World War II Honoree

Adolfo Cadena Garza

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE JOINED THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND WAS SWORN IN ON NOVEMBER 22, 1943 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HE ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AND RECEIVED FURTHER TRAINING IN THE MEDICAL FIELD AND IN THE INFANTRY. HE WAS ATTACHED TO THE 895TH CLEARING COMPANY, 35TH MEDICAL GROUP AND WAS TRANSFERRED FROM SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TO THE ISLAND OF LEYTE BY TROOP TRANSPORT. HE SPENT 15 DAYS AT SEA BEFORE LANDING AT NEW GUINEA. HIS FIRST COMBAT WAS ON THE ISLAND OF NEW GUINEA AND THEN SAW DUTY ON THE ISLAND OF LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINES WHERE HE TREATED THE WOUNDED. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN AT THE TIME THE WAR ENDED WITH THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE. HE WAS NOT ON THE FRONT LINES THEREFORE HE WAS NOT INJURED. HIS ENTIRE DUTY WAS TO TREAT THOSE THAT WERE. HE WAS TRANSFERRED BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO WHERE HE WAS PUT ON A TROOP TRAIN BACK TO FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS WHERE HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY ON DECEMBER 21, 1945. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 2 BRONZE STARS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STAR, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, 3 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS AND AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL.