World War II Honoree

Joe A. Gallegos

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Salida, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private 1st Class. On March 26, 1942, he entered the United States Army from Colorado. Deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where he served with the 23rd Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored ‘Lucky Seventh’ Division. On Thursday, September 14, 1944, he died of wounds sustained in combat near Metz, France and buried in a battlefield cemetery located at Chalons-sur-Marne, France. After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, his remains where transferred to the American Cemetery in Epinal, France. This Soldier, an American patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country.