The
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument |
|
The
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
was
erected
of
Colorado
rose
granite
from
Mount
Mestas
and
engraved
with
the
names
of
63
men
of
Huerfano
County,
Colorado
who
died
in
World
War
II.
Picture
taken
at
original
location
of
the
Monument
on
the
La
Veta
Pass
turn-out.
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***
NAMES
RESEARCHERS
WANTED
***
I
am
looking
for
volunteers
to
research
the
bios
of
the
63
men
named
on
the
Monument.
Who
were
they
and
how
did
they
die
during
World
War
II?
If
you
would
like
to
participate
as
a
volunteer
researcher
please
join
in
and
reach
out.
Send
me
an
email
to
<
info@MtMestasMemorialMonument.com
>
and
introduce
yourself.
Pick
a
name
and
start
looking
for
anything
you
can
find
out
about
them.
I've
found
quite
a
bit
on
many
of
them
from
the
internet
and
on
Newspapers.com,
FindAGrave.com
and
Ancestry.com
but
have
found
nothing
or
very
little
on
many
others.
Whatever
you
contribute
has
to
be
verified
checked
out.
There's
sometimes
more
than
one
person
with
the
same,
etc.
Please
send
any
pictures,
articles
or
documents,
etc.
and
include
the
links
to
wherever
you
found
the
information,
to
me
at
<
info@MtMestasMemorialMonument.com
>.
***
IMPORTANT
FUNDRAISING
NOTICE
***
The
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
Restoration
News
There
are
about
15
names
misspelled
on
the
Monument
left
over
from
vandalism
repair
work
done
on
it
in
the
1980s.
After
several
years
of
advocating
for
it's
restoration
and
attempting
to
locate
the
right
people
to
ask,
I
have
now
obtained
permission
from
the
Colorado
Veterans
of
Foreign
Wars
(VFW)
to
return
this
Monument
to
it's
original
condition
prior
to
it's
1980s
repair.
The
original
location
of
the
monument
was
at
a
desolate
roadway
turn-out
up
on
the
La
Veta
pass
highway
over
Mount
Mestas.
For
years
the
stone
memorial
was
subject
to
vandalisn
from
people
shooting
at
it
and
the
stone
had
to
be
relocated.
In
the
1980s
the
monument
was
removed
to
nearby
Walsenburg
and
placed
into
storage
pending
repair.
The
stone
was
remade,
however
about
ten
of
the
names
on
the
Monument
were
left
misspelled,
including
MESTAS
now
spelled
MEASTAS
in
large
three
inch
letters
at
the
top
of
the
monument
and
remain
that
way
today.
This
fact
has
been
lost
in
time
and
few
people
outside
of
the
Felix
B.
Mestas
family
are
even
aware
of
it.
I
want
to
promote
the
existence
of
this
Monument
and
I've
started
fundraising
by
seeking
contributions
and
grants
to
finance
the
costs
to
restore
the
Monument.
You
can
support
this
project
by
contributing
at
either
of
the
links
below.
Contributor's
names
will
be
recognized
on
the
website.
Costs
are
expected
to
exceed
$25,000.
Completion
of
this
project
is
targeted
for
the
Monument's
75th
anniversary
in
2025.
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There
are
two
options
of
paying
with
Paypal.
One
is
for
consumer
called
"Pay
for
Services".
Paypal
charges
3%
for
consumer
transactions.
The
other
one
is
for
personal
called
"Send
money
to
friends
or
family".
There
are
NO
FEES
for
this.
This
is
the
one
you
want
to
use.
Use
either
of
these
two
links
to
donate
via
PayPal
Acct:
Hello@MtMestas.com
OR
www.PayPal.me/GarySmith831
.
Please
notate
with
your
contributions
with
"Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Contribution".
Any
contributions
left
after
restoration
will
be
contributed
to
the
Spanish
Pears
Regional
Health
Center
(SPRHC)
Veteran's
Fund. |
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Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
Repair
Fund
Fees:
2.9%
+
$0.30
is
automatically
deducted
from
each
donation.
(PayPay
doesn't
charge
fees.)
Click
here
to
go
to
the
GoFundMe.com
contributions
page. |
Please
notate
with
your
contributions
with
"Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Contribution".
Any
contributions
left
after
restoration
will
be
contributed
to
the
Spanish
Pears
Regional
Health
Center
(SPRHC)
Veteran's
Fund.
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Artifacts
collected
from
the
slopes
of
Monte
Battaglia,
Italy.
World
War
II
artifacts
found
on
the
slopes
of
Monte
Battaglia,
located
about
60
miles
south
of
Bologna,
Italy,
in
2007
by
an
Italian
World
War
II
historian
and
artifact
collector
friend
living
in
nearby
Casola
Valsenio.
Authentic
artifact
is
being
sold
for
the
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
Restoration
Fund
Raiser. |
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Felix
Belois
Mestas,
Jr.
Private
First
Class
350th
Infantry
Regiment
Company
G
88th
Infantry
Division
Blue
Devils
Born
Aug
23,
1921
La
Veta,
Colorado
Died
in
Battle
Monte
Battaglia
Italy
Sept
29,
1944
|
Junior
was
postumously
awarded
the
Silver
Star.
|
During
the
early
1940s,
before
World
War
II
from
Pueblo
to
Trinidad,
Colorado,
anytime
anybody
mentioned
"Junior"
they
were
talking
about
Felix
B.
Mestas,
Jr.
Junior,
son
to
Felix
and
Sadie
Mestas
of
La
Veta,
Colorado,
brother
to
Waldo,
Arabella,
Olivia,
Grayce,
Stella
and
Malinda
Mestas,
died
a
hero's
death,
on
an
Italian
battle
front,
in
one
of
the
bloodiest
battles
of
the
war
on
September
29,
1944,
just
a
month
after
his
23rd
birthday.
His
bravery
that
day
was
reported
but
for
a
while
his
identity
remained
a
mystery,
lending
him
the
title
of
"The
Unknown
Hero
of
Battle
Mountain".
Soon
after,
the
complete
story
came
out.
Reported
in
newspapers
and
magazines
everywhere,
the
nation
read
accounts
of
how
PFC
Felix
B.
Mestas'
unit,
Army's
350th
Infantry
Regiment
-
88th
Infantry
Division,
after
sustaining
three
days
of
seige
from
oncoming
Nazi
soldiers,
successfully
held
Monte
Battaglia,
a
strategic
hilltop
position.
At
the
time,
Mestas
held
the
most
northern
position
of
the
all
the
Allied
Forces
in
northern
Italy.
Witnesses
recounted
how
Mestas
died
on
the
third
day
of
fighting.
With
only
one
can
of
food
rations
and
one
clip
of
ammo
left
between
them,
Mestas
stood
up
in
the
face
of
yet
another
attack
from
the
raging
enemy
soldiers
and
waved
his
buddies
off
to
safety.
Then,
with
his
20
pound
Browning
automatic
rifle
slung
off
his
hip
and
without
hope
for
his
own
survival,
he
stood
up
-
and
laid
down
enough
fire
cover
for
the
three
remaining
members
of
his
unit
to
escape
from
the
overrunning
enemy.
Twent-six
Germans
died.
The
350th
Infantry
Regiment
was
awarded
the
Presidential
Unit
Citation
and
forever
christened
with
the
nickname
"
The
Battle
Mountain
Regiment".
Mestas'
Company
Commander
Captain
Robert
Roeder
was
awarded
the
Medal
of
Honor
for
his
actions
in
this
battle.
Mestas
was
investigated
for
a
Medal
of
Honor
citation
and
postumously
awarded
the
Silver
Star
Medal.
At
home,
people
wanted
to
memorialize
PFC
Mestas
and
lobbied
to
rename
Mount
Baldy,
a
nearby
mountain
that
had
been
Junior's
backyard
for
all
of
his
life
where
he
spent
many
days
hunting
and
fishing,
to
Mount
Mestas
in
his
honor.
Read
the
Silver
Star
Citation.
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The
Monument
The
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
was
commissioned
in
1955
by
the
local
VFW
for
$500
and
erected
of
Colorado
rose
granite
from
the
mountain
named
for
PFC
Mestas
and
engraved
with
the
names
of
63
men
of
Huerfano
County
who
died
in
World
War
II.
Every
Memorial
Day
since
people
have
gathered
at
the
mountain
monument
to
pay
tribute
to
all
of
Huerfano
county's
fallen
war
heros.
The
original
location
of
the
monument
was
200
miles
south
of
Denver,
Colorado
at
a
roadway
turn-out
up
on
the
La
Veta
pass
highway.
Over
the
years
the
stone
memorial
was
subject
to
vandalisn
from
people
shooting
at
it
and
the
stone
had
to
be
repaired
several
times. Decades
later
it
was
decided
to
move
the
monument
and
it
was
placed
into
storage
in
nearby
Walsenburg.
About
1980s
the
stone
was
repaired
and
re-engraved
and
at
that
time
several
of
the
names
on
the
monument
were
misspelled
and
remain
that
way
today
due
to
the
cost
of
repairing
the
stone
once
again.
Shortly
afterwards
the
monument
was
relocated
to
a
new
permanent
home
with
a
special
visitor's
area
made
for
it
in
the
parking
lot
outside
of
the
front
entry
of
the
Veteran's
Hospital
located
on
the
highway
outside
of
Walsenburg.
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The
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
Names
Project
How,
where
and
when
most
of
the
men
named
on
the
Mt.Mestas
Memorial
Monument
died
is
all
but
lost
and
forgotten
information
today.
This
website
is
for
them
and
I
am
looking
for
contributions
of
any
pictures,
articles,
letters,
stories
or
other
information
about
my
uncle,
Felix
B.
Mestas
Jr.,
the
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
or
any
information
about
the
63
men
named
it,
or
the
names
of
any
friends
or
family
of
the
men
listed.
If
you
can
help
or
just
want
to
say
hello
please
contact
me.
Gary
Smith
1130
Fremont
Blvd.
Ste.
105-252
Seaside,
Ca.
