World War II Honoree

Amado Arellano

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Dawson, New Mexico

Honored By

George Weck

Relationship

Friend

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ARELLANO WAS IN THE SECOND WAVE OF THE LANDING ON OMAHA BEACH, THE SAME OPERATION DEPICTED IN THE MOVIE 'SAVING PRIVATE RYAN'. ACCORDING TO AMADO, THEY WERE RIDING IN THE LANDING CRAFT HEADING TOWARD THE BEACH. THEY STOOD IN COLUMNS READY TO CHARGE OUT AS SOON AS THE DOOR DROPPED DOWN. HE BENT DOWN TO ADJUST A STRAP ON HIS BOOT, AND JUST THEN THE MAN STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM FELL ONTO HIM. AS HE GOT UP, HE LOOKED AND SAW THE MAN WAS DEAD AND HAD A LARGE HOLE THROUGH HIS CHEST. HE FEELS THAT IF HE HAD NOT BEEN BENDING DOWN, HE, ALSO, WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED RIGHT THERE.