World War II Honoree

Andres Arredondo

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS 24 YEARS OLD IN 1940 WHEN HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY. HE WAS SWORN IN AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS BASIC TRAINING IN THE INFANTRY. AFTER BASIC TRAINING HE WAS SENT TO NEW YORK CITY TO BOARD A TROOP SHIP FOR ENGLAND. HE RECEIVED SOME TRAINING IN ENGLAND BEFORE CROSSING THROUGH THE FRENCH COAST AND TO THE BORDER OF BELGIUM. IN A BATTLE AS PART OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IN LUXEMBOURG ON THE BELGIUM BORDER, HE WAS CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS. HE WAS FORCED TO WORK IN THE FIELDS. HE WAS FINALLY LIBERATED BY THE AMERICAN FORCES THEN TREATED FOR MEDICAL PROBLEMS. HE WAS FORWARDED BACK TO THE STATES FOR RECUPERATION AND WAS THEN SENT TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS WHERE HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND RECEIVED SEVERAL MEDALS FOR HIS SERVICE.