World War II Honoree

Gabriel A. 'Gabe' Duty

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Abilene, Texas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN DECEMBER, 1942. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP WOLTERS AT MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS, FORT GEORGE G. MEADE AT BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND FORT ORD AT MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, INCLUDING WITH COMPANY 'H', 2ND BATTALION, 128TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 32ND INFANTRY 'RED ARROW' DIVISION DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN THE LEYTE, AND LUZON CAMPAIGNS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. THE REGIMENT LANDED ON LEYTE ON NOVEMBER 14, 1944. ASSIGNED TO COMPANY H, DURING OPERATIONS ON LEYTE. HIS UNIT LANDED AT LINGAYEN GULF ON LUZON ON JANUARY 27, 1945. HE ASSUMED THE DUTIES OF FIRST SERGEANT (1SGT) OF COMPANY H, AT THE AGE OF 23. AS 1SGT, HE WAS THE SENIOR COMPANY NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER, WORKED DIRECTLY FOR THE COMPANY COMMANDER, AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE, WELFARE, ADMINISTRATION, AND SUPERVISION OF SOME 152 SOLDIERS IN AN INFANTRY HEAVY WEAPONS COMPANY. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE INTERIOR ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE UNIT, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATED TO ENLISTED SOLDIERS. HE FORMULATED RECORDS AND REPORTS REGARDING THE STRENGTH, STATUS, AND HEALTH AND MORALE OF HIS COMPANY. HIS UNIT WAS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHEN THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE ALLIED UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS ON AUGUST 14, 1945, AND WHEN THE JAPANESE FORMALLY SURRENDERED ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945, AND VICTORY OVER JAPAN (V-J DAY) WAS PROCLAIMED. HIS UNIT ARRIVED IN JAPAN ON OCTOBER 19, 1945, WHERE HE SERVED WITH ARMY OCCUPATION FORCES FOR SOME 3 MONTHS BEFORE HIS DISCHARGE. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘JAPAN’ CLASP. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH BRONZE SERVICE STAR FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN JANUARY, 1946 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.