PFC Martin Robert Mansanares
Branch: Army
Service: European Theater
My father passed away 10 months ago. He was 86. He served proudly as a cannoneer and received the Bronze Star for fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, D-day, and other battles along the Rhine river from 1941-1945. He rarely spoke of what happened except when he was with my Uncle who also served in some of the same campaigns. He occasionally mentioned the battle of the "hurigan or hurricane forrest. I am not aware of this battle. He was a quiet and proud man. He was my hero. I have tried to live my life by his rule of "do what is right". He was a man of faith and loved time with his family. He loved Colorado and was laid to rest with my mother at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. My father lived quietly in Lakewood for the past 40 years before he passed away. He raised 4 children with my loving mother and managed to put all of us through College at CU. He was a man of faith and family. He will never be forgotten. My family is very proud of his service to the community and to our Country. He was truly a member of the greatest generation.
November 27, 2009
S/Sgt Clemens Rudolph
Branch: Army
Service: Europe
Clemens Rudolph entered the U.S. Army shortly after Pearl Harbor, and was part of the buildup of the forces to invade Europe. Each time a unit was trained, it would divide and each part would be refilled with new recruits to be trained. By 1944 it was ready for the conquest of Europe. Staff Sgt. Rudolph was with General Patton as part of the 7th Armored Division as they went from the coast of France, to Belgium and into Germany. After being redirected into the heart of the Battle of the Bulge near St. Lo, his company was decimated. 215 men went into the battle, only 7 lived; he actually spent 2 days and 2 nights under a farmhouse porch watching the German boots walk by before being able to reunite with Allied troops. After the war, he always had trouble talking about it because of having lost so many of his buddies in that battle.
November 25, 2009
Lt. Raymond A. Tondreau Branch: Air Force
Service: China
Raymond was one of the 50,000 bombardiers to fight in WWII. He completed 44 combat missions and was awarded two Air Medals and the Distinguish Flying Cross. He was assigned the 373th bomb squadron, 308th bomb group (heavy), 14th Air Force, China. The 14th was born from the famed Flying Tigers, and the only Air Force to be created in the field. The 308th flew B-24s and was the only heavy bomb group in China. The 308th had to supply itself (an experiment). All bombs, bullets, gas and oil had to be flown over The Himalayas. Hump missions were considered so dangerous they were counted as combat missions. The 308th flew the largest and most diverse operational area of any bomb group of the war. The group earned the additional distinction of being the most accurate bomb group of WWII. He completed his career as a cryogenics (low temperature liquefied gases) engineer. His work included support equipment for the Saturn V moon rocket. He retired in 1968 as a Lt. Col. and lives in San Marcos, CA.
November 24, 2009
Pvt William Lombardi
Branch: Army, 128th Infantry
Service: New Guinea - Pacific Theater
The following details of my dad’s service were never revealed to me or any of my siblings by my father. It wasn’t until his death on June 13, 2002 that the family would finally learn the specific details of his service during the War. I recall as a young boy looking at his Purple Heart and asking my dad who he got that, his only answer was, “I received that medal for being shot in World War II,” and he would say no more. When World War II broke out, my dad, William Lombardi, was soon drafted into the military. On July 25, 1942, he became a member of the 128th Infantry and specialized as a rifleman. In January of 1944, he was sent to fight in the Pacific Theater, specifically in New Guinea. Shortly after arriving in Tetre, New Guinea, he and his platoon were sent on a night patrol. He was shot in the right shoulder under heavy gunfire and was forced to witness the death of many of his fellow platoon members. He eventually dragged himself across a small stream and struggled up an embankment, waiting to die. As he lay there, he prayed to God that his mother would be saved from that dreaded telegraph.
Eventually he was discovered and was sent to Australia where he spent several months in convalescence. He was honorably discharged from the Army and sent home. Nearly 10 years after he was wounded in New Guinea, segments of the bullet which hit his right shoulder, had traveled across his back and settled under his left armpit. On a routine doctor visit, the doctor thought that he had a cist and decided to do routine surgery to remove it. He was shocked, as was the family, to find a large part of the bullet lodged in this area. The doctor told my dad that he was lucky that the bullet didn’t hit his heart because he would have died instantly. The impact of that story never left my dad, and he continued to suffer from depression and anxiety, sometimes very sever, until his death in 2002.
November 23, 2009
S/Sgt Roy A Johnson Branch: Army Air Corps
Service: Kunming, China
S/Sgt. Roy A. Johnson served in the Army Air Corp as a radio operator and waist gunner on a B-24 bomber while stationed at Kunming, China under General Claire Chennault during World War II. On the 13th mission over Hanoi his plane was shot down. He and the other men aboard the plane jumped to safety and returned to base camp two weeks later with the help of the underground Chinese network. S/Sgt. Roy Johnson completed an additional 29 bombing missions as a member of the Caterpillar Club (an elite group of people whose lives have been saved by parachute.) He was awarded two Battle Stars, an Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. One week after returning from China in 1944, he married his high school sweetheart, Marge Hall. Roy and Marge Johnson celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary in November 2009 with their four children and eight grand children.
November 20, 2009
Capt. Kenneth Maxon
Branch:Army Air Corps
Service: China
My father is a native born Colorado man from the San Luis valley who graduated validictorian of his class and was attending DU at the time of the war. He never got a chance to go back and finish. He is still alive and very cognitive, and lives in Golden, but walks with a walker. He was a hump pilot in WWII and flew many missions over the himalayas to help the chinese battle the Japanese. He was sought after by the Chenault of China to be a flying tiger after the war, but he turned them down to return home and marry the sister of his Air Corp buddy who was MIA over the pacific and never found. Still married to this bride of 65 years. He was an excellent pilot. I am told that the attrition percentages of the hump pilots were akin to the B-17 pilots over Europe.
November 19, 2009
Capt. Louis E. Bowlds Branch: Army
Service: Europe
I’m proud to nominate my husband, Lou Bowlds, a WWII hero. A long-time Denver resident (living here since he was three years old), Lou served our country on the front lines as a combat officer. Right out of high school, he was the youngest officer in the entire Army. He was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant of infantry at the outset of hostilities. Lou served in France and Germany, including the Battle of the Bulge, as an infantry commander, earning three battle scars. Lou was decorated three times, receiving the Silver Star, and two Bronze Stars. Hi service included graduation from the Parachute School, Demolition and Sabotage School, the Officer’s Course of the Infantry School, and two battlefield promotions. After his combat service, Lou served in Berlin, where he endured the Russian blockade while chief of the photo section for military government. He covered the Nuremberg war crime trials and served on General Eisenhower’s staff as head of the Photo Department.
November 18, 2009
PFC Leatham Jenson
Branch: Army
Service: Phillipines
He entered the Army April 11, 1941. He received his training in Albuquerque, NM, a member of the division immortalized by Ernie Pyle of Albuquerque. This group left overseas in September of 1941, and sailed on the President Taft for the Philippines. They landed in Manila October 29, 1941. Leatham was stationed at Nicholas Field, and later at Riezal Field. Private Jenson's last message was smuggled out when General MacArthur left Bataan. "Just a note to let you know I'm still okay. We are living in a hut on Bataan. I am driving a truck in the quarter-master corp." Leatham was listed as "missing in action", but later reported to have died July 9, 1942, at Cabanatuan prison camp of malaria, dysentery, starvation, and related ailments. This information comes from Lt (JG) Ernest W Downey of Pocatello, ID. . He says, "I kept a very careful check on the Idaho boys while in captivity of the Japanese, and was able to keep a diary all the while by hiding it whenever I felt the Japanese were going to hold a search. Consequently I have exact and correct information on most everyone that was in the same camps with me.
According to the information in my diary, your son, Leatham Jenson, ASN 39677400, PVt QMC USA died on July 9, 1942 of dysentery and was buried in the American cemetery at Cabanatuan, Nueve Ecija Province, Philippines. The American prisoners, sick and well, did the best they could under the circumstances to give decent burials to those who passed away in camp. Rest assured, Mrs Jenson, your son died a hero. He fought under the most unfavorable conditions and fought well . . . only to die in the hands of his enemies from sickness contracted through their negligence. He, and many thousands of others, are, in my humble opinion, the real heroes of Bataan and Corregidor." His remains were interred at Hyrum City cemetery. He was awarded the Prisoner of War medal.
November 17, 2009
Tech5 Harold Furlong
Branch: Army Corps of Engineers
Service: France
Harold was in the Army, the 677th Engineers. He served in Germany and France. He was also involved in the Battle of the Bulge. They were the soldiers that went through and build the roads and bridges for the Army. He was also involved in the everyday fighting. As I recall, the picture is from a town in France that was liberated by the U.S. (can’t remember the name of that town). He told me the woman to his right in this picture had a German swastika cut in her head by the Germans. Harold received the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars.
