World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
San Juan Chavez
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Valencia County, New Mexico
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AUGUST 4, 1942 AT FORT BLISS, EL PASO, TEXAS. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH DELTA COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE 'SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION IN THE EARLY, DARK MORNING HOURS OF D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 17 OTHER PARATROOPERS AND ALL 4 AIR CORPS PERSONNEL WHEN HIS C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TROOP CARRIER WAS SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTERIES AND CRASHED NEAR VARENGUEBEC WEST OF PICAUVILLE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. THE DISASTER OCCURRED AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE-D AREA, LOCATED AT ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN, FRANCE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO NEW MEXICO FOR BURIAL JUNE 7, 1948, WITH INTERMENT IN THE SANTA FE NATIONAL CEMETERY, SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO.