World War II Honoree

Antonio E. Gonzales

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY ON MARCH 30, 1944 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HE ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP FANNIN IN EAST TEXAS. HE UNDERWENT EXTENDED INFANTRY TRAINING AT CAMP GRUBER IN NEW YORK WHERE HE EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO COMPANY F, 222ND INFANTRY WITH TRAINING IN COMMUNICATION. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO NEW YORK CITY FOR FURTHER TRANSPORT TO EUROPE. HE WAS ON A TROOP SHIP IN A LONG CONVOY TO LAND AT MARSEILLES, FRANCE. UPON LANDING HE WAS IMMEDIATELY PLACED IN THE COMBAT ARENA. AS A COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST HIS DUTY WAS TO STRING WIRES FROM HEADQUARTERS TO THE FRONT LINE WHEREVER IT WAS. THIS WAS A DIFFICULT POSITION. HE CARRIED OUT THIS DUTY ALL THE WAY THROUGH FRANCE, GERMANY AND INTO AUSTRIA. HE EXPERIENCED THE COLD WINTER IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AT AUSTRIA HE WITNESSED THE ATROCITIES OF THE GERMANS IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS. AFTER THE SURRENDER, HE WAS PLACED AS A GUARD TO ASSIST THE PRISONERS TO RECOVER. AFTER MONTHS OF THIS HE WAS SHIPPED BACK TO NEW YORK CITY ON A TROOP TRANSPORT. AT NEW YORK HE WAS PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS WHERE HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY. HE WAS NOT INJURED IN COMBAT OTHER THAN HEARING LOSS. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY), WWII VICTORY RIBBON, 3 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 2 BRONZE STARS, AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.