World War II Honoree

Carlos Guerra

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE UNITED STATES NAVY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS ON JULY 21, 1943. HE RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT METAIRIE, LOUISIANA. AFTER, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO LIDO BEACH IN NEW YORK. HE RECEIVED THREE MONTHS TRAINING IN THE HANDLING OF BOATS AT JONES BEACH, NEW YORK. THIS WAS FOR HIS BOATSWAIN'S MATE RATING. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO BREMERTON, WASHINGTON AND PREPARED TO BE PLACED ON A TROOP TRANSPORT USS TYPHOON BOUND FOR OKINAWA. UPON ARRIVING AT OKINAWA HE WAS PLACED ON A LSM FOR THE PERIOD. HE WAS THEN PLACED ON THE USS SHIELDS, A DESTROYER ESCORT WITH THE DUTY TO ESCORT AND PROTECT OTHER VESSELS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. THIS WAS PART OF THE BUILD UP FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. WHILE ON DUTY ON THE USS SHIELDS, JAPAN SIGNED THE SURRENDER DOCUMENT AND THE WAR ENDED. HE WAS TRANSPORTED BACK TO SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA WHERE HIS SHIP WAS PREPARED TO BE PLACED OUT OF SERVICE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS LA PRADE FOR A SHORT PERIOD TO PREPARE TO BE RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY. TOOK A TROOP TRAIN BACK TO CAMP WALLACE TO BE RELEASED. HE WAS PLACED ON A GREYHOUND BUS FOR LAREDO. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL, AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.