World War II Honoree

Homero Alvarado

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

AT THE AGE OF 17 HE RECEIVED THE PERMISSION OF HIS PARENTS TO JOIN THE MILITARY. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS WHERE HE ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS THE 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION AT FORT SAM HOUSTON. HE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL PARATROOPER TRAINING AT FORT BENNING, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA FOR THREE MONTHS. BY MARCH 1944, HE ARRIVED IN ENGLAND BY TROOP SHIP. SIX MONTHS LATER HIS UNIT, THE 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION, LANDED BEHIND GENERAL GEORGE PATTON'S 3RD ARMY NEAR THE RHINE RIVER AND SERVED AS RESERVES FOR OTHER UNITS. IN THE LANDING HE SERIOUSLY INJURED HIS BACK AND WAS IMMEDIATELY TRANSFERRED TO NEW YORK CITY FOR TREATMENT. HE WAS AGAIN TRANSFERRED TO A RECONDITIONING CENTER AT WACO, TEXAS. HE WAS INJURED TO THE POINT THAT HE COULD NOT RETURN TO COMBAT SO HE WAS DISCHARGED, ALTHOUGH HE WANTED TO RETURN TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY.