By the time Big Al Aceves was 15, he was committing crimes like robbery and selling drugs, landing him in prison. Having grown up in an abusive home, Al turned to gangs to be his family. The prison gangs taught young Al the ways to survive.
When he was out of prison, he was back to a life of crime. And then came the Vietnam War and he couldn’t wait to enlist for the draft.
“They were going to teach me to kill people and pay me for it,” Al said.
“They were going to teach me to kill people and pay me for it,” Al said.
After serving two tours as a member of 101st Airborne Division, nearly losing his leg in the infamous Battle of Hamburger Hill, Al came home to the United States.
“On the plane ride home, I thought, maybe I’ll go to college, try and change my life,” Al said. “But it didn’t happen. When I got home, no one wanted me. Not my mom or dad. And my wife was with another man.”
Al was back into drugs and crime. After several run-ins with the law, he and some friends started a motorcycle club called the Mongols. The club was a gang that grew famous for fighting. He continued a downward spiral, committing heinous acts against others. At the time, he thought he was living the dream. People were afraid of him. Al would do anything for money. Being addicted to heroin, at this point, Al took on bigger and bigger jobs such as bombings.
Another family took in Al and his family with one stipulation: they had to read a Scripture toge