November 16, 2009
Ensign Emil Gimeno Branch: Navy
Service: South Pacific
I enlisted in the Navy in 1944 at the age of 22, leaving behind a wife and 3 children. After completing boot camp, I was sent to Bremerton, Washington where I was assigned to an aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Yorktown which was headed to the South Pacific. I received training aboard ship as an aviation ordnance man. In this capacity, I was required to know about explosives, guns, bombs, fuses, depth charges and their proper implementation during wartime. We loaded bombs and torpedoes onto airplanes while attacking Japanese ships and island installations, including Japan. I witnessed other aircraft carriers being hit by kamikazes numerous times. The U.S.S. Yorktown was known as the "Lucky Y" because it was the only carrier never struck by a Kamikaze. I participated in seven major battles while on board ship and was awarded seven major battle stars. The war having ended, I was honorably discharged and arrived home on Veteran's Day, November 11, 1945.
November 13, 2009
LtJg Pauline Dougherty Branch: Navy Nurse Corps
Service: Pacific Theatre, VRE-1 Squadron
Pauline joined the navy reserves in June 1943. She served at San Diego Naval Hospital until October, 1944 when she volunteered for overseas flight duty. She was 1 of 4 out of 400 applicants to be accepted for this new program. The Flight Nurses trained at Alameda, CA NAS. She was in the second group of nurses to be assigned to Guam – the base of operations. She participated in Operation Iceberg – the invasion of Okinawa. She made several flights from Guam to Okinawa from April to May of 1945 where she was responsible for up to 40 wounded patients on the 1200 mile flight back to Guam in converted R5D (DC4) transport aircraft. She was also responsible for the repatriation of casualties from the CBI Theatre. While on a brief stopover from the Philippines to the Admiralty Islands on the island of Pelilieu, she helped treat some of the survivors of the U.S.S. Indianapolis. For her valorous service, she was awarded the Bronze Star and Navy Unit Citation. She retired for six months but reenlisted and served in North Africa and participated in the Berlin Airlift. She retired in 1948.
November 12, 2009
S/Sgt Joseph William Callor
Branch: Army - 558th Field Artillery, Btln A, 3rd Army
Service: France, Utah Beach, Germany
Service dates of May 1943 to September 1945. Camp Roberts California for training and then England June 1944. Assigned to Third United States Army, pending arrival in the European Theater of Operations per letter Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, United States Army, August 1944 Preparing for the channel crossing and combat in France. 12 August - the battalion disembarked Utah beach 1900. 14 August - battalion left rendezvous area near Bricquobec and arrived bivouac area 9 1/2 miles. Third Army out of the Normandy Bridgehead to take Le Mans and then the sweep in three prongs east swept north towards Paris. November -1944 the battalion marched 80 miles, going up through Luxembourg. Germany. 22 November. On the next day, his section crossed into German territory for the first time that any part of the battalion was in German territory, and fired on outer pillboxes of the Siegfried line. From Germany into France.
November 11, 2009
Lt. Oliver J. Bolduc
Branch: Army Air Force
Service: Europe
Dad served as navigator with the crew of a B24 Liberator in the “Mighty Eighth” 389BG. At twenty, he volunteered shortly after D-Day, flying bombing missions out of England. While any ‘thank you for serving’ is always met with “we did what we were told to do, that’s all” we know Dad endured many hardships, uncertainties and horrors of war. He was spared countless times, such as - from the 8th’s worse loss of the war at Kassel, and from falling through the bomb bay doors when a fellow crew member grabbed his collar. He tells us six children we would otherwise not be here. He and his wife (of 60 years) named their firstborn after his pilot. Displayed on the Roll of Honor of the 389th.
November 10, 2009
Pvt Arthur "Roy" Thulson, Jr.
Branch: Army
Service: Pacific
Most of my time in the service was spent as a prisoner of war of the Japanese in the Philippines and Japan. I was especially blessed in being able (about half of the time) to serve my fellow servicemen as a medic. Otherwise I labored with them long hours to further the Japanese war effort. Many men died of malnutrition and injuries incurred in the forced labor. The end of the war, with the inevitable victory by the US, brought much celebration in the camp in Japan where I was at the time. God was so good to me in my time of trouble.
