Basque-American Veterans in WWII
Replies: 10
Re: Basque-American Veterans in WWII
| David Lachiondo (View posts) | Posted: 26 Feb 2002 7:25PM GMT |
Classification: Query
My father, Julian Lachiondo, fought in the South Pacific as part of the 41st Infantry division. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1931 at the age of 16 and was drafted in 1941 before Pearl Harbor. He was not a U.S. citizen but received his citizenship papers while in combat in New Guinea. He was part of the Hollandia invasion of New Guinea and later fought on the island of Biak. He contracted malaria and was sent home in 1944. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in WWII. He attended divisions reunions until his death in 1991.