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name
BARELA, Louis - Date of
birth
24 February 1921 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico -
Hometown
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38165711 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
HQ & HQ Company,
87th Chemical Battalion
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Died of Injuries - Date of
death
24 February 1945 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Düren, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 10 | 62 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Simon Barela (father)
Nettie (Candelaria) Barela (mother)
Genevieve Barela (sister)
Margarita Barela (sister)
Florinda Barela (sister)
Corine (Apodaca) Barela (wife)
Louis Barela Jr. (son)
More information
Pfc Louis Barela attended Lincoln Junior High School for one year and Albuquerque High School for three years. He was a clerck ath the Pat Less Drug Stores.He enlisted in Santa Fe, New Mexico on 15 July 1942. He trained at Fort Bliss, Fort Worth, Camp Rucker, Camp Forrest in Tennessee and Camp Shanks.
Just after midnight on the 24th artillery rounds began landing in the 2nd platoon area. One round hit the ammunition stockpile and it exploded in an enormous fireball. As the men scrambled for cover secondary explosions continued to douse the area with flames and debris. Several men were seriously wounded, Pfc Louis Barela, Pfc Steve Schoenwalter and Armondo D'Orazio. All three men died of their wounds within a few hours.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.books.google.nl, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / New Mexico WWII Record
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Mexico WWII Record, Albuquerque Journal