93955
Phone
:
831-801-9261
Email
:
info@MtMestasMemorialMonument.com
If
you
would
like
to
know
more
about
PFC
Felix
B.
Mestas,
Jr.
and
the
story
of
the
88th
infantry
Division
Blue
Devils
or
the
invasion
of
Italy
and
World
War
II
please
visit
my
Blue
Devils
research
website
www.MtMestas.com.
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The memorial
was repaired
due to
vandalism
and 14
names
were misspelled.
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Sometime
in the
1980s
the monument
was relocated
from the
La Veta
Pass because
of vandalism
to the
parking
lot of
the Veteran's
Hospital
near Walsenburg,
Colorado. |
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A special
visitor's
area was
made for
it.
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Sometime
between
2008 and
2022 a
nice cabana
was constructed
over it.
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Mestas |
Newspaper
Articles |
|
The
thumbnail
index
below
is
in
chronological
order. |
Click
on
any
image
to
read
and
article
will
open
in
a
new
window. |
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Mestas
Magazines
Articles
Click
on
any
link
or
image
to
read
and
article
will
open
in
a
new
window. |
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The
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
Biographies
There
are
63
names
engraved
on
the
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
of
people
from
Huerfano
County,
Colorado
who
died
during
World
War
II.
Our
goal
is
to
have
each
one
of
them
represented
here
on
this
website
so
that
we
all
can
know
who
they
were.
If
you
know
anything
about
any
of
the
persons
named
on
the
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
please
help
by
contributing
pictures,
newpaper
clippings,
magazine
articles
or
a
biography
of
their
militay
service.
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Biographies
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
Looking
for
contributions
of
any
pictures,
articles,
letters,
stories
or
other
information
about
Felix
B.
Mestas
Jr.,
the
Mount
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
or
any
of
the
63
men
named
on
it,
or
the
names
of
any
friends
or
family
of
the
men
listed.
If
you
can
help
please
contact
me
at
email
:
info@MtMestasMemorialMonument.com.
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Paul
Dwain
Andrews
|
Name: |
Paul
Dwain
Andrews
|
Rank:
|
Sergeant,
US
Army |
Service
#
|
37354166 |
Unit: |
34th
Infantry
Division
135th
Infantry
Regiment |
Born: |
24
Apr
1921
Walsenburg,
Colorado
to
Nelson
Warren
Andrews
and
Vera
Luella
(Myers)
Andrews. |
Died: |
May
15,
1945
(aged
24)
During
his
service
in
World
War
II,
Army
Sergeant
Andrews
experienced
a
critical
situation
which
ultimately
resulted
in
loss
of
life
on
May
15,
1945.
Recorded
circumstances
attributed
to:
DNB
-
Died
Non-battle.
|
Buried:
|
Plot
G
Row
2
Grave
15
Florence
American
Cemetery,
Florence,
Italy
Burial
Place:
Via
Cassia,
Italy
|
34th
Infantry
Division
The
final
offensive
came
in
April
1945.
The
German
retreat
become
a
rout
as
their
supplies
ran
out,
and
on
May
2,
1945,
the
remnants
of
the
LXXV
German
Corps,
totaling
over
40,000
men,
surrendered
to
the
Red
Bulls
near
Milan.
The
war
in
Europe
came
to
an
end
a
few
days
later,
with
some
elements
of
the
division
on
the
borders
of
France
and
Switzerland.
|
Enlistment
Record:
Name:
Paul
D
Andrews
Race:
White
Marital
Status:
Single,
without
dependents
(Single)
Rank:
Private
Birth
Year:
1921
Nativity
State
or
Country:
Colorado
Citizenship:
Citizen
Residence:
Horfano,
Colorado
Education:
1
year
of
college
Civil
Occupation:
Sales
clerks
Enlistment
Date:
22
Oct
1942
Enlistment
Place:
Pueblo,
Colorado
Service
Number:
37354166
Branch:
Branch
Immaterial
-
Warrant
Officers,
USA
Component:
Selectees
(Enlisted
Men)
Source:
Civil
Life
Height:
66
Weight:
124 |
Campaigns:
|
Tunisia
(17
Nov
42
-
13
May
43)
Naples-Foggia
(9
Sep
43
-
21
Jan
44)
Anzio
(22
Jan
44
-
24
May
44)
Rome-Arno
(22
Jan
44
-
9
Sep
44)
North
Apennines
(10
Sep
44
-
4
April
45)
Po
Valley
(5
Apr
45
-
8
May
45)
|
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Soterios
Louis
Angeles
|
Name:
|
Soterios
Louis
Angeles |
Rank:
|
Private
U.S.
Army |
Service
#
|
37352673 |
Unit:
|
Motor
Trans
Corp
|
Born: |
2
May
1920
Nashua,
Hillsborough
County,
New
Hampshire |
Died: |
1
Apr
1944
Died
Non-Battle
During
his
service
in
World
War
II,
Private
Angeles
experienced
a
critical
situation
which
ultimately
resulted
in
loss
of
life.
Crushing
between
objects.
Princess
Anne,
Virginia
Beach
City,
Virginia,
USA
|
Buried:
|
Valley
View
Cemetery
Garden
City,
Finney
County,
Kansas,
USA
PLOT
Zone
C,
Lot
19.
Space
4
Interred
4/7/1944
|
Home
of
Record
|
Huerfano
County,
Colorado |
Under
the
authority
of
Executive
Order
9082,
the
Transportation
Corps
gained
proponency
over
the
deep-draft
(watercraft)
fleet,
railroads,
stevedores,
and
harborcraft
units.
Though
they
had
responsibilities
for
traffic
management
and
movement
control,
they
did
not
own
any
wheeled
movement
assets
or
landing
craft.
Those
were
maintained
by
the
Quartermaster
Corps
and
Engineers
respectively
throughout
the
war.
This
began
to
change
after
the
experience
of
the
Red
Ball
Express
in
Fall
1944,
when
commanders
begun
to
realize
that
stove-piping
logistics
capabilities
was
sub-optimal.
Both
these
capabilities
would
move
under
the
aegis
of
Transportation
shortly
after
the
end
of
World
War
II.
Transporters
fought
and
supported
operations
in
all
theaters
of
the
war.
|
Enlistment
Records:
Name:
Soterios
L
Angeles
Birth
Year:
1920
Race:
White,
citizen
(White)
Nativity
State
or
Country:
New
Hampshire
State:
Colorado
County
or
City:
Horfano
Enlistment
Date:
10
Sep
1942
Enlistment
State:
Colorado
Enlistment
City:
Pueblo
Branch
Immaterial
-
Warrant
Officers,
USA
Branch
Immaterial
-
Warrant
Officers
Grade:
Private
Grade
Code:
Private
Term
of
Enlistment:
Enlistment
for
the
duration
of
the
War
or
other
emergency,
plus
six
months,
subject
to
the
discretion
of
the
President
or
otherwise
according
to
law
Component:
Selectees
(Enlisted
Men)
Source:
Civil
Life
Education:
2
years
of
high
school
Civil
Occupation:
Automobile
Serviceman
Marital
Status:
Single,
without
dependents
Height:
66
Weight:
113
|
Hospital
Admission
Card
File:
Name:
Soterios
L
Angeles
Race:
White,
includes
Mexican
(White)
Rank:
Enlisted
Man
Admission
Age:
23
Birth
Date:
abt
1921
Admission
Date:
Apr
1944
Discharge
Date:
Apr
1944
Military
Branch:
Quartermaster
Corps
Diagnosis:
First
Location:
Body,
generally;
CausativeAgent:
Crushing
between
objects
Type
of
Injury:
Injury,
non-battle
Injured
in
Line
of
Duty:
In
line
of
duty
Type
of
Discharge:
Died
Length
of
Service:
1
Year(s),
7
Month(s)
Service
Number:
37352673 |
|
|
|
|
|
John
Steve
Archuleta
|
Name: |
John
Steve
Archuleta
|
Rank: |
Private
U.S.
Army
Air
Force |
Service
#
|
39912282 |
Unit:
|
95th
Infantry
Division
377th
Infantry
Regiment,
Company
L
|
Born: |
May
16,
1918 |
Died: |
21
November,
1944
Incident
location:
France
Army
Private
Archuleta
experienced
a
traumatic
event
which
ultimately
resulted
in
loss
of
life.
KIA
-
Killed
in
Action.
|
Buried: |
|
John
Steve
Archuleta
was
born
on
May
16,
1918
in
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
county,
Colorado.
According
to
records
Utah
was
his
home
or
enlistment
state.
He
was
later
living
in
Corinne,
Box
Elder
county,
Utah.
He
was
married
to
Inez
Mendez
Archuleta
and
had
a
daughter
named
Julia.
He
had
enlisted
in
the
United
States
Army.
Served
during
World
War
II.
Archuleta
had
the
rank
of
Private.
Service
number
assignment
was
39912282.
Attached
to
95th
Infantry
Division,
377th
Infantry
Regiment,
Company
L.
During
his
service
in
World
War
II,
Army
Private
Archuleta
experienced
a
traumatic
event
which
ultimately
resulted
in
loss
of
life
on
November
21,
1944.
Recorded
circumstances
attributed
to:
KIA
-
Killed
in
Action.
Incident
location:
France.
He
is
buried
or
memorialized
at
Plot
C
Row
25
Grave
88,
Lorraine
American
Cemetery,
St.
Avold,
France.
This
is
an
American
Battle
Monuments
Commission
location.
|
(Source:
95th
Infantry
Division/Wikipedia)
The
95th
Infantry
Division
was
assigned
to
XIII
Corps
of
the
Ninth
United
States
Army,
Twelfth
United
States
Army
Group.
The
division
sailed
for
Europe
on
10
August
1944.
The
95th
Infantry
Division
arrived
in
England
on
17
August.
After
receiving
additional
training,
it
moved
to
France
one
month
later
on
15
September.
During
this
time
it
was
reassigned
to
III
Corps.
The
division
bivouacked
near
Norroy-le-Sec,
from
1
to
14
October.
