World War II Honoree

Crescencio C. Pena

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Aurora Saucedo & Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE ARMY AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ON APRIL 1, 1943. HE ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING. AFTERWARD, HE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO PREPARE HIM FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS AN INFANTRYMAN. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO COMPANY K, 101ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 26TH DIVISION. HE SAW DUTY IN THE AFRICA, ITALY, and FRANCE CAMPAIGNS. HE WAS AN INFANTRYMAN AND LIGHT TRUCK DRIVER. ALSO SAW DUTY IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WHERE HE WAS INJURED ON JANUARY 12, 1945 AND RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART. RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE WITH A DISABILITY FROM HIS INJURIES IN DECEMBER 6, 1945. DURING HIS TOUR HE WAS AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND AMERICAN THEATER SERVICE MEDAL. HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON DECEMBER 6, 1945. RETURNED TO HIS HOMETOWN OF LAREDO.