World War II Honoree

Trinidad Cuellar

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Zapata, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ON JANUARY 18, 1943. RECEIVED HIS BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP SHEPPARD AT WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS WHERE HE ALSO RECEIVED INFANTRY TRAINING AND TRAINING IN AUTOMOTIVE AND VEHICLE DRIVING SCHOOL. WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO SALT LAKE CITY WHERE HE RECEIVED MORE INFANTRY TRAINING. TRANSFERRED TO DALHART, TEXAS WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 305TH AIRDROME SQUADRON. BOARDED A LIBERTY SHIP BOUND FOR THE PACIFIC THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL. ARRIVED IN SIDNEY, AUSTRALIA FOR REFUELING AND CHANGED TO SUMMER UNIFORMS. HE PROCEEDED ON TO NEW GUINEA. WHILE AT NEW GUINEA HE OBSERVED A LARGE SEA BATTLE BETWEEN AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND THE JAPANESE FLEET. HIS UNIT SUPPORTED THE U.S. DEFENSES WHILE THERE. PROCEEDED ON TO OKINAWA TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. IT WAS THERE THAT HE SAW GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR IN HIS PERSONAL AIRCRAFT. SPENT A SHORT TIME IN JAPAN. AFTER THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN HE WAS SENT BACK TO NEW GUINEA AND PLACED ON A SHIP FOR SEATTLE, WASHINGTON TO BE RELEASED. HE THEN TOOK A TROOP TRAIN BACK TO FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO TO BE HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON JANUARY 5, 1946. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE STARS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 2 BRONZE STARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY RIBBON, AND 3 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS.