World War II Honoree

Jose Navarro

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY ON MAY 5, 1941 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AT THE AGE OF 21. HE FELT A NEED TO AID THE COUNTRY. HE ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AND INFANTRY TRAINING, AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 1716TH SERVICE UNIT AS MILITARY POLICEMAN UNDER SPECIALTY NUMBER 677. WHILE IN TRAINING HE RECEIVED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE. HE WAS SHIPPED TO FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY IN PREPARATION FOR ASSIGNMENT TO SUPPORT GENERAL PATTON'S 3RD ARMY IN NORTH AFRICA. HE LEFT NEW YORK CITY ON A TROOP SHIP BOUND FOR TUNISIA WHERE HE LANDED ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942. HE SAW DUTY IN ALGERIA-FRENCH MOROCCO, ACROSS SICILY AND INTO THE NAPLES-FOGGIA COMBAT AREA. HE WAS WOUNDED WHEN ONE OF HIS COMRADES STEPPED ON A MINE AND THE SHRAPNEL STRUCK HIM IN SEVERAL PARTS OF HIS BODY. THIS OCCURRED IN NAPLES ON MAY 25, 1944. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL IN ITALY UNTIL HE COULD BE SENT BACK TO THE UNITED STATES ON JULY 10, 1944. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED UNTIL HE WAS WELL ENOUGH TO BE RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY. FROM NEW YORK CITY HE WAS PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN FOR FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO WHERE ON DECEMBER 15, 1944 HE WAS RELEASED WITH AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE STARS, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.