World War II Honoree

Jesus Manuel Gonzalez

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 AUGUST 28, 1944. HE WENT THROUGH BASIC TRAINING AT FORT HOOD, KILEEN, TEXAS. WHILE THERE HE BECAME AN EXPERT WITH THE CARBINE RIFLE. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY FOR TANK TRAINING SPECIALIZING IN THE MACHINE GUN AND ALTERNATE DRIVER. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 5467TH ORDNANCE COMPANY, A PART OF THE 3RD ARMY UNDER GENERAL GEORGE PATTON. AFTER TRAINING HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO FORT MEADE TO BE SHIPPED OVERSEAS BY TROOP TRANSPORT TO COMBAT IN ITALY. HE LANDED IN NAPLES, ITALY SHORTLY AFTER THE DEFEAT OF THE GERMANS. HE SAW LITTLE COMBAT IN NAPLES, JUST MOPPING UP ACTIVITIES. HE PROCEEDED ON TOWARD SALERNO WHERE HE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN THE OPERATION OF THE SHERMAN TANK. HE ADVANCED ON TOWARD ROME AND TO CATINA AND INTO THE PO VALLEY WHERE THEY WERE THE OCCUPATION FORCES TO PROTECT ITALY FROM THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GERMAN ARMY FROM AUSTRIA. HE PASSED ON THROUGH PISA. WHILE THERE, HE RECEIVED NEWS OF THE SURRENDER OF GERMANY AND ALL COMBAT CEASED. HIS UNIT WAS DISBANDED AND HE WAS TRANSPORTED BY TROOP SHIP BACK TO NEW YORK HARBOR. HE WAS PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN BACK TO FORT HOOD, TEXAS WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE, AND PLACED ON A BUS BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN OF LAREDO, TEXAS. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ARMY OCCUPATION RIBBON MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY RIBBON.