A distinguished leader passes. The Honorable Enrique Méndez, Jr., MD, Major General (MG), U.S. Army (Retired) served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (ASD/HA), DoD from 1990 to 1993, Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (PR), from 1989 to 1990, and Dean and then Dean and President of the Ponce School of Medicine, PR, from 1983 to 1987. Sadly, General Méndez died on May 16, 2024. On May 28, distinguished VIPs, family, friends, and colleagues came together to pay homage to, and celebrate the life of, General Méndez during several events: a memorial service in his honor at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fredericksburg, VA; his interment at Quantico National Cemetery, Quantico, VA; and a celebration of life remembrance reception in Stafford, VA. Throughout the day, attendees shared personal stories of what Dr. Méndez meant to them. I was touched and inspired by what I heard. For this edition of the Letter from the CEO, I would like to paraphrase some of these stories in hopes you will gain a greater appreciation of General Méndez, his extraordinary life, the positive and enduring impact that he had, and will continue to have, and why he was loved by so many. It is also my desire that the anecdotes and complementary details that follow will enhance your reading of Dr. Méndez’s obituary.
General Méndez retired after 28 impressive years of distinguished service to the nation in the U.S. Army and the DoD, culminating in his last assignment as the Commanding General of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He was an effective and inspirational leader who, had he transitioned to a fully retired status immediately, would have been recognized as a successful Army General Officer, dedicated public servant, and a leader worthy of emulation. But Dr. Méndez took pride in dedicating his service to others and, when asked, he responded to the call to public service three additional times. As official records demonstrate, Dr. Méndez was highly effective and successful as the ASD/HA, Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and Dean and President of the Ponce School of Medicine. Success followed him because he “got stuff done” by bringing out the best in everyone. He defined what it meant to be an “active listener” before the term became commonplace. Dr. Méndez would always take time to understand a problem before tackling it head on. To him, challenges were obstacles to overcome and opportunities to make a difference. He was a lifelong learner. At the age of 92 years, Dr. Méndez continued to read at least 2 hours a day to keep up with the latest in medical advancements. He appreciated and respected the rigor, commitment, and attention to detail that a life in medicine demanded. Similarly, because of its adherence to strict standards, General Méndez valued and was most proud of earning the Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB). He knew that the medics and medical personnel who were awarded the coveted EFMB would be saving lives on the battlefield, where and when it mattered most.
Honorable, General, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Dean, University President, Professor, and Doctor are well deserved titles that aptly describe Enrique Méndez, MD, for the numerous distinguished roles he held. What meant the most to him, though, was being known as a loving husband to Olga, his bride of 71 years, a loving and caring father to his children and their respective spouses, a doting grandfather to his and Olga’s grandchildren, and a dependable and loyal friend. Even when in positions of great responsibility, Dr. Méndez was always available for family and friends. When speaking with you, especially in a crowded room, he had a knack for making you feel as if the two of you were the only ones present. Close friends called him “Hank” and many who saw Dr. Méndez as a second father, friend and mentor, respectfully referred to him as “Don Quique.” His grandchildren affectionately called grandpa “Tito,” describing him as a loving, warm, wise, funny, and amazing grandfather. These terms of endearment were everyday reminders of how much he was loved and admired. Father Andrew Heintz, memorial service officiant and 20-year friend of Hank and Olga Méndez, said it best: “Our dear friend Hank was extremely well accomplished, and we will always be very proud of his many achievements; but more importantly, we will remember him as a great friend and a very good person indeed!”
MG Enrique Méndez, US Army, Commanding General, Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
MG Enrique and Mrs. Olga Méndez.
The Honorable Enrique Méndez, MD, Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs, and Family.
Dr. Méndez had a genuine desire to positively impact all with whom he came in contact. He epitomized what it meant to be a mentor and had a gift for finding the right words to say and when to say them. With much humility, Dr. Méndez recognized the importance of sharing his valuable insights as early as possible so that others could learn and benefit from his experiences. It was his way of paying it forward. In many ways, he was a mentor personified. No doubt, Honorable Lester Martinez-Lopez, MD, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, channeled and then emulated his mentor, Dr. Méndez, when humbly answering the call to return to public service to assume his current leadership role in the DoD, just as Dr. Méndez had done in 1989. I close with a quote from another Honorable Méndez mentee, MG Elder Granger, U.S. Army (Ret.), President and Chief Executive Officer, The 5Ps, “A giant and legend to so many has fallen. However, Dr. Méndez left a legacy that will be carried on for generations to come through everyone that he taught, loved, and mentored.” Thank you, Olga Méndez and the entire Méndez family, for generously sharing Dr. Méndez with us. We too will pay it forward to honor and perpetuate your loving husband’s, father’s, and grandfather’s legacy!
OBITUARY1
Enrique Méndez Jr.
July 15, 1931—May 16, 2024
Enrique Méndez, Jr., M.D., of Fredericksburg passed away at Mary Washington Hospital on Thursday, May 16, 2024. He was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico on July 15, 1931. A graduate of the Stritch School of Medicine of Loyola University, he then completed his internship at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, Illinois in 1955.
Dr. Méndez served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps for 28 years, retiring in the permanent rank of Major General. He entered the Army as a first lieutenant, general medical officer, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine. He served as Division Surgeon, 3rd Armored Division, Frankfurt, West Germany; Commanding Officer, 45th Field Hospital and Command Surgeon, Southern European Task Force, Vicenza, Italy. He then became Director of Health Care Operations, Office of the Army Surgeon General, Washington, D.C., and was later selected to serve as the Deputy Surgeon General of the Army, Washington, D.C.; and finally, the Commanding General of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
After retiring from the Army, Dr. Méndez returned to his native Puerto Rico to become, first the Dean, and subsequently, the Dean and President of the Ponce School of Medicine. He then served as Medical Director of Damas Hospital in Ponce before becoming Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
In December of 1989, President Bush nominated him to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. He served in this position until January 1993. He became a partner in Martin, Blanck and Associates, a health care industry consulting firm.
Among his numerous awards and honors, Dr. Méndez holds the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Alumni Award from Loyola University, the Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians, the Distinguished Service Award from the Federal Health Care Executives Institute Alumni Association, the Knight rank from the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Puerto Rican Coalition and several awards from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Included among his military awards are the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Order of Military Medical Merit, and the Expert Field Medical Badge. While he appreciated all the accolades, he always considered the thousands of young persons he met and taught throughout his life, who went forth to take care of persons around the world, to be the ultimate demonstration of his impact on the health care and lives. His whole life reflected the deep reverence for the sanctity of all persons, reflecting the values Americans cherish and a dedication to the sustained support of those values. He received the following honorary degrees: Honorary Doctor of Science from the Universidad Central del Caribe in Puerto Rico; Doctor, Honoris Causa, from the Military Medical Academy of Poland; Doctor of Public Service, Honoris Causa, from the University of North Texas, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine; Doctor of Education, Honoris Causa, from Caribbean University in Puerto Rico. He has received academic appointments as Professor of Medicine from Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico and Clinical Professor of Medicine from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, Texas, and George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Méndez was a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a member of various other professional organizations and societies.
A loving husband and father, he is survived by his loving wife, Olga; son and daughter-in-law, Enrique B. and Carol H. Méndez and two daughters and sons-in-law, Olga M. and Frank R. Portell and Maria (Margo) and José M. Cabrero; a daughter-in-law Charlotte Hernandez; six grandchildren, Michael Flores, Francisco Portell, Maria Wakefield, Antonio Portell, Carmen Pearce, and Marisa Méndez; and five great grandchildren, Mikaela, Lorelei, Levi, Christian, and Luciana. He was predeceased by a third daughter, Carmen Flores.
In memory of the Honorable Enrique Méndez, Jr., MD, Major General, U.S. Army, Retired, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense from 1990 to 1993.
JOHN M.CHO, MD, BG, MC, USA (Ret.) is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AMSUS, The Society of Federal Health Professionals and Publisher of Military Medicine, International Journal of AMSUS
