World War II Honoree

Brigido Zavala, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Laredo, Texas

Honored By

Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE ARMY AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ON AUGUST 13, 1942 AND WENT ON ACTIVE DUTY ON AUGUST 27, 1942. HE RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT NEW ORLEANS. HE THEN RECEIVED ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN RIFLE, MARKSMAN AND SMALL ARMS TRAINING AT CAMP KEESLER IN BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI. HE WAS THEN FORWARDED TO CAMP KILMER, NEW JERSEY FOR FURTHER SHIPMENT OUT OF NEW YORK CITY ON THE QUEEN MARY FOR SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND. AT SOUTHAMPTON HE RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL ADVANCED INFANTRY TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASION OF FRANCE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 1907TH ORDNANCE AMMUNITION COMPANY (AVIATION) WHOSE DUTY WAS TO MAINTAIN AND SUPPLY MUNITIONS FOR THE ADVANCING ARMY IN FRANCE. HE WAS ATTACHED TO GENERAL PATTON'S 3RD ARMY AND WORKED WITH THE RED BALL EXPRESS IN SUPPORT. HE LANDED AT THE PORT OF LE HAVRE, FRANCE AND ADVANCED ON THROUGH ST. LO, THEN INTO PARIS AND FROM THERE INTO THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, AND THE COLD WINTER. HIS FINGERS AND TOES FROZE. HIS ONLY INJURY WAS WHEN A GERMAN SOLDIER HIT HIM ON THE HEAD WITH THE STOCK OF HIS RIFLE. HE PROCEEDED ON ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER INTO GERMANY AND BERLIN. THERE HE WAS ABLE TO SEE THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN THE AREA. AT THE SURRENDER OF GERMANY, HE WAS TRANSFERRED BACK TO ENGLAND AND THEN TO NEW YORK CITY ON A TROOP TRANSPORT. HE SPENT 4 DAYS IN NEW YORK BEFORE BEING PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN TO FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THERE, HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY. HE RETURNED TO HIS HOMETOWN OF LAREDO. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE STARS, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, 1 SERVICE STRIPE, 3 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.