World War II Honoree

Augustine Gonzales

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bexar County, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY MARCH 22, 1943 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH CHARLIE COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE 'SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 IN THE DARK, EARLY MORNING HOURS DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 12 OTHER PARATROOPERS AND ALL 4 AIR CORPS PERSONNEL WHEN HIS C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TROOP CARRIER CRASHED NORTHEAST OF PICAUVILLE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. DURING THE PILOT’S ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE DROP ZONE-C AREA AT HIESVILLE, FRANCE HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN BY VERY HEAVY AND ACCURATE FLAK FROM GERMAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO TEXAS JUNE 18, 1948 FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.