Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
DAVILLA, Albert
Date of birth
18 November 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Blessing, Matagorda County, Texas
Hometown
Brazoria County, Texas

Military service

Service number
38417861
Rank
Private First Class
Function
unknown
Unit
G Company,
2nd Battalion,
26th Infantry Regiment,
1st Infantry Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
21 December 1944
Place of death
Sector Bütgenbacher Heck - Dom Bütgenbach, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot Row Grave
E 1 12

Immediate family

Members
Robert Lomeli (stepfather)
Georgia Davilla (mother)

More information

Pfc Albert Davilla enlisted in Houston, Texas on 4 March 1943.
The Silver Star medal for gallantry in action was presented posthumously.
In a letter from Captain Henry T. Gayley, 26th Infantry, commanding, Mrs. Davilla learned of her son's death.
'Your son was a member of a machine gun squad in a defensive position in the vicinity of a Belgium town when a force of the enemy, supported by tanks, launched a vigorous counter attack. During this fiercely contested battle your son was killed by enemy tank fire. As his commanding officer, I want to assure you that he died as a soldier, fighting on the field of battle against the enemies of our country. He was killed instantly with no suffering or lingering pain."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - WWII Enlistment Record, http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=70243, www.newspapers.com - The Freeport facts (Texas), www.history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/ww2list.html

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet