World War II Honoree

Armando Isidro Arce

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

AT THE AGE OF 19, WAS DRAFTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE AND WAS SWORN IN AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ON JULY 18, 1943. ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP FANNIN AT TYLER, TEXAS. AFTER BASIC TRAINING HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO FORT ORD, CALIFORNIA WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NORTHERN COMBAT AREA COMMAND, APO 689. WAS PUT ONBOARD A LIBERTY SHIP BOUND FOR INDIA. DUE TO ILLNESS HE WAS PLACED ON ANOTHER LIBERTY SHIP OUT OF ST. PEDRO, CALIFORNIA BOUND FOR PERTH, AUSTRALIA. AT PERTH, HE WAS PLACED ON A SHIP FOR CALCUTTA, INDIA. HE WAS A REPLACEMENT SOLDIER FOR THOSE ON DUTY THERE. HIS DUTY WAS TO REMOVE THE DEAD AND DYING CIVILIANS FROM THE STREETS. DISEASE WAS RAMPANT IN THE CITY CAUSING PEOPLE TO DIE AT A RATE WHICH WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTAIN. AFTER THREE MONTHS HE REQUESTED TRANSFER TO BURMA WHERE THE AMERICANS WERE WORKING THE CHINESE AGAINST THE JAPANESE. THERE HE ASSISTED IN THE FLYING OF EQUIPMENT AND FOOD STUFFS ACROSS THE BURMESE HUMP. WHEN THE WAR ENDED, HE BOARDED A SHIP ON THE WEST COAST OF INDIA. WAS ONBOARD THE USS ANDERSON FOR 20 DAYS; SAILED THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL, THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, AND THE STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR BEFORE LANDING AT NEW YORK CITY. LEFT NEW YORK BY TRAIN BOUND FOR FORT SAM HOUSTON WHERE HE WAS DISCHARGED ON NOVEMBER 16, 1945. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE STARS, WWII VICTORY RIBBON, MARKSMAN MEDAL, SHARPSHOOTER MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND COMBAT DRIVER AND MECHANIC BADGE.