasting until 10:30am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 3939 Lake St. Lake Charles, LA. 70605. Following the Mass burial will take place at Consolata Cemetery. Celebrant will be Monsignor Daniel Torres (Pastor) and Homilist Father Nathan Long. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Villa Maria Retirement Center, 3905 Kingston Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605 in honor of Hector R. Pontón.