It
was
then
assigned
to
XX
Corps
of
the
Third
United
States
Army
The
division
was
sent
into
combat
on
19
October
in
the
Moselle
bridgehead
sector
east
of
Moselle
and
South
of
Metz
and
patrolled
the
Seille
near
Cheminot,
capturing
the
forts
surrounding
Metz
and
repulsing
enemy
attempts
to
cross
the
river.
It
was
during
the
defense
of
this
town
from
repeated
German
attacks
that
the
division
received
its
nickname,
"The
Iron
Men
of
Metz."
On
1
November,
elements
went
over
to
the
offensive,
reducing
an
enemy
pocket
east
of
Maizières-lès-Metz.
On
8
November,
these
units
crossed
the
Moselle
River
and
advanced
to
Bertrange.
Against
heavy
resistance,
the
95th
captured
the
forts
surrounding
Metz
and
captured
the
city
by
22
November.
The
division
pushed
toward
the
Saar
on
25
November
and
entered
Germany
on
the
28th.
Source:
The
377th
Infantry
Rergiment,
95th
Division
1946,
pg.25-26
Printing
byArmy
&
Navy
Publishing
Company
The
attack
was
resumed
by
7:00
a.m.,
the
next
morning,
November
17,
and
by
10:00
a.m.,
Flevy,
the
next
town
south,
was
taken
and
the
column
had
moved
to
the
outskirtsof
Ennery.
Monday,
the
20th,
was
the
last
day
of
fighting
for
First
Battalion
in
Metz.
By
11:00
a.m.,
the
companies
had
expanded
their
areas
to
new
boundaries
as
set
by
regiment,
encountering
only
slight
resistance
and
that
mainly
from
snipers.
One
of
the
methods
used
to
speed
these
jobs
was
that
employed
by
Pvt.
(now
S/Sgt.)Harry
F.
Ott
of
D
Company.
Ott
stripped
down
his
heavy
machine
gun
and,
firing
from
the
hip,
roamed
about
the
streets
neutralizing
whatever
enemy
fire
he
encountered,
and
received
the
Silver
Star
for
his
actions.
Resistance
in
Metz
ended
officially
at
2:25
p.m.,
on
November22.
Shortly
thereafter,
the
battalion
moved
out
to
its
new
assembly
area
east
of
Metz
and
prepared
to
continue
the
attack
toward
the
Saar
River.
The
members
of
the
battalion
did
not
know
it
at
the
time,
but
their
exploits
in
the
two
weeks
they
were
separated
from
the
remainder
of
the
regiment
did
not
go
unnoticed.
TheCommanding
General
of
the
95th
Division
saw
fit
to
award
the
battalion
Battle
Honors,
by
General
Orders
No.
12. |
|
|
|
|
|
Lee
Livinio
Archuleta
|
Name:
|
Lee
Livinio
Archuleta |
Rank: |
Private
U.S.
Army |
Service
#
|
38006092 |
Unit:
|
45th
Infantry
Division
157th
Infantry
Regiment
Company
B
|
Born: |
1919 |
Died: |
9
March,
1942
Died
Non-Battle
Camp
Barkeley,
Texas
|
Buried: |
South
Saint
Mary
Cemetery
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA
|
The
45th
Infantry
Division
was
activated
on
16
September
1940
and
trained
at
Fort
Sill,
Camp
Barkeley,
Fort
Devens,
Pine
Camp
and
Camp
Pickett
in
preparation
for
the
invasion
of
Italy
and
on
8
June
1943,
sailed
for
the
Mediterranean
region
and
landed
in
North
Africa
on
22
June
1943
and
trained
at
Arzew,
French
Morocco
for
the
invasion
of
Sicily.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lucindo
Archuleta |
Name:
|
Lucindo
Archuleta |
Rank:
|
Private
U.S.
Army
|
Service
#
|
37706993 |
Unit:
|
79th
Infantry
Division
315th
Infantry
Regiment
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
October
21,
1944
Killed
In
Action
Emberménil,
France
|
Buried: |
Plot
B
Row
22
Grave
27
Epinal
American
Cemetery
Epinal,
France
|
After
training
in
the
United
Kingdom
from
17
April
1944,
the
79th
Infantry
Division
landed
on
Utah
Beach,
Normandy,
12–14
June.
The
Division
cut
across
the
Moselle
and
Meurthe
Rivers,
13–23
September,
cleared
the
Foret
de
Parroy
in
a
severe
engagement,
28
September–9
October,
and
attacked
to
gain
high
ground
east
of
Emberménil,
14–23
October,
when
it
was
relieved,
24
October.
During
18
and
19
October
the
79th
continued
to
maintain
its
positions
and
prepared
to
conduct
an
attack
on
the
21st
to
finally
dislodge
the
Germans
from
the
ridgeline.
To
further
support
this
attack
the
144th
and
71st
Infantry
Regiments
of
the
44th
Division
were
attached
to
the
79th
Division
with
the
mission
of
occupying
the
79th
positions.
The
Germans
maintained
light
pressure
on
the
79th
by
conducting
harassing
attacks.
These
attacks
were
all
broken
up
by
artillery
fire.
Adverse
weather
continued
to
preclude
the
use
of
friendly
air
support.
By
the
evening
of
the
19th
the
last
regiment
of
the
44th
had
closed
with
the
79th
and
preparations
were
near
completion
for
the
attack
on
the
21st.
During
the
evening
of
20
October
the
315th
Regiment
moved
on
line
with
the
other
two
regiments
in
preparation
for
the
attack.
The
Germans
made
heavy
use
of
artillery
fire
during
the
afternoon
and
evening,
but
with
little
result.
The
weather
cleared
sufficiently
for
the
XIX
TAC
to
provide
air
interdiction
sorties
against
AMENCOURT.
Bomb
Damage
Assessment
indicated
troops,
vehicles,
and
supplies
were
hit.
At
0636
hours
on
21
October,
the
79th
launched
its
attack
with
three
regiments
abreast.
The
division
initially
encountered
moderate
resistance
consisting
of
small
arms
and
heavy
mortar
fire,
but
by
0900
the
313th
and
314th
had
reached
their
objectives.
The
315th
was
held
up
by
determined
resistance
along
the
ridgeline,
but
achieved
its
objective
at
1400
hours
after
committing
its
reserve
battalion.
Adverse
weather
again
prevented
friendly
air
support.
On
22
October
the
79th
consolidated
its
positions
and
prepared
for
relief
by
the
44th
DIVISION.
German
forces
launched
several
counterattacks
during
the
early
morning
hours
but
failed
to
achieve
a
penetration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
W.
Babbitt |
Name: |
James
Wylie
Babbitt |
Rank: |
Master
Sergeant
U.S.
Army
Air
Force |
Service
#
|
38103256 |
Unit:
|
1330th
Army
Air
Force
Base
Unit
(AAFBU)
Jorhat,
India
|
Born: |
14
Oct
1909
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado |
Died: |
March
5,
1945
(aged
35)
Died
Non-battle
(DNB)
|
Buried: |
Plot
C
Row
0
Grave
287
National
Memorial
Cemetery
of
the
Pacific
Honolulu,
Honolulu
County,
Hawaii,
USA
|
According
to
records,
Colorado
was
his
home
or
enlistment
state
and
Huerfano
County
included
within
the
archival
record.
He
had
enlisted
in
the
United
States
Army.
Served
during
World
War
II.
Babbitt
had
the
rank
of
Master
Sergeant.
Service
number
assignment
was
38103256.
During
his
service
in
World
War
II,
Army
Master
Sergeant
Babbitt
experienced
a
critical
situation
which
ultimately
resulted
in
loss
of
life.
Recorded
circumstances
attributed
to:
DNB
-
Died
Non-battle. |
ARMY
AIR
FORCES
BASE
UNIT
(AAFBU)
Early
in
1944
the
Army
Air
Forces
developed
a
new,
temporary
organization
known
as
the
Army
Air
Forces
Base
Unit
(AAFBU),
usually
referred
to
as
“AAF
Base
Units”
or
as
“no
constituted
units.”
The
new
units
provided
overhead
personnel
to
operate
bases,
depots,
schools,
wings,
air
forces,
and
commands.
1330th
AAFBU
Replaced
Station
21,
India-China
Wg,
ATC
1
Aug
44
(which
replaced
the
22d
Transport
Gp
1
Dec
43)
at
Jorhat.
Discontinued
11
Oct
45.
Foreign
Service
Station
Jorhat
1
Aug
44-11
Oct
45. |
|
|
|
|
|
Albert
Bain
|
Name: |
Albert
O.
Bain |
Rank: |
Second
Lieutenant
U.S.
Army
Air
Force |
Service
#
|
0-405723 |
Unit:
|
Army
Air
Corps
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
During
his
service
in
World
War
II,
Army
Air
Forces
Second
Lieutenant
Bain
was
reported
missing
and
declared
dead
on
January
24,
1943. |
Buried: |
Missing
in
action
or
lost
at
sea. |
According
to
records,
Colorado
was
his
home
or
enlistment
state
and
Huerfano
County
included
within
the
archival
record.
He
had
enlisted
in
the
United
States
Army
Air
Forces.
Served
during
World
War
II.
Bain
had
the
rank
of
Second
Lieutenant.
Service
number
assignment
was
O-405723.
During
his
service
in
World
War
II,
Army
Air
Forces
Second
Lieutenant
Bain
was
reported
missing
and
ultimately
declared
dead
on
January
24,
1943.
Recorded
circumstances
attributed
to
missing
in
action
or
lost
at
sea.
Albert
Bain
is
buried
or
memorialized
at
Tablets
of
the
Missing
at
East
Coast
Memorial,
New
York
City,
USA.
This
is
an
American
Battle
Monuments
Commission
location. |
Source:
The
Daily
Sentinel
29
Jan
1943
|
|
|
|
|
Felix
Barros
|
Name:
|
Felix
Barros |
Rank: |
Technician
5th
Class
U.S.
Army |
Service
#
|
37350071 |
Unit:
|
330th
Engineer
General
Service
Regiment
|
Born: |
1
Oct
1923
|
Died: |
July
25,
1944
Drowned
in
the
overflow
of
the
Magwitang
River |
Buried: |
Plot
B
Row
0
Grave
325
Honolulu
Memorial
Honolulu,
Hawaii |
Source:
Unit
History
330th
Engineer
Regiment
China
-
Burma-India
Theater
of
World
War
II.
The
China-Burma-India
Theater
1944
-
In
coordination
with
the
opening
of
the
Ledo
Road
in
the
initial
phase
of
the
Burma
campaign,
the
330th
Engineers
were
bridging
the
rivers
and
opening
the
way
through
dense
jungle
for
tanks
and
infantry.
During
April
the
first
of
the
monsoon
rains
began,
thus
impeding
the
progress
of
the
road.
The
Magwitang
rose
to
a
height
of
6
to
12
feet
above
the
road's
finished
sub-grade.
To
carry
the
road
across
the
flooded
section
of
the
Magwitang
Valley,
Brig.
Gen.
Pick
on
4
July
ordered
the
construction
of
a
causeway,
18
inches
above
high
water
level.
Tec-5
Felix
Barros,
37350071,
Company
"E"
was
drowned
on
25
July
in
the
overflow
of
the
Magwitang
River,
paralleling
the
Causeway.
Burial
services
were
held
on
28
July.
On
10
August
the
project
was
completed
and
the
first
convoy
crossed
the
Magwitang
Causeway
headed
for
Tinkawk. |
|
|
|
|
|
George
Bechaver |
Name: |
George
Bechaver |
Rank: |
Staff
Sargent
U.S.
Army
|
Service
#
|
38104263 |
Unit: |
5th
Armored
Division
15th
Armored
Infantry
Battalion |
Born: |
23
August
1909
|
Died: |
20
September
1944
Killed
In
Action
Battle
for
Wallendorf
Bridge,
Germany |
Buried:
|
|
Source:
5th
Armored
Division
Historical
Narratives
On
19
Sep
1944
orders
were
received
from
V
Corps
for
operations
for
20
September
to
consolidate
present
bridgehead
positions
and
prepare
for
offensive
action
to
North,
Northeast
or
South,
and
continue
protection
of
the
Luxembourg
area.
By
0110,
20
September,
all
of
the
artillery
of
the
Division
had
displaced
West
of
the
river.
During
the
day
the
1st
and
2d
Battalions,
112th
Inf
Regt,
were
attacked
by
the
enemy
but
held
the
WALLENDORF
bridge
under
heavy
artillery
and
mortar
fire
and
in
close
contact
with
enemy
ground
troops.
CCB
continued
its
pressure
North
of
the
bridge.
An
enemy
tank
and
infantry
attack
from
the
North
was
repulsed.
CCA
continued
its
patrol
activity,
with
negative
reports.
CCA
artillery
destroyed
one
armored
vehicle
and
a
freight
train
in
the
vicinity
of
GREVENMACKER.
At
1605,
a
heavy
artillery
concentration
was
placed
on
the
hostile
forces
in
BIESDORF,
followed
by
a
strafing
from
planes.
At
1200,
CCB
reported
the
1st
and
2d
Battalions,
112th
Inf
Regt,
were
moving
into
position
on
the
right
flank,
and
that
the
air
support
was
temporarily
neutralizing
the
enemy.
At
1745,
orders
were
received
from
V
Corps
for
operations
21
September:
Continue
mission
under
current
orders
maintain
and
improve
all
positions,
mop
up
areas
and
prepare
for
further
advance
to
the
East.
At
2130
CCR
was
ordered
to
place
on
tank
company
in
position
along
the
road
East
of
the
river
and
South
of
Wallendorf,
to
prevent
movement
of
enemy
along
the
river.
During
the
night
the
enemy
demolished
both
the
treadway
bridge
and
timber
bridge
at
Wallendorf
and
mined
approaches
on
German
side. |
|
|
|
|
|
Mike
Buku |
Name:
|
Mike
John
Buku |
Rank:
|
Second
Lieutenant,
US
Army
Air
Force
|
Service
#
|
O-725672 |
Unit: |
Fighter
pilot
assigned
to
343rd
FG
11st
FS
|
Born: |
9
Dec
1916
|
Died: |
10
Sep
1942
(aged
25)
Killed
in
action
in
Aleoutians
|
Buried: |
Santa
Fe
National
Cemetery
Santa
Fe,
Santa
Fe
County,
New
Mexico,
USA
PLOT
O
0
A111
|
Mike
John
Buku
was
born
on
December
9,
1916.
He
died
at
age
25
years
old
on
September
10,
1942,
and
was
buried
at
Santa
Fe
National
Cemetery
Section
O
Site
A111
501
North
Guadalupe
Street,
in
Santa
Fe,
New
Mexico.
According
to
records,
Colorado
was
his
home
or
enlistment
state
and
Pueblo
County
included
within
the
archival
record.
He
had
enlisted
in
the
United
States
Army.
Served
during
World
War
II.
Buku
had
the
rank
of
Second
Lieutenant.
Service
number
assignment
was
O-725672.
During
his
service
in
World
War
II,
Army
Second
Lieutenant
Buku
experienced
a
critical
situation
which
ultimately
resulted
in
loss
of
life.
Recorded
circumstances
attributed
to:
DNB
-
Died
Non-battle.
|
Mike
J
Buku
in
the
U.S.,
World
War
II
Army
Enlistment
Records,
1938-1946
Name:
Mike
J
Buku
Race:
White
Marital
Status:
Single,
without
dependents
(Single)
Rank:
Aviation
Cadet
Birth
Year:
1916
Nativity
State
or
Country:
Pennsylvania
Citizenship:
Citizen
Education:
2
years
of
college
Civil
Occupation:
Semiskilled
inter-industry
metal
working
Enlistment
Date:
1
Nov
1941
Service
Number:
18046566
Branch:
Air
Corps
Component:
Regular
Army
Source:
Civil
Life
Height:
73
Weight:
177 |
343rd
Fighter
Group
11th
Air
Force
Constituted
as
343d
Fighter
Group
on
3
Sep
1942
and
activated
in
Alaska
on
11
Sep.
Assigned
to
Eleventh
AF.
Began
operations
immediately.
Provided
air
defense
for
the
Aleutians;
bombed
and
strafed
Japanese
camps,
antiaircraft
emplacements,
hangars,
and
radio
stations
on
Kiska;
escorted
bombers
that
struck
enemy
airfields,
harbor
facilities,
and
shipping.
Flew
its
last
combat
mission
in
Oct
1943,
but
carried
out
patrol
and
reconnaissance
assignments
in
the
area
until
the
end
of
the
war.
Later
trained,
carried
mail,
and
served
as
part
of
the
defense
force
for
Alaska.
Used
P-38s
and
P-40s,
and
later
(1946)
P-51s.
Inactivated
in
Alaska
on
15
Aug
1946. |
Mike
Buku
is
second
from
left.
|
|
|
|
|
Joe
Castello |
Name:
|
Joe
Castello
|
Rank: |
Private
First
Class
U.S.
Army
|
Service
#
|
38009698 |
Unit:
|
Field
Artillery |
Born: |
27
Jan,
1915
|
Died: |
13
Jan,
1945
Died
Of
Wounds
|
Buried: |
St.Mary's
South
Cemetery
Huerfano
County,
Colorado |
|
|
|
|
|
Pete
Walter
Chavka |
Name:
|
Pete
Walter
Chavka
|
Rank:
|
Corporal
U.S.
Marine
Corps |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
14
Jun
1919
|
Died: |
21
May
1944
(aged
24)
Killed
in
action
|
Buried:
|
Golden
Gate
National
Cemetery
San
Bruno,
San
Mateo
County,
California
PLOT
D,
458
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
E.
Choin |
Name:
|
Robert
E.
Choin |
Rank: |
Second
Class
Radarman
(RD2)
U.S.
Navy
|
Service
#
|
3722979 |
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
|
Died:
|
25
October,
1944
Philippines
invasion.
Reported
missing
and
ultimately
declared
dead.
|
Buried:
|
Memorialized
at
Tablets
of
the
Missing
Manilla
American
Cemetary
Manilla,
Philippines |
According
to
records,
Colorado
was
his
home
or
enlistment
state.
He
had
enlisted
in
the
United
States
Navy.
Served
during
World
War
II.
Choin
had
the
rank
of
Petty
Officer
Second
Class.
His
military
occupation
or
specialty
was
Radarman
Second
Class.
Service
number
assignment
was
3722979.
During
his
service
in
World
War
II,
Navy
Petty
Officer
Second
Class
Choin
was
reported
missing
and
ultimately
declared
dead
on
October
25,
1944.
Recorded
circumstances
attributed
to:
Missing
in
action
or
lost
at
sea.
Robert
E
Choin
is
buried
or
memorialized
at
Tablets
of
the
Missing
at
Manila
American
Cemetery,
Manila,
Philippines.
This
is
an
American
Battle
Monuments
Commission
location.
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Anthony
Christoff |
Name:
|
John
Anthony
Christoff |
Rank: |
Seaman
2nd
Class
U.S.
Navy |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
USS
Philidelphia |
Born: |
11
Jan,
1922
|
Died: |
10
Dec,
1940 |
Buried: |
|
John
Anthony
Christoff
was
born
on
11
January
1922
to
Angelo
S.
(Spasov)
Christoff
and
Sara
Rose
(Lee)
"Sally"
Christoff
(born
Correnti)
.
Angelo
was
born
on
December
13
1898,
in
Ladjene,
Pazardzhik,
Bulgaria.
Sara
was
born
on
March
7
1903,
in
Hastings,
Las
Animas,
Colorado,
USA.
John
had
11
siblings:
James
Francis
Christoff
,
Nicholas
T
"Nick"
Christoff
and
9
other
siblings
.
He
lived
in
1940
in
Colorado.
John
passed
away
in
1940,
at
age
18. |
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Cordova |
Name:
|
Robert
Cordova |
Rank: |
Private
U.S.
Army
|
Service
#
|
18000435 |
Unit:
|
59th
Coast
Artillery,
U.S.
