World War II Honoree

Miguel Munoz

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ON NOVEMBER 30, 1943 AND REPORTED FOR DUTY ON DECEMBER 21, 1943. HE ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP SHELBY AT HATTISBURG, MISSISSIPPI WHERE HE WAS TRAINED AS A SHIPPING CLERK AND OBTAINED THE DESIGNATION AS TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE. AFTER BASIC, HE WAS IMMEDIATELY TRANSFERRED TO FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY TO BE SHIPPED OVERSEAS FROM NEW YORK CITY. HE SHIPPED OUT ON A TROOP SHIP AND A FLEET OF ESCORT VESSELS FOR PROTECTION. THE TRIP OVERSEAS LASTED FOR 15 DAYS. LANDED AT LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND AND TRANSFERRED TO SOUTHAMPTON FOR IMMEDIATE DEPLOYMENT TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. LANDED AT NORMANDY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE INVASION. HIS DUTY AS A CLERK REQUIRED HIM TO STAY BEHIND THE FRONT LINES. HE WAS PART OF THE OPERATION TO SUPPORT THE TROOPS WITH NEEDED SUPPLIES. EACH TIME THE FRONT LINE CHANGED HIS OPERATION CHANGED. HE WAS PART OF THE RED BALL EXPRESS TO SUPPLY FOOD AND FUEL TO THE COMBAT TROOPS ESPECIALLY GENERAL PATTON'S 5TH ARMY. HE SAW SERVICE IN THE AREA OF ST. LO, BASTOGNE AND CHERBOURG. HE SPENT THE WINTER OF 1944 IN CHERBOURG BUT NOT IN COMBAT. HE WAS IN GERMANY WHEN THE WAR ENDED. HE REMAINED IN GERMANY AFTER THE SURRENDER WORKING IN HIS RATE UNTIL APRIL 27, 1946 WHEN HE WAS SHIPPED BACK TO NEW YORK CITY ON A TROOP SHIP. HE LANDED IN NEW YORK CITY AND WAS IMMEDIATELY PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN FOR FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO WHERE HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY RIBBON, 3 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS AND AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL.