Jesus  M. GALLARDO

"Jesse"

Source : The Express News (journal)

Mother : Bacillia GALLARDO

Siblings : Francesco & Vicountia 

Source : Victor DANIEL

 CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  Draguignan N°3519

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

Map of Rhône American Cemetery

The son of two Mexican parents, Jesus is the youngest of three siblings. All were born in Monterrey, Mexico; Francesco in 1918, Jesus in 1921 and Vicountia in 1926. The father, whose name is now unknown, died shortly after their daughter was born. The family then left Reynosa for Texas.

In order to support them Bacillia worked as a home launderer.

On November 3, 1942 Jesus finally launched a procedure to become an official American citizen, he then worked as a worker. Shortly after he joined the US Army and was incorporated into the Ranger corps, he followed the commando training of this unit in Scotland. Finally the 1st Ranger Battalion under Col. DARBY was sent to North Africa.

He participated in the African, Sicilian and Ialian campaigns. The battalion was amalgamated with the 3rd and 4th in the 6615th Ranger Force for the Battle of Cisterna. But the whole force was thwarted by a German counter-attack, there were very few survivors, however Jesus GALLARDO and his friend Joseph BONZEK were among them.

Source : Andy

They were therefore reassigned to the 1st Special Services Force which was already fighting in Italy. At the dawn of the invasion of southern France, the two former Rangers were transferred to the 1st Airborne Task Force. In September their unit arrived at the Franco-Italian border at the foot of Monte Grammondo. On the 16th they began the ascent of the mountain but then they suffered a heavy artillery barrage. Once this was finished Joe was told that Jesse was lying, visibly inanimate, on rocks. Joseph BONZEK then rushed on the body of his comrade, took him on his back and brought him down the relief before realizing that he was already dead.

Once the war was over and the work of the police began to repatriate or bury the remains of the conflict, Francesco, Jesus' brother who had since become a cook, was asked what he intended to do with his brother’s body. He asked that he be buried in one of the permanent graveyards overseas, like about 40% of the other American families.

After the war, and for many years, Joe BONZEK worked to find the family of his friend who died in combat. As his relatives explain: "His greatest fear was no longer to die, but that his comrade was dead and forgotten forever, like so many others..."

An article about the story was published in the Express News on May 25, 2009 (Memorial Day) with the help of Joe BONZEK, and the veteran’s family was still looking, with the help of an association of special forces veterans, for potential relatives of Cpl. Jesus GALLARDO.

Source : S Stelzer

Source : S Stelzer