Army
|
Born: |
3
Mar
1916
|
Died: |
3
May
1943
(aged
27)
Died
While
A
POW
of
the
Japanese
Army
at
Hoten
Pow
Camp,
Mukden,
Manchuria
|
Buried: |
Japanese
Army
at
Hoten
Pow
Camp,
Mukden,
Manchuria
42-123
(China)
during
the
war.
Golden
Gate
National
Cemetery
San
Bruno,
San
Mateo
County,
California,
USA
PLOT
SECTION
N
SITE
2010
|
Robert
served
as
a
Private,
59th
Coast
Artillery,
U.S.
Army
during
World
War
II.
He
resided
in
Colorado
prior
to
the
war.
He
enlisted
in
the
Army
Coast
Artillery
Corps
on
September
7,
1940,
prior
to
the
war.
He
was
noted,
at
the
time
of
his
enlistment,
as
being
employed
as
a
mining-machine
operator
and
also
as
single,
without
dependents.
Robert
became
a
POW
of
the
Japanese
Army
during
the
"Fall
Of
the
Philippines"
in
1942.
He
died
while
a
POW
of
the
Japanese
Army
at
Hoten
Pow
Camp,
Mukden,
Manchuria
42-123
(China)
during
the
war.
He
was
awarded
the
Prisoner
Of
War
Medal
and
the
Purple
Heart.
He
was
originally
interred
in
the
POW
Camp
in
China
and
was
later
repatriated
here
on
July
13,
1949. |
|
|
|
|
|
Monico
J.
Cortez |
Name:
|
Monico
J.
Cortez |
Rank: |
Corporal
U.S.
Army |
Service
#
|
37328384 |
Unit:
|
191st
Tank
Destroyer
Battalion |
Born: |
24
Oct,
1912
|
Died: |
25
Apr
1944
By
shell
fire
on
Anzio,
Italy
beachhead.
|
Buried: |
Maes
Creek
Cemetary
|
Cpl.
Monico
J.
Cortez
-
1944:
A
Silver
Star
decoration
for
valor
was
presented
to
Estanislado
Cortez
of
Gardner
honoring
his
son
Cpl.
Monico
J.
Cortez
who
was
killed
in
action
April
25
on
the
Anzio
beachhead.
|
Source:
The
Daily
Sentinel
13
Jun
1944
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Francis
B.
Denton
|
Name:
|
Francis
B.
Denton
|
Rank: |
Sargent
U.S.
Army
|
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
90th
Infantry
Division
357th
Infantry
Regiment
Company
L
|
Born: |
13
Nov
1919
|
Died: |
7
July
44 |
Buried: |
|
The
90th
Infantry
Division
landed
in
England,
5
April
1944,
and
trained
from
10
April
to
4
June.
First
elements
of
the
division
saw
action
on
D-Day,
6
June,
on
Utah
Beach,
Normandy,
the
remainder
entering
combat
10
June,
cutting
across
the
Merderet
River
to
take
Pont
l'Abbe
in
heavy
fighting.
The
357th
had
entered
the
battle
on
July
5
to
relieve
part
of
the
358th.
The
outfit
was
stopped
cold
outside
of
Beau
Coudray
in
a
day-long
battle
but
continued
to
trade
blows
there
for
six
bitter
days.
After
defensive
action
along
the
river
Douve,
the
division
attacked
to
clear
the
Foret
de
Mont-Castre
(Hill
122),
clearing
it
by
11
July,
in
spite
of
fierce
resistance.
An
attack
on
the
island
of
Saint-Germain-sur-Sèves
failing,
23
July,
the
90th
bypassed
it
and
took
Périers,
27
July. |
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew
Dick,
Jr.
|
Name:
|
Andrew
Dick,
Jr. |
Rank: |
Technical
Sergeant
U.S.
Army
Air
Force |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
24
February
1944
Sgt.
Dick's
B-17
bomber
aircraft
exploded
in
midair
and
crashed
near
the
village
of
Hungen,
Germany. |
Buried: |
Interred
in
Hungen,
Germany
|
24
Feb
44
-
Walsenburg:
Staff
Sgt.
Andrew
Dick
Jr.
was
reported
missing
in
action
over
Germany
in
a
raid
February
24.
22
May
46
-
Walsenburg
World-Independent
-
Dicks
Get
Word
Of
Death
Of
Son
In
Germany
-
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Andrew
Dick
Sr.,
of
this
city,
have
received
official
notification
of
the
death
of
their
son,
Technical
Sergeant
Andrew
Dick
Jr.,
who
has
been
on
the
“missing
in
action”
list
of
the
Army
records
since
March
10,
1944.
The
notification
came
from
Leon
W.
Johnson,
Brigadier
General,
chief
of
the
personnel
services
division
U.
S.
Army
Forces,
Washington.
Records
of
the
AAF,
General
Johnson
states,
shows
that
Sgt.
Dick's
aircraft,
a
B-17
Flying
Fortress
bomber,
exploded
in
midair
and
crashed
near
the
village
of
Hungen,
Germany,
on
Feb.
24,
1944.
His
body
was
interred
in
Hungen
on
Feb.
25.
This
town
is
13
miles
southeast
of
Giessen.
This
information
was
gathered
from
the
translation
of
several
volumes
of
captured
German
records,
the
letter
states.
Young
Dick
was
inducted
into
the
service
on
November
4,
1942,
and
was
shipped
overseas
in
November
11,
1943,
where
he
was
based
in
England.
He
was
reported
missing
March
10,
1944.
He
was
a
gradate
of
Huerfano
county
high
school,
class
of
1939,
and
took
work
at
Barnes
Business
college,
Denver
and
Angola
Tri-State,
Angola,
Indiana,
prior
to
his
induction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
F.
Dickinson |
Name:
|
Robert
F.
Dickinson |
Rank: |
LTJG
Navy
Air
Corps
|
Service
#
|
0-298914
|
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
17
Jan
46
|
Buried:
|
Manilla
American
Cemetary
Manilla,
Philippines
|
Aug
43
-
La
Veta:
Gold
wings
and
a
commission
as
ensign
in
the
Navy
Air
Corps
were
awarded
last
week
to
Robert
F.
Dickinson. |
|
|
|
|
|
Henry
Dunich |
Name:
|
Henry
Dunich |
Rank: |
Private
First
Class |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
96th
Infantry
Division
383rd
Infantry
Regiment
|
Born: |
28
Dec
1925
|
Died:
|
15
Jul
1945 |
Buried:
|
St.
Mary's
Walsenburg,
Co.
|
21
July
44
-
Henry
Dunich,
brother
of
Tom,
left
this
morning
for
induction
into
the
army
at
Fort
Logan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tom
Dunich |
Name:
|
Tom
Dunich |
Rank: |
Private
First
Class |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
106th
Infanrty
Regiment |
Born: |
20
Oct
23
|
Died: |
28
Jun
44
Seriously
wounded
in
action
on
Saipan,
June
25. |
Buried:
|
|
21
July
44
-
Walsenburg
World
Independent
-
Tom
Dunich
Reported
Wounded
In
Saipan
Action-Pfc.
Tom
M.
Dunich,
21,
son
of
Mr.
and
Mrs.
John
Dunich,
121
Champa
Street,
Loma
Park,
has
been
reported
seriously
wounded
in
action
on
Saipan,
June
25,
according
to
word
received
Saturday
by
his
parents
from
the
War
department.
No
further
details
were
contained
in
the
telegram
received
here.
Dunich,
a
graduate
in
the
class
of
1943
from
Huerfano
county
high
school,
entered
the
army
July
2,
1943,
and
took
his
basic
training
at
Camp
Roberts,
Calif.
He
was
sent
overseas
in
February
of
this
year
and
had
been
stationed
in
Hawaii.
Henry
Dunich,
brother
of
Tom,
left
this
morning
for
induction
into
the
army
at
Fort
Logan.
1947
-
The
body
of
Pfc.
Tom
Dunich
will
arrive
tomorrow,
Friday,
for
burial
with
full
military
honors
and
services,
by
the
Walsenburg
Croatian
Fraternal
Union
No.
292.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gabe
Duran |
Name:
|
Gabe
Duran |
Rank: |
Private
First
Class |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
359th
Infantry
Regiment
90th
Infantry
Division
|
Born: |
8
Mar
1913 |
Died: |
26
Sep
1944
Hostile,
Killed
in
Action |
Buried: |
|
26th
Sep
1944
The
359th
Infantry:3rd
Battalion,
supported
by
C
Company,
attacked
at
0515
to
extend
the
right
flank
of
theregiment
and
secure
a
firm
hold
on
the
road
from
GRAVELOTTE
East
as
far
as
ST
HUBERT'SFARME.
C
Company
and
L
Company
on
the
left
moved
rapidly
and
had
secured
their
objectivesby
midmorning.
K
Company
on
the
right,
hampered
by
enemy
mine
fields
and
exposed
ground,was
badly
handled
throughout
the
day
by
enemy
fire
and
one
counterattack.
By
dark
it
was
stillshort
of
its
objective
and
was
relieved
by
I
Company
preparatory
to
continuation
of
the
attack
in
the
morning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warren
Mortan
Farrar,
Jr. |
Name:
|
Warren
Morton
Farrar,
Jr.
|
Rank: |
Aviation
Radio
Man
3rd
Class
U.S.
Navy
Reserve
|
Service
#
|
202
80
56
|
Born: |
1922
|
Died: |
23
June,
1943
Key
West,
Florida
-
Killed
in
a
crash
of
medium
size
bomber
into
ocean
a
few
miles
from
land.
|
Buried: |
La
Veta
Cemetery
La
Veta,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado |
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen
J.
Glinsky |
Name:
|
Stephen
J.
Glinsky |
Rank: |
Private |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
14
Jan
1914
|
Died:
|
26
Nov
1944
|
Buried: |
22
Apr
1948
-
St.
