World War II Honoree

Domingo Alvarez

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS 21 AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR AND WAS READY TO FIGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY. HE ENLISTED IN THE NAVY ON AUGUST 13, 1942 AND AFTER BASIC TRAINING AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING AS A MACHINIST, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS LOUISVILLE (CA-28), A HEAVY CRUISER. IMMEDIATELY THE SHIP PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF RENNELL ISLAND IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. THE SHIP PROVIDED SUPPORT IN ALL THE INVASIONS AND BOMBARDMENTS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AS PART OF TASK FORCE 16. THE SHIP PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF SURIGAO STRAITS ON JANUARY 5, 1945 WHERE IT WAS HIT BY TWO KAMIKAZE AIRCRAFT. IT WAS BACK ON THE FIRING LINE ON MAY, 1945 WHERE IT PROVIDED SUPPORT IN THE OKINAWA CAMPAIGN AND ONCE AGAIN THE SHIP WAS HIT BY A SUICIDE AIRCRAFT. IT WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR A SHORT TIME BUT BACK ON THE FIRING LINE ON JUNE 9. ONE WEEK LATER IT WAS DOCKED IN PEARL HARBOR AND THE WAR ENDED WITH THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN. HE WAS SHIPPED BACK TO THE STATES AND WAS SEPARATED FROM THE NAVAL SERVICE ON DECEMBER 12, 1945. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO SAN ANTONIO WHERE HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY.