World War II Honoree

Amador Hinojosa, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ARMY ON DECEMBER 9, 1942. HE RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY. AFTER BASIC, HE WAS SENT TO GUNNERY SCHOOL AT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA THEN TO SALT LAKE CITY FOR SECRET CODE COMMUNICATION SCHOOL WHERE HE JOINED THE 563RD BOMBARDMENT DIVISION. PRACTICED BOMB RUNS IN LAS VEGAS AND POCATELLO, IDAHO. HE BECAME AN EXPERT IN TELETYPE COMMUNICATION. HE WAS SHIPPED OUT OF NEW JERSEY ON THE RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH FOR GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. IN ENGLAND HE BEGAN TRAINING FLIGHTS IN THE B-17 AIRCRAFT OVER FRANCE. IN COMBAT FLIGHTS THE BOMBERS WERE ESCORTED BY P-51 MUSTANGS. AT THE SURRENDER OF GERMANY THE 8TH AIR GROUP WAS ORDERED HOME. HE RETURNED ON THE RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH. UPON LANDING IN NEW YORK THERE WAS A SHORT CELEBRATION AND HE WAS PLACED ON A TRAIN FOR FORT SAM HOUSTON AND DISCHARGE. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE, 4 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 6 BRONZE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL.