Poverty to the Moon - Preview

By Zack Chavez

Poverty to the Moon: A Story of Grit and Glory

Prologue

I was born in the shadows of war, in a slum in Manila, where hunger was familiar and dreams were often a luxury we couldn't afford. My parents made a humble living operating a small laundry business, scrubbing clothes for measly income while raising a family with more love than means. Our roof leaked, our meals were simple, and the world outside our door was anything but kind. But somewhere between the cracked walls of our home and the distant roar of wartime bombs bursting and wailing sirens, a quiet determination began to grow inside me—a refusal to be defined by poverty or circumstance.

Though we lived with little, my parents never let hardship stand in the way of my education. With quiet determination and tireless work, they gave me the chance to step into a world they had only dreamed of. They sent me to school up to the point they could no longer afford it. After two years of college I enlisted in the United States Coast Guard.

When I left the Philippines I carried little more than hope and a restless spirit. I would be working as a steward, serving meals and cleaning quarters for officers whose ranks I could barely imagine reaching. But I learned. I listened. I worked. One step at a time, I climbed. And after 27 years of service, I retired with the rank of commander—something almost unthinkable for a young Filipino who once washed shirts in the back alleys of Manila.

Life brought other trials, too. I fell in love with a white woman from St. Petersburg, Florida. Ours was a love that had to survive many obstacles including the prejudice of the times. But we persevered. Together, we built a life against the odds. I lost her after 59 years.  Her loving memories will live forever in my heart.

In 1972, while wearing the uniform, I earned a different kind of title: U.S. Armed Forces Chess Champion. A quiet game of strategy, patience, and intellect—so unlike the chaos of my beginnings—became a symbol of how far I had come.

This book is not just about the milestones I reached, but about the journey through adversity, resilience, love, and quiet triumphs. From poverty to purpose, from slum alleys to the decks of Coast Guard cutters, and from discrimination to dignity—I offer these memories not just as a record, but as a testament.

This is my story. One of grit. One of glory. One that began in the dirt but reached—against all odds—for the moon.