Mary's
Walsenburg,
Co.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Armando
Gomez,
Jr. |
Name:
|
Armando
Gomez,
Jr.
|
Rank: |
FL
O
Army
Air
Force |
Service
#
|
T-129023 |
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
25
July
1923
|
Died:
|
20
October
1944
Died
Non-Battle
airplane
crash
Abilene,
Texas |
Buried: |
South
Saint
Mary
Cemetery
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
Bibian
Gonzales |
Name:
|
Bibian
Bernard
Gonzales |
Rank: |
Seaman
1st
Class
Enlisted |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
Branch
US
Navy
Group
USS
West
Virginia |
Born: |
April
29,
1923 |
Died: |
December
7,
1941
Killed
In
Action
Pearl
Harbor,
Hawaii.
|
Buried: |
Roselawn
Cemetery
Pueblo,
Pueblo
County,
Colorado,
USA
|
Bibian
Bernard
Gonzales
was
born
and
raised
in
the
area
of
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado.
He
was
the
son
of
Albert
and
Lucretia
Gonzales.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
Gonzales,
Jr. |
Name:
|
James
Gonzales,
Jr. |
Rank: |
Rank
Private
First
Class
U.S.
Army |
Service
#
|
37489895 |
Unit:
|
119th
Infantry
Regiment
30th
Infantry
Division |
Born: |
11
Feb
1923
Rouse,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA |
Died: |
18
Oct
1944 |
Buried: |
Henri-Chapelle
American
Cemetery
and
Memorial
Henri-Chapelle,
Arrondissement
de
Verviers,
Liège,
Belgium |
|
Entered
the
service
from
South
Dakota.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joe
E.
Griego |
Name:
|
Joe
E.
Griego |
Rank: |
Private
First
Class |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
45th
Infantry
Division
179th
Infantry
Regiment |
Born: |
28
Oct
1913 |
Died: |
14
Sep
1943 |
Buried: |
South
Saint
Mary
Cemetery
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
Ralph
Hendrix |
Name:
|
Ralph
Morris
Hendrix |
Rank: |
Master
Technical
Sergeant
Radar
Mech
|
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
U.S.
Naval
Air
Corps |
Born: |
4
June
1921
|
Died: |
1945
Died
in
battle.
"Kamikazi"
suicide
attack
.
|
Buried: |
Buried
at
Sea |
|
Son
of
William
Perry
and
Mary
Ellen
Hendrix,
of
Walsenburg,
Colorado,
United
States.
Identical
twins,
Robert
Hendrix
enlisted
in
the
Royal
Canadian
Air
Force
and
Ralph
Hendrix
in
the
United
States
Naval
Air
Corps.
Robert
had
just
completed
the
initial
period
of
training.
Ralph
flew
a
plane
based
on
an
aircraft
carrier
in
the
Pacific.
Near
the
end
of
World
War
II
the
Japanese
resorted
to
the
"Kamikazi"
suicide
attack
and
struck
the
carrier
Ralph
was
on
and
he
was
killed.
His
body
was
buried
at
sea.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Henry
Hendrix
|
Name:
|
Robert
Henry
Hendrix |
Rank: |
Leading
Aircraftman |
Service
#
|
R/100302 |
Unit:
|
Royal
Canadian
Air
Force |
Born: |
4
June
1921
|
Died: |
July
27,
1941
Robert
Hendrix
drowned
in
a
lake
in
Canada.
|
Buried: |
Walsenburg
Masonic
Cemetary
Lot
12,
Block
7,
Grave
1 |
Son
of
William
Perry
and
Mary
Ellen
Hendrix,
of
Walsenburg,
Colorado,
United
States.
Identical
twins,
Robert
Hendrix
enlisted
in
the
Royal
Canadian
Air
Force
and
Ralph
Hendrix
in
the
United
States
Naval
Air
Corps.
Robert
Hendrix
drowned
in
a
lake
in
Canada.
He
had
just
completed
the
initial
period
of
training.
His
funeral
took
place
in
the
Baptist
Church
on
Saturday,
August
2nd.
Twin
brother
of
Ralph
Morris
Hendrix
who
died
in
1945
while
serving
with
the
United
States
Air
Force.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack
Holderman |
Name:
|
Jack
Holderman |
Rank: |
|
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
|
Buried:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Austin
Richards
Hubbard |
Name:
|
Austin
Richards
Hubbard |
Rank: |
Technician
5th
Class
U.S.
Army |
Service
#
|
38142086 |
Unit:
|
40th
Infantry
Division
185th
Infantry
Regiment
|
Born: |
13 May 1920 |
Died: |
February
11,
1945
Killed
in
Action
|
Buried:
|
Plot
N
Row
10
Grave
79
Manilla
American
Cemetary
Manilla,
Philippines
|
Pfc.
Austin
L.
Hubbard,
son
of
Mr.
and
Mrs.
H.
L.
Hubbard
of
La
Veta,
has
been
killed
in
action,
according
to
a
message
received
by
his
parents
there
this
morning.
No
details
surrounding
his
death
were
given.
Pfc.
Hubbard,
who
has
been
in
service
some
two
years,
was
on
active
duty
on
Luzon
at
the
time
of
his
death,
which
was
given
as
Feb.
11.
He
is
the
youngest
son
of
the
La
Veta
couple.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Esequiel
Jaramillo |
Name:
|
Esequiel
Jaramillo |
Rank: |
Staff
Sargent |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
71st
Infantry
Division
66th
Infantry
Regiment
|
Born: |
20
Mar
1919
|
Died: |
31
May
1945
Died
Non
Battle
Overseas
|
Buried:
|
South
Saint
Mary
Cemetery
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
Elbert
L.
Kitchen
|
Name:
|
Elbert
L.
Kitchen |
Rank: |
PVT |
Service
#
|
37351481 |
Unit:
|
Service
Branch
Army
Air
Corps |
Born: |
26
May
1921 |
Died: |
4
Oct
1944
Killed
In
Action
Netherlands
|
Buried: |
La
Veta
Cemetery
La
Veta,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
George
Lucerne |
Name:
|
George
Lucerne |
Rank: |
PFC
|
Service
#
|
37348596 |
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
|
Buried:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pedro
C.
Maes |
Name:
|
Pedro
C.
Maes
|
Rank: |
2nd
Lieutenant |
Service
#
|
O1101100 |
Unit:
|
814th
Engineers
Armored
Battalion
|
Born: |
7
Apr
1913
|
Died: |
10
Apr
1943
Killed
In
Action.
Pete
and
the
other
occupants
in
his
jeep
were
blown
up.
|
Buried:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gilbert
C.
Martinez |
Name:
|
Gilbert
C.
Martinez |
Rank: |
|
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
|
Buried:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leonard
Martinez
|
Name:
|
Leonard
Martinez
|
Rank: |
Private
First
Class
U.S.
Army |
Service
#
|
38009172 |
Unit:
|
105th
Infantry
Regiment
27th
Infantry
Division
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
July
7,
1944 |
Buried:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frances
McKenna |
Name:
|
Frances
McKenna |
Rank: |
|
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
|
Buried:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joe
Medina
|
Name:
|
Joe
Benardo
Medina
|
Rank: |
Sargent |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
5th
Calvary |
Born: |
|
Died: |
28
February
1945
|
Buried: |
Killed
in
action
by
sniper
while
on
patrol
on
a
Manila
street. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Felix
B.
Mestas,
Jr. |
Name:
|
Felix
B.
Mestas,
Jr. |
Rank: |
Private
First
Class
U.S.
Army |
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
88th
Infantry
Division
350th
Inantry
Regiment
Company
G
|
Born: |
23
August
1921
|
Died: |
29
September
1944
Monte
Battaglia,
Italy
|
Buried: |
La
Veta
Cemetery,
La
Veta
Huerfano
County,
Colorado |
Awards:
|
Silver
Star
Purple
Heart
Combat
Infantryman
Badge
Marksmanship
Badge
World
War
II
Victory
Medal
American
Campaign
Medal
Army
Presidential
Unit
Citation
Army
Good
Conduct
Medal
European-African-Middle
Eastern
Campaign
|
Felix
Balois
"Cowboy"
Mestas
Jr
was
the
son
of
Felix
Mestas
Sr
and
Simolita
Lovato.
His
family
lived
in
La
Veta,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado.
Felix
helped
his
father
on
their
farm
before
being
drafted
into
the
US
Army
on
November
13,
1942,
in
Pueblo,
Colorado.
Felix
was
a
member
of
the
88th
Infantry
Division
and
was
killed
in
action
during
the
Battle
of
Monte
Battaglia
in
Italy.
He
was
posthumously
awarded
the
Silver
Star
for
gallantry
in
action
that
day.
His
citation
reads
in
part:
On
September
27,
1944,
Company
G
occupied
Mount
Battaglia
with
orders
to
hold
this
strategic
height
at
all
costs.
Private
Mestas,
a
BAR
gunner,
and
his
assistant
dug
a
position
on
the
forward
slope
of
the
hill.
Within
an
hour,
Mount
Battaglia
received
the
first
of
many
severe
counterattacks.
As
the
Germans
crept
up
the
hill,
Private
Mestas
stood
upright
in
his
position
and
fired
the
BAR
from
his
hip.
His
accurate
fire
dispersed
the
enemy
and
inflicted
casualties
upon
them.
The
next
day
the
Germans
counterattacked
three
times
but
each
time
Private
Mestas
helped
to
repel
the
attacks.
On
the
afternoon
on
the
third
day,
the
enemy
launched
a
particularly
heavy
counterattack,
and
due
to
the
rain
and
fog,
were
able
to
approach
close
to
their
positions.
With
utter
disregard
for
the
withering
hail
of
fire
directed
at
him,
Private
Mestas
again
fired
his
BAR
from
a
standing
position
in
order
to
obtain
a
better
field
of
fire.
When
his
weapon
jammed,
he
calmly
repaired
it
under
the
protecting
rifle
fire
of
his
assistant
gunner.
Occasionally
he
paused
to
throw
grenades,
and
after
expending
his
meagre
supply,
resorted
to
the
use
of
rocks.
As
it
became
evident
that
their
position
soon
be
overrun,
Private
Mestas
ordered
his
assistant
gunner
to
run
to
the
safety
of
the
reverse
slope
of
Mount
Battaglia
while
he
protected
his
withdrawal
with
his
BAR.
