World War II Honoree

Manuel Barcelo

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Mesa, Arizona

Honored By

Robert B. Barcelo

Relationship

Son

DRAFTED DECEMBER 7, 1943. BASIC TRAINING COMPLETED AT FORT MACARTHUR INDUCTION CENTER IN CALIFORNIA AND 17 WEEKS AT CAMP FANNIN, TEXAS. HE WAS SHIPPED TO CAMP CAMPBELL AND THEN ASSIGNED TO CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 106TH INFANTRY DIVISION. STATIONED AT CAMP ATTERBURY UNTIL HE TURNED 19 YEARS OLD. HE WAS SENT TO ENGLAND FOR HIS OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT. ARRIVED IN ENGLAND AND THE 106TH DIVISION WAS SENT TO LE HAVRE, FRANCE. FROM THERE HE WAS SENT TO LUXEMBOURG, BELGIUM ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 14, 1944 WITH HIS COMPANY DEFENDING THEIR POSITION. THE BATTLE CONTINUED FOR 3 DAYS STRAIGHT AS THEY FOUGHT THE GERMANS' OFFENSIVE LINE. THEY DID MOUNT A FEW OFFENSIVE LINES AND SCOUTING REPORTS, BUT THE OUTCOME WAS BLEAK AND THEIR AMMUNITION WAS RUNNING LOW. THE CALL CAME IN THE AFTERNOON FOR THEM TO BURY THEIR AMMO AND PREPARE FOR SURRENDER ON DECEMBER 19, 1944. HE WAS CAPTURED DECEMBER 19, 1944 ALONG WITH MORE THAN 500 SOLDIERS IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AFTER THEY WERE CAPTURED, THEY WERE ORDERED TO MARCH TO THE TRAINS. HE ARRIVED AT STALAG 4 IN BITTERFIELD. ON APRIL 23, 1945 THE GERMANS LEFT THE CAMP AND TOLD THE POW THEY WERE FREE TO GO TOWARDS THE RUSSIANS. HE ARRIVED IN NEW YORK MAY 1945 AND HOUSED AT CAMP SHANKS. HE RETURNED TO MESA, ARIZONA JUNE 1945 AND GRANTED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE ARMY ON DECEMBER 6, 1945.