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DAVID C. SALAS

Sure Glad To Be Back Says El Pasoan

Pvt. David C. Salas of El Paso, back home again.

He arrived at William Beaumont Hospital this week from McCloskey General Hospital, Temple, Texas. At Beaumont he will receive plastic [surgery] treatment for both hands, wounded by a German sniper bullet in St. Vrain. Belgium, last January.

"I am sure glad to be back," he says. It was not so long ago that the 20 year-old Texan, a rifle grenadier with the 508th Parachute Battalion of the 82nd (All-American) Airborne Division, was braving the hazards of parachute jumps over enemy territory.

On one of these jumps made over Holland he landed in a tree, he dangled helplessly while rifle bullets spattered about him. He cut the cords of his parachute and climbed down.

On another occasion he and other members of [the] regiment withstood a German attack for five days, until rescued by British paratroops. The Germans gave us all they had and called on us several times to surrender. We were grateful to those British Tommies."

Private Salas entered the service in November 1943, at Fort Bliss, and went overseas a year ago. He wears the Purple Heart, ETO ribbon with two campaign stars, the combat infantryman's badge, and unit citation. His mother, Mrs. Louise C. Salas, lives at 41314 Mesa Avenue.

[El Paso Times, El Paso, TX, 15 Sep 1945, Sat, Page 3]


[courtesy of  Jon Verdick]

Grave marker for David C. Salas in Plot A-C, 403, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego (San Diego county), California.

David registered for the draft ca. 1942 and was inducted in November 1943.

On 5 October 1944, Pvt Salas was transferred from Hq 82nd Airborne Division, Leicester