World War II Honoree

Theodore 'Lolo' Gallegos

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Rocky Ford, Colorado

Honored By

Family

March 19, 1941 he was inducted into the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas and assigned to the Battery A, 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion. He was an 844 Gun Crewman Light Artillery Specialist. During his 4 1/2 years in the U.S. Army, he spent 3 years in Foreign Service deployed in both the African and European Theatres of Operation. He was one of five brothers who actively served in the armed forces during WWII. He served in seven major battles and campaigns including: Tunisia, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. The 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion completed 424 days in actual combat: Africa-March 18 to May 12, 1942 (56 days); Sicily-July 10 to August 17, 1943 (39 Days); Europe (France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Czechoslovakia) June 6 to August 17, 1944 (73 days); August 26, 1944 to May 8, 1945 (256 days). On June 6, 1944, he was a part of the D-Day First Wave H+90 and transported by the USS LCT-209, which landed on Omaha Beach, Force O-2 Fox Green Sector, near Colleville-sur Mer, France. For their heroic and gallant efforts the unit was awarded citations for their activities on D-Day at Omaha Beach. He received the following battle decorations: European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medals, American Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Bronze Service Arrowhead. On July 31, 1945, he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.