World War II Honoree

Salomon Abrego

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

David Abrego & Douglas M. Alford, USN

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY IN 1942 AND WAS SWORN IN AND RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. AFTER BASIC, HE WAS SHIPPED OVERSEAS ON THE SS AQUITANIA, A CONVERTED CRUISE LINER, ON A TRIP THAT TOOK TEN DAYS. HE ARRIVED IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND ON 23 DECEMBER, 1943 AND WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO LONDON FOR FURTHER TRAINING AS A MEDIC. HE HAD SOME MEDICAL TRAINING AS A CIVILIAN WHICH WAS A BENEFIT TO HIM. HE WAS SENT TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER TO WORK IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS TO CLEAN AND FEED THE VICTIMS THAT COULD BE SAVED. HE WAS PUT IN CHARGE OF A GROUP OF DISPLACED PERSONS WHO WERE FORCED LABORERS. THIS GROUP WAS FORCED TO TRAVEL IN A CONVOY CONSISTING OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, BABIES AND OLDER MEMBERS. THEY HAD TO CROSS THE AUSTRIAN BORDER AND DROP THEM OFF AT THE NEAREST TOWN IN AUSTRIA. HE RECEIVED HIS ONLY INJURY WHEN HIS COLUMN WAS ATTACKED BY AN AIRCRAFT AND HE WAS FORCED TO JUMP FROM AN AMBULANCE INTO A DITCH. UPON THE SURRENDER OF GERMANY, HE WAS TRANSFERRED BACK TO LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND; THEN TO NEW YORK CITY ON A CONVERTED CRUISE LINER. AT NEW YORK CITY HE WAS PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN BACK TO FORT SAM HOUSTON WHERE HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY IN 1945, DECEMBER. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.