November 9, 2009
Corp James Joseph Brangoccio
Branch: Army Air Force
Service: Foggia, Italy
Corporal James Joseph Brangoccio served in the Army Air force from February 1944 to November 1945. He was a Ball (Belly) Gunner with the 15th. Flying 19 missions from Foggia, Italy, he helped to protect his plane, a B-24, on bombing missions to Austria, Yugoslavia, Rumania and Poland. On one mission, two of their engines were hit by flak. Jim, along with the rest of the crew, were forced to bail out over Italy. They were taken in as prisoners of war by the British until it was verified they were Americans. When asked what it was like to be hanging in that bubble-like turret in such a cramped position, he replied, “It was my job, I didn’t think much about it.” He received the Air Medal and 4 Oak Leaf Clusters. We are very proud of the contribution he made to help protect our country. He is a true American Patriot.
November 6, 2009
PFC Christen "Chris" Eldwin Clemensen
Branch: Marine Corps
Served: South Pacific
PFC Christen 'Chris' Clemensen is one of the WW II Marines without whom the US would not have won the war! He attained no permanent high rank, but earned the true hero's metal, a Purple Heart, during his career as a Marine, and returned to his civilian life as soon as his country saw fit to discharge him from active duty. Chris's first duty assignment was Guadalcanal, followed immediately by Okinawa, where he was one of the first to land, and where he was to suffer 3 battle wounds, and participate in firefights that reduced his 250 man company down to 35. His individual bravery gained him the respect of all who served with him, along with a brief mention in the history books of the war in the Pacific and, more importantly, make him a hero in the eyes of his family and all who are privileged to know him and his contributions to WW II.
November 5, 2009
Paul Barnes Branch: Civil Service
Served: Alaska
My father was 4-F due to injuries as a boy. He could not stand that he could not serve, so he joined the civil service. He went to Alaska, Skiatook to be exact, and oversaw prisoners as they built the air base and runways for use in the Pacific campaign, where his three brothers were in the Navy. He served there for four years in below freezing temperatures. Paul was a veteran of the war for whom I have a great deal of respect because he would not let an injury stop him from serving our country in the time of war.
November 4, 2009
PFC John Edmond Pfalzgraf
Branch: US Army Infantry
Served: Europe - Battle of the Bulge
John, Married with two small children, was drafted into the U.S. Army (Infantry) at the age of 34. His unit, the 106th, was thought to be a quiet sector. In December 1944 the Germans launched a massive attack on this sector to begin the “Battle of the Bulge.” After fierce fighting, out of food, water, medical supplies, ammunition, surrounded and at the mercy of the German 88 Tree Bursts, John was captured along with the surrender of nearly two full regiments of the 106th. Their boots were taken and they were marched in the snow to box cars for transport to prison camps inside Germany. John’s desire to see his family again helped to give him the “will to live,” to survive the starvation or the prison camp. Patton’s third army eventually liberated the prison camp and John, one of the lucky ones, returned to his family and eventually to civilian life. Although not proud of being taken prisoner, John, like the many millions of “The Greatest Generation” who served their country, lived the meaning of “Duty, Honor, Country”. John passed away peacefully on his 86th birthday.
November 3, 2009
Corp. Ernest R. Hogberg
Branch: Army, CO. "K", 3rd Division, 30th Infantry
Served: North Africa, South France, Rome-Arno, Rhineland
It is with a sense of pride that I nominate my father for this honor. Dad served his country well for over two years, and was wounded a total of three times. While on patrol in France in January, 1945, he became listed a MIA. We later learned that Dad had been wounded and captured, becoming a POW. Dad was liberated in April, 1945 from a prison camp somewhere in the Black Forest region of Germany. I believe he gave his all for his country, without losing his life. Dad passed away at the age of 67 years old and was buried with military honors.
November 2, 2009
PFC Baldomer "Baldy" Torrez
Branch: Army
Served: Normandy, France & Germany
Baldy served in WWII in the Battle of the Buldge under General Patton. He was awarded three purple hearts, a bronze and a silver star while defending our country. Baldy enlisted at the age of 16 and his mother who read and spoke only "Spanish" received telegrams from the Army on her son's injuries but did not know he was injured or received his medals until he arrived home in Denver, CO after the war. Baldy is a member of the Mountain State Chapter of the American GI Forum, and VFW post 501.
