World War II Honoree

Victor D. Gunnoe

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY ON APRIL 14, 1943 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HE RECEIVED HIS BASIC TRAINING IN VIRGINIA AND ADVANCED TRAINING IN ARTILLERY AT CAMP CROWDER, MISSOURI. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE BATTERY C, 507TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GUN BATTALION, TRAINED IN RADAR DETECTION-GUNS. AFTERWARD, HE WAS PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN FOR SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA THEN PUT ON A TROOP SHIP FOR AUSTRALIA. WHILE THERE, HE WAS TRAINED IN ARTILLERY WITH THE AUSTRALIANS AS THEY WOULD BE FIGHTING WITH THEM. FROM THERE, HE WAS SENT TO THE ISLAND OF NEW GUINEA AND CLEARED A PORTION OF THE ISLAND OF THE JAPANESE. HE WAS THEN SENT TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND LANDED ON ISLAND OF LUZON. SINCE THERE WERE NO JAPANESE AIRPLANES IN THE AIR, THEY USED THE 90MM ARTILLERY PIECES TO FIRE ON THE JAPANESE IN THE CAVES ON THE ISLAND. AFTER THE BATTLE OF LUZON THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED. AFTER THE SURRENDER HE WAS SENT BACK ON A TROOP SHIP TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR FURTHER TRANSFER TO CAMP FANNIN IN EAST TEXAS. HE RECEIVED HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE THERE. HE WAS THEN RETURNED TO HIS HOMETOWN OF LAREDO. DURING HIS TOUR HE MET GENERAL MACARTHUR ON LUZON WHEN HE MADE HIS RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE RECEIVED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE STARS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL.