ST. BONAVENTURE — Francisco “Frank” Morales, a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army and director of the Military Aligned Students Program at St. Bonaventure University, was inducted into the New York state Senate’s Veterans Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Albany.
Morales was nominated by New York State Sen. George Borrello in recognition of his outstanding service and dedication to the nation and fellow veterans. The annual recognition is bestowed upon a veteran from each Senate district in the state who has not only served valiantly in the military but has also made outstanding contributions on behalf of their community as a civilian.
“Frank Morales enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman and served 20 years with tremendous distinction, ultimately attaining the rank of master sergeant,” said Borello.
“Among his many awards is the Silver Star Medal, bestowed on him for his heroic actions on Aug. 26, 2006, when Morales’s unit was ambushed by over 60 Taliban soldiers. Morales was able to lead his men through the battle and save four wounded soldiers,” he added.
In his role as director of St. Bonaventure’s Office of Veterans Services, Morales mentors his fellow veterans and helps them prepare for a successful transition back into civilian life.
Morales’s Army tenure also included deployments in the Balkans, Africa, and twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Morales’s final U.S. Army assignment was to St. Bonaventure as a senior Military Science instructor in the university’s Army ROTC program.
After 20 years of service, he received numerous awards for achievement and earned the Combat and Expert Infantry badges, the Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Drill Sergeant Badge. Morales also received the Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat.
After concluding his army tenure, Morales earned a master’s degree in mental health counseling and worked in counseling for several years before becoming director of the St. Bonaventure Office of Veterans Services.
“Frank is an incredible leader, and we are fortunate to have him leading our Military Aligned Program that supports veterans and their families,” said Bernie Valento, vice president for Enrollment at St. Bonaventure.
“He is an advocate for all veterans and a valuable resource throughout the Southern Tier,” he added.
A member of the university’s ROTC Hall of Fame, Morales lives in Portville with his wife, Crystal, and their children, Christian, Julian and Isabella.
