World War II Honoree

Hilario Cavazos, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS DRAFTED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL INTO THE U.S. ARMY IN OCTOBER OF 1943. HE WENT THROUGH BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP WOLTERS, FORT WORTH, TEXAS AND WAS TRAINED IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE INFANTRY. HE WENT ON TO MANEUVER TRAINING AT FORT POLK NEAR LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 75TH INFANTRY DIVISION AT CAMP BRECKENRIDGE, KENTUCKY WHERE HE TRAINED FOR SIX MONTHS BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED TO NEW JERSEY AND THEN ON OVERSEAS TO ENGLAND IN OCTOBER, 1944. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE MESSAGE CENTER OF THE 290TH INFANTRY REGIMENT. HE WAS IN ENGLAND FOR ONE MONTH BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL TO LE HAVRE, FRANCE. HIS DIVISION MOVED TO BELGIUM WHERE HE WAS IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE FROM DECEMBER 16, 1944 TO JANUARY 25, 1945. WITH THE SURRENDER OF GERMANY, HE WAS TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE STATES. HE WAS PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN BACK TO SAN ANTONIO IN MARCH OF 1946 WHERE HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY. HE WAS PROUD TO HAVE SERVED HIS COUNTRY.