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Grave marker for Celedonio M. Garza in Section 54, Site
6389 of Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington (Arlington county),
Virginia.
Celedonio was born to his namesake father and mother
Maria in the family residence at Calle Jazeminas No 19, Tampico
(Tamaulipas) Mexico on 14 November 1925.
His father was a representative for two producers of
canned meat products - Swift & Company as well as Libby, McNeill & Libby
(today known as Libby's). He and his wife were both U.S. citizens
and therefore, young Celedonio was considered a citizen as well.
The family was residing in San Isidro, Los Ramones,
Nuevo León when the 1930 census was taken in Mexico.
Celedonio was enumerated on line 19 and listed as age 7.
Celedonio, Sr. probably relocated to Chicago since
both the firms he represented were based there. As a consequence
it explains why Celedonio, Jr. enlisted in the Army at Ft Sheridan, IL
on 21 December 1943.
On 21 November 1944 Pvt Garza was transferred to Hq
3rd, 508th PIR and less than a month later he was in combat in Belgium.
On 21 December 1944 Pvt Garza was evacuated and listed
as a non-combat casualty. It would seem however, that he was
wounded as his grave marker indicates that he received the Purple Heart.
Whatever the case, he remained in the field hospital until he was
transferred permanently to another hospital on 20 May 1945.
He was also awarded the Combat Infantry Badge for
action during campaign, 18 Dec 1944 to 20 Feb 1945. |