The
only
soldier
now
on
the
forward
slope
of
Mount
Battaglia,
Private
Mestas
calmly
fired
clip
after
clip
from
his
BAR
into
the
enemy
ranks
who
were
charging
up
the
hill
massed
almost
shoulder
to
shoulder.
Private
Mestas
stopped
two
dozen
enemy
soldiers
before
he
was
killed.
In
1949
the
La
Veta
Peak
In
Colorado
was
renamed
in
honor
of
PFC
Felix
B
Mestas,
Jr.
The
Mt
Mestas
Memorial
Monument
was
commissioned
in
1955
by
the
local
VFW
and
erected
of
Colorado
rose
granite
from
the
mountain
named
for
PFC
Mestas
and
engraved
with
the
names
of
63
men
of
Huerfano
County
who
died
in
World
War
II.
Decades
later
the
monument
was
moved
to
the
front
entry
of
the
Veteran's
Hospital
located
on
the
highway
outside
of
Walsenburg.
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Mestas |
Name:
|
John
Bautista
Mestas
|
Rank: |
Radioman
Third
Class
U.S.
Navy |
Service
#
|
6186364 |
Unit:
|
United
States
Naval
Reserve
|
Born: |
Febryary
13,
1922
|
Died: |
January
27,
1945 |
Buried: |
Tablets
of
the
Missing
at
Sicily
Rome
American
Cemetery
Nettuno,
Italy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Naglich |
Name:
|
John
Naglich |
Rank: |
Sargent |
Service
#
|
17091484 |
Unit:
|
Army
/
Army
Air
Force
419th
Bombardment
Squadron,
Heavy |
Born: |
12
Dec
1921
|
Died: |
2
Dec
1944
Killed
in
Action
Germany
|
Buried: |
Evergreen
Cemetery
Colorado
Springs,
El
Paso
County,
Colorado,
USA
Section
230,
Plot
1123
|
John
Naglich
was
born
on
December
12,
1921
to
Matt
and
Anna
Pavelic
Naglich
in
Rugby,
Colorado.
The
US
Census
1940
lists
the
family
in
Walsenburg,
Colorado.
Naglich
went
to
elementary
school,
then
graduated
from
Huerfaro
High
School
in
1940.
He
enlisted
in
August,
1942
in
the
Reserves
but
wasn't
called
to
active
duty
until
February
8,
1943.
His
training
took
him
to
assignments
in
San
Antonio,
Texas;
Santa
Anna,
California;
Las
Vegas,
Nevada;
Deming,
New
Mexico;
and
Pyote,
Texas.
In
August,
1944,
he
was
assigned
to
an
overseas
bomber
unit
operating
from
Italy.
He
flew
20
missions.
On
December
2,
1944,
he
was
part
of
a
crew
sent
to
attack
the
oil
refineries
located
at
Blechhammer,
Germany.
As
the
aircraft
passed
over
the
Adriatic
Sea,
one
engine
began
leaking
fuel.
The
pilot
requested
to
land
on
an
island.
He
was
denied.
By
that
time,
the
engine
had
caught
fire,
and
the
fire
spread
to
the
interior
of
the
aircraft.
The
pilot
gave
bail
out,
and
some
men
jumped.
The
plane
then
crashed
into
the
Adriatic
Sea.
A
British
Air
Sea
Rescue
boat
was
able
to
locate
4
survivors
and
return
them
to
duty.
The
remaining
crew
members
were
deemed
to
have
been
killed.
It
is
not
clear
from
information
located
if
any
bodies
were
recovered
at
that
time,
but
Sgt
Naglich
is
buried
in
the
Evergreen
Cemetery
in
Colorado
Springs,
Colorado.
|
|
|
Sgt
John
Naglich
was
acting
as
radio
operator
on
B-17G
#
44-6186,
not
named,
assigned
to
the
419th
Bomb
Squadron.
Missing
Air
Crew
Report
10790
was
issued,
but
witness
statements
contain
all
pertinent
information.
Mission
loading
lists
name
the
crew
as:
1
Lt
Eugene
F.
Tillotson
p
2
Lt
Robert
L.
Pikkart
c-p
1
Lt
Stephen
H.
Grant
nav
2
Lt
William
N.
Ferguson
bomb
TSgt
John
De
Hart
eng/tt
gun
Sgt
John
Naglich
r/o
MSgt
Robert
M.
Noel
btg
Sgt
Milburn
C.
Phillips
wg
Sgt
Frank
L.
Myers
wg
Sgt
J.D.
Grigg
tail
gun
Ranks
and
grades
as
of
mission
date.
Lt
Ferguson,
TSgt
De
Hart,
MSgt
Noel,
and
Sgt
Grigg
survived
and
were
returned
to
duty.
All
others
were
killed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Walter
Lee
Naney |
Name:
|
Walter
Lee
Naney |
Rank: |
Private
First
Class
|
Service
#
|
38104280 |
Unit:
|
5th
Armored
Division
US
Army
|
Born: |
30
May
1918
Tulsa,
Tulsa
County,
Oklahoma,
USA |
Died: |
12
Jan
1943
San
Luis
Obispo
County,
California,
USA
Died
Non-battle
|
Buried: |
Masonic
Cemetery
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA
Died
Non
Battle |
|
|
|
|
|
Jose
Jake
Ortivez |
Name:
|
Jose
Jake
Ortivez
|
Rank: |
Staff
Sergeant
U.S.
Army |
Service
#
|
38104321 |
Unit:
|
90th
Infantry
Division
357th
Infantry
Regiment
|
Born: |
1920
|
Died: |
August
14,
1944
Hostile,
Killed
in
Action
|
Buried:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
George
F.
Oswerk
|
Name:
|
George
F.
Oswerk
|
Rank: |
Private
First
Class
|
Service
#
|
180
69
297 |
Unit:
|
79th
Bomb
Squad
US
Army
|
Born: |
April
12,
1920
|
Died: |
March
7,
1942
Died
Non-Battle
|
Buried:
|
Saint
Marys
North
Cemetery
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albert
Quintana |
Name:
|
Albert
Quintana
|
Rank: |
Technician
Fourth
Grade |
Service
#
|
38142400 |
Unit:
|
473
AAA
AW
BN
CAC
US
Army |
Born: |
May
21,
1902
|
Died: |
Setember
3,
1945
Died
Non-Battle |
Buried:
|
South
Saint
Mary
Cemetery
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ralph
Roybal
|
Name:
|
Ralph
Roybal
|
Rank: |
Private
First
Class |
Service
#
|
37702460 |
Unit:
|
115th
Infantry
Regiment
|
Born: |
Born:
9
September
1924
|
Died: |
Died:
25
February
1945
|
Buried: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
George
Smalley
|
Name:
|
George
Smalley
|
Rank: |
Technician
Fifth
Grade |
Service
#
|
37346952 |
Unit:
|
1393
Engineers
Constructioon
Bn.
US
Army |
Born: |
October
27,
1924
|
Died: |
September
21,
1945
|
Buried:
|
Died
Non-Battle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank
P.
Struble,
Jr. |
Name:
|
Frank
P.
Struble,
Jr. |
Rank: |
Staff
Sergeant
|
Service
#
|
37344009 |
Unit:
|
262nd
Infantry
Regiment
66th
Infantry
Division
US
Army |
Born: |
|
Died: |
25
Dec
1944
Declared
Dead
while
Missing
Missing
in
action
or
lost
at
sea
English
Channel
|
Buried:
|
Tablets
of
the
Missing
Cemetery:
Normandy
American
Cemetery
France |
|
|
|
|
John
P.
Tice
|
Name:
|
John
P.
Tice |
Rank: |
Staff
Sergeant
|
Service
#
|
38007859 |
Unit:
|
73rd
Engineers |
Born: |
21
Jan
1917
Huerfano
County
|
Died: |
4
July
1942
Died
Non-Battle |
Buried:
|
La
Veta
Cemetery
La
Veta,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph
Trujillo |
Name:
|
Joseph
R.
Trujillo |
Rank: |
Private
First
Class
|
Service
#
|
37713723 |
Unit:
|
Army
/
Army
Air
Force |
Born: |
6
Sep
1926 |
Died: |
27
Jun
1945
Killed
In
Action |
Buried: |
Gardner
Catholic
Cemetery
Gardner,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matt
Trujillo
|
Name:
|
Matt
Trujillo
|
Rank: |
Private |
Service
#
|
38007852 |
Unit:
|
45th
Infantry
Division
180th
Infantry
Regiment
|
Born: |
6
Aug
1917
|
Died: |
22
Sep
1943
Killed
in
Action
|
Buried: |
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
Rumaldo
Trujillo
|
Name:
|
Rumaldo
Trujillo
|
Rank: |
|
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
|
Date: |
|
Buried: |
|
Died: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eutimio
Valdez,
Jr. |
Name:
|
Eutimio
Valdez,
Jr.
|
Rank: |
Private
First
Class
|
Service
#
|
18029030 |
Unit:
|
12th
Cavelry
|
Born: |
11
May
1912
Huerfano
County
|
Died: |
19
Dec
1944 |
Buried: |
South
Saint
Mary
Cemetery
Walsenburg,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA |
|
|
|
|
|
Peter
P.
Verbich,
Jr.
|
Name:
|
Peter
P.
Verbich,
Jr.
|
Rank: |
Staff
Sergeant
|
Service
#
|
18001084 |
Unit:
|
28th
Bomber
Group,
Heavy
77th
Bomber
Squadron
US
Army
Air
Corps
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
September
2,
1942
Missing
in
action
or
lost
at
sea |
Buried: |
Honolulu
Memorial
Burial
Place:
Honolulu,
Hawaii |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Henry
J.
Vigil |
Name:
|
Henry
J.
Vigil
|
Rank: |
Private |
Service
#
|
37354718 |
Unit:
|
Army
Air
Force |
Born: |
|
Died: |
|
Buried: |
Killed
In
Action |
|
|
|
|
|
Jesus
M.
Vigil |
Name:
|
Jesus
M.
