Louis Gonzaga Mendez Jr.
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Colonel Louis Gonzaga Mendez Jr. (July 14, 1915 – September 19, 2001) was a highly decorated United States Army officer of the 82nd Airborne Division who in June 1944, as commander of the 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II, parachuted behind enemy lines into Normandy and was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for leading an attack that captured the French town of Prétot-Sainte-Suzanne, in the Manche (Basse-Normandie) department. On June 6, 2002, the people of the village honored his memory by renaming Prétot's main square "La Place du Colonel Mendez".
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Louis Gonzaga Mendez Jr. | |
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![]() Colonel Louis Gonzaga Mendez Jr. | |
Born | (1915-07-14)July 14, 1915 Trinidad, Colorado, U.S. |
Died | September 19, 2001(2001-09-19) (aged 86) Falls Church, Virginia, U.S. |
Place of burial | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1940–1970 |
Rank | Colonel |
Commands held | 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Bronze Star (3) |
Other work | Infantry instructor at Fort Benning, Georgia Military attaché in Spain (1950) |
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