World War II Honoree

Ignacio R. Gonzales

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

San Benito, Texas

Honored By

Brian Crafts

Relationship

Grandson

JOINED THE AIR FORCE IN 1942 WITH THE RANK OF PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. TRAINED WITH THE 432ND AIR TROOP CARRIER AND SERVED WITH THE 101ST AIRBORNE, 2ND BATTALION, INFANTRY COMPANY 505. FIRST JUMP WAS IN NORTH AFRICA UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL GEORGE PATTON. COMPANY'S MISSION WAS TO BLOW UP A GERMAN COMPOUND. HE THEN JUMPED BEHIND ENEMY LINES IN NORMANDY, WHERE HE WAS WOUNDED WHILE HELPING 5 MEN TRAPPED BY ENEMY FIRE. HIS NEXT JUMP WAS BEHIND ENEMY LINES IN BELGIUM, WHERE HE FOUGHT AT THE BATTLE FOR BASTOGNE, ONE OF THE FIERCEST BATTLES OF THE EUROPEAN WAR. HIS LAST JUMP WAS IN HOLLAND. HE WAS THEN SHIPPED TO THE SOUTH OF FRANCE TO THE BORDER ON THE RHINE RIVER. GUARDED GERMAN PRISONERS AND HELPED REPATRIATE AMERICAN PRISONERS WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER. DISCHARGED IN 1945 AS A CORPORAL. RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART.