World War II Honoree

Teodoro Cuellar, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Crystal City, Texas

Honored By

Teodoro Cuellar, Jr. & Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE UNITED STATES NAVY ON 11 MAY 1944 AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. HE PROCEEDED TO BASIC TRAINING AT THE NAVAL TRAINING CENTER AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. AFTER BASIC, HE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN SHIPBOARD HANDLING AT PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS WHITESIDE (AKA-90), AN ATTACK CARGO SHIP SOON AFTER IT WAS COMMISSIONED IN SEPTEMBER 1944. HE SERVED IN THE PACIFIC CAMPAIGNS UNTIL THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN IN AUGUST OF 1945. HIS SHIP WAS IN THE HARBOR ALONGSIDE THE USS MISSOURI AT THE TIME OF THE SURRENDER. HE WAS PART OF THE OCCUPATIONAL FORCES IN THE BAY OF TOKYO. RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY WITH AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE WHILE HIS SHIP WAS DOCKED IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY. PLACED ON A TROOP TRAIN BACK TO FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS WHERE HE WAS RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY ON 15, JANUARY, 1946 AS A SEAMAN SECOND CLASS.