World War II Honoree

Jose B. Gallegos

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Salida, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Staff Sergeant. On February 5, 1941, he entered the United States Army from Colorado, later deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations upon the completion of his Combat Infantry Training. Served with the 157th Infantry Regiment a subordinate unit of the 45th ‘Thunderbird’ Division attached to the U.S. Fifth Army. He participated in the Allied amphibious assault on Anzio, Italian Campaign (Battle Dates: January 22-June 5, 1944) Code Name: Operation Shingle. Killed in Action Wednesday, February 23, 1944 and buried in a Battlefield Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy. After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, his remains were transferred to the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery located at Nettuno, Italy. This Soldier, an American Patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country.