Vigil
|
Rank: |
|
Service
#
|
|
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
|
Buried: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Melaguias
Vigil
|
Name:
|
Melaguis
Vigil
|
Rank: |
Private
First
Class |
Service
#
|
38007362 |
Unit:
|
62nd
Field
Artillery
Battalion
|
Born: |
15
Aug
1905
|
Died: |
16
Apr
1943
Died
Non-Battle
|
Buried: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Ralph
Weir
|
Rank: |
Private |
Service
#
|
38009164 |
Unit:
|
979th
Field
Artillery
Battalion
Battery
C
(155mm) |
Born: |
18
April
1915
|
Died: |
27
September
1944 |
Buried: |
Killed
in
Action
-
Holland
|
Ralph
Weir
was
born
18
April
1915
in
Aguilar,
Colo.,
attended
school
in
La
Veta,
Colo.,
and
was
in
the
trucking
business
prior
to
entering
service
on
22
Sept.
1941.
He
received
his
training
at
Fort
Sill,
Okla.,
and
Ft.
Leonard
Wood,
Mo.;
and
served
overseas
with
Battery
C,
979th
Field
Artillery
Bn.
He
took
part
in
the
D-Day
invasion
of
Normandy,
and
fought
in
France,
Belgium
and
Holland.
He
was
killed
in
action
on
27
Sept.
1944
in
Holland,
and
posthumously
awarded
the
Purple
Heart
Medal
for
his
supreme
sacrafice.
He
was
the
son
of
Helen
S
and
Robert
Weir
of
La
Veta.
|
Purple
Heart
Medal
Memorial
Plaque
Project |
|
In
May
2004,
Mr.Arno
Lasoe,
Heerlen,
The
Netherlands,
worked
out
his
idea
to
realize
a
standard
bronze
memorial
plaque
for
US
officers
and
enlisted
men
who
were
killed
in
action
during
the
liberation
of
a
French,
Belgium
or
Dutch
village.
He
was
convinced
he
had
to
design
something
which
was
easy
to
understand
and
yet
a
sign
of
sacrifice.
After
the
design
was
created
he
contacted
Pierre
Lumens,
a
local
Dutch
artist,
living
in
Maastricht.
As
a
child
Pierre
had
witnessed
the
liberation
of
Maastricht
in
September
1944.
Together
they
formed
a
good
team
and
created
the
Purple
Heart
Medal
memorial
plaque
in
just
a
few
weeks. |
|
|
From:
"Arno
Lasoe"
Subject:
Private
Ralph
Weir
(979th
FA
Bn)
Date:
Thu,
28
Sep
2006
I
wanted
to
inform
you
that
we
yesterday
have
unveiled
in
the
small
Dutch
village
of
Swier
(
Dutch
municipality
of
Nuth
)
a
memorial
plaque
for
Pvt
Joseph
Graczykowski
and
Pvt
Ralph
Weir.
Heerlen,
The
Netherlands
|
|
One
single
handmade
bronze
Purple
Heart
Medal
memorial
plaque
costs
about
€
350
($
400).
To
finance
a
plaque
members
of
the
South
-
Limburg
"Hell
On
Wheels"
Monument
foundation
are
depending
on
individual
gifts.
When
enough
money
is
collected,
a
locale
historical
society
or
club
will
be
contacted
to
help
with
the
unveiling.
A
memorial
plaque
will
be
placed
in
the
vicinity
where
the
individual
who's
name
is
engraved
was
killed
so
that
the
local
inhabitants
never
can
forget
the
name
of
that
American
soldier
who
was
killed
in
their
neighborhood. |
Together
with
locale
historical
societies
and
clubs
the
South
-
Limburg
"Hell
On
Wheels"
Monument
foundation
(non-profit)
already
have
been
able
to
realize
several
Purple
Heart
Medal
memorial
plaque's
and
are
hoping
to
realize
many
more.
Below
is
the
latest
update
about
this
very
special
project.
Date
/
Unveiling
Location
/
Country
William
Greentree
(
247th
Engr
C
Bn
)
14
September
2004
Maastricht
Holland
Ed
G.
Erickson
(
120th
Inf
Rgt
)
18
September
2004
Simpelveld
Holland
Robert
W.
Schultz
(
172nd
Eng
C
Bn
)
20
October
2004
Vaals
Holland
Arthur
Sugas
(
63rd
Ftr
Sq
)
16
September
2005
Wolder
Holland
Charlie
T.
Hudson
(
559th
AAA
AW
Bn
)
17
December
2005
Hoensbroek
Holland
Clarence
Jaeggli
(
129th
AAA
Gun
Bn
)
11
May
2006
Vroenhoven
Belgium
Joseph
Graczykowski
Jr
(
979th
FA
Bn
)
27
September
2006
Swier
Holland
Ralph
Weir
(
979th
FA
Bn
)
27
September
2006
Swier
Holland
St.
Jozef,
Kapel
(
St.
Joseph,
Chapel
)
4
May
2007
*
Rimburg
Holland
|
|
|
|
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|
|
Danial
L.
White
|
Name:
|
Danial
L.
White
|
Rank: |
Staff
Sargent
Army
Air
Force |
Service
#
|
6290883 |
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
|
Buried: |
Killed
In
Action |
|
|
|
|
|
Earl
L.
Willburn |
Name:
|
Earl
L.
Williburn
|
Rank: |
Pvt |
Service
#
|
18029176 |
Unit:
|
|
Born: |
1921 |
Died: |
6
November
1941
Died
Non-battle |
Buried: |
Gardner
Cemetery
Gardner,
Huerfano
County,
Colorado,
USA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William
Leo
Zanon |
Name:
|
William
Leo
Zanon
|
Rank: |
Aviation
Machinist's
Mate
2nd
Class |
Service
#
|
6188761 |
Unit: |
|
Born: |
|
Died: |
26
Jul
44
Killed
In
Action
Saipan
-
Marinas
Islands
|
Buried: |
|
The GAMBIER BAY was reclassified
CVE-73
and
launched
22
November
1943
and
after
shakedown
cruise
out
of
San
Diego
on
7
February
1944
embarked
with
400
troops
for
Pearl
Harbor
to
rendezvous
off
the
Marshall
islands
staging
for
the
invasion
of
the
Mariannas.
The Gambier Bay gave close air support to the initial
landings
of
Marines
on
Saipan
15
June
1944,
destroying
enemy
gun
emplacements,
troops,
tanks,
and
trucks.
|
|
On the 17th her combat air control shot down or turned
back
all
but
a
handful
of
47
enemy
planes
headed
for
her
task
group
and
her
gunners
shot
down
2
of
the
3
planes
that
did
break
through
to
attack
her.
The
ship
reached
Eniwetok
on
5
July
1944
and
spent
a
week
there,
leaving
12
July
1944
for
Tinian.
They
arrived
at
Tinian
on
July
14th
and
immediately
started
their
duties
in
air
support
for
the
invasion
and
did
reconnaissance
work
and
aerial
spotting.
On
July
26th,
Lieut.
John
P.
Sanderson
spun
in
on
a
catapult
takeoff.
The
depth
bombs
on
the
plane
exploded
and
he
and
his
crew,
J.
Richards,
ARM3c,
and
B.
Zanon,
AOM3c
were
lost.
The Gambier Bay remained off Saipan, repulsing
aerial
raids
and
launching
planes
which
strafed
enemy
troop
concentrations,
bombed
gun
emplacements,
supported
marines
and
soldiers
fighting
ashore,
and
continued
close
ground
support
operations
at
Tinian
from
19
to
31
July.
She then turned her attention to Guam, where
she
gave
identical
aid
to
invading
troops
until
11
August
and
arrived
in
Guam
on
1
August
1944,
staying
there
until
5
August,
at
which
time
she
departed
for
Eniwetok,
arriving
on
8
August.
On
August
22nd,
the
ship
left
Espiritu
Santo,
arriving
at
Tulagi
August
24th.
August
25th
to
27th
saw
another
shakedown
cruise
near
Savo
Island
breaking
in
the
new
pilots
and
staging
for
the
Palau
invasion.
On
September
8th,
the
squadron
left
for
Palau,
arriving
there
September
14th.
On
September
20th
the
ship
left
Palau
and
on
September
21st
the
squadron
made
an
attack
on
Yap
Island.
This
was
a
fighter
strike
only
and
they
bombed
and
strafed
the
airstrip
on
Yap
in
addition
to
the
reconnaissance
work
for
which
the
flight
was
scheduled.
September
23rd
the
ship
left
Ulithi,
arrived
at
Hollandia,
New
Guinea,
on
September
28th
and
arrived
at
Manus
October
I
st.
The
ship
left
Manus
12
October
1944
for
the
Philippine
area,
briefing
and
staging
enroute
for
the
forthcoming
liberation
of
the
Philippines.
During
the
month
of
October,
1944,
the
ship
and
squadron
participated
in
the
seizure
of
Leyte,
Philippine
Islands.
From
20th
to
25th
October,
the
squadron
provided
direct
air
support
for
the
landing
operations
in
progress.
Many
bombing
attacks
were
made
upon
the
enemy
ground
installations
and
troops.
Fighters
were
provided
to
protect
American
ground
forces
and
transports
from
hostile
air
attacks.
As
a
part
of
its
daily
routine,
eight
fighters
were
launched
each
morning
one
hour
before
dawn
to
be
on
station
by
daybreak
over
the
transport
area
100
miles
away.
On
25
October
the
Japanese
battleship
Chikuma
closed
within
5
miles
to
land
hits
on
the
flight
deck
and
the
Gambier
Bay
was
soon
dead
in
the
water.
Three
Japanese
cruisers
closed
to
point-
range
as
US
destroyers
such
as
Johnston
were
unsuccessful
in
trying
to
draw
fire
away
from
the
doomed
carrier.
As
fires
raged
through
the
riddled
escort
carrier
she
capsized
and
sank.
The
majority
of
her
nearly
800
survivors
were
rescued
two
days
later
by
landing
and
patrol
craft
dispatched
from
Leyte
Gulf.
Gambier
Bay
would
be
the
first
and
only
U.S.
carrier
sunk
by
naval
gunfire
in
World
War
II. |
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