Firebase Texas

'Firebase Texas' was formed by Texas Native and longtime dedicated and professional Vietnam War historian Alejandro (Alex) Villalva.

The organizational name of 'Firebase Texas' is in reference to the numerous U.S. Military firebases that were created throughout Vietnam, and so named in honor of his beloved home state of Texas.

Villalva has worked as a forensic analyst and Vietnam War historian for DoD for nearly 20 years. Since 1994, his Material Evidence Laboratory has directly supported the Nation's efforts to find, recover, and identify unaccounted for (M.I.A.) U.S. Military Service personnel in Southeast Asia (SEA), and other conflicts.

Villalva specializes in the study, analysis, and identification of U.S. Military equipment artifacts recovered from M.I.A. loss sites in SEA, and around the world.

Having studied the Vietnam War since a teenager in the late 1970s, Villalva is an advanced and experienced expert and collector of Vietnam War-era U.S. Military uniforms, equipment, and weapons, which he often publicly displays at military/history events, for educational purposes and to honor all Vietnam Veterans.

Villalva is also an author of Vietnam War history (with published magazine articles on Naval Air operations in SEA), and is currently completing a pictorial reference book on the USAF in SEA.

Villalva is also a 25-year Veteran of the U.S. Army, and holding a Primary MOS of 13B40XP (Artillery Cannon crewmember, and qualified Drill Sergeant and Parachutist).
He still serves as an E7/SFC in the U.S. Army Reserve, as an adjunct Instructor of Military Science at the University of Dayton's Army ROTC program.

Most of SFC Villalva's military career has been devoted to serving as a Drill Sergeant (of IET/BCT), and a Drill Sergeant Leader (Instructor/Cadre at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School).