Grave marker for Rafael A. Mendoza in Plot: 20, 1606 of the
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio (Bexar county), Texas.
Rafael enlisted at San Antonio, TX on 7 October 1942 and was
assigned to Company C, 508th.
Pfc Mendoza was among those who jumped into Normandy on
D-Day, 6 June 1944 and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for action
during Normandy, France Campaign, 6 June 1944 to 9 July 1944. He was also
awarded the Bronze Service Arrowhead Device.
He was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 9 September, just
a week prior to the jump into Holland. While he may have come thought
those two campaigns without a scratch he was listed as "slightly injured in
action" on 15 February 1945 and was hospitalized for three weeks |