Master Sergeant Julio “Angel” Quiles, a longtime resident of Garfield, New Jersey, is a decorated war veteran having served 22 years with the United States Army. As a Sergeant, he served in Desert Storm and Desert Shield in the Gulf War from 1990 to 1991. He was mobilized again both in 2003 for the Iraq War and in 2006 as part of Iraqi Freedom.
After his service, Sergeant Quiles served as Post Commander in 2011, when the Post was failing and on the verge of being closed down. The VFW needed roof repairs and a new heating system. He rallied the members, and they banded together to fund the renovations with their own money (in the form of a loan) while waiting for a $50,000 grant from the city.
In an article for northjersey.com, Sergeant Quiles said, “I tried to take care of the veterans and be an advocate and voice for them… we have the responsibility to not permit the place to go down and close. I believe in the process that we can unite and bring it back to its glory.”
Sergeant Quiles has been further devoting his time to his community, as a supporter and member of numerous community organizations. He is the CEO of the Hispanic Alliance of Garfield and was elected to the Board of Education of Garfield as the first Hispanic in over a century. Moreover, he is involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Garfield and its Coaches Association, Meals with a Mission (where he provides food for the community), and Garfield Middle School’s Blue Star Kids. He is also a Garfield Little League Coach and Garfield Elks Lodge Member.
Among his numerous citations and decorations, he was the recipient of the Outstanding Veteran of the Year Award in 2016. Sergeant Quiles was also selected to serve on U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell’s Military Academy Nomination Selection Committee.
Thank you, Sergeant Quiles, for your service, your courage, and your heroism in the face of adversity.
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Bergen County Division of Veteran Services
The Division of Veterans Services was established in 1977 to provide resident veterans and their dependents with information and assistance in obtaining earned entitlements from federal, state, and local governments, as well as any that are available from the private sector.
Through a quarterly newsletter and direct client contact, the division provides Bergen’s veterans organizations and their auxiliaries and individual residents with up-to-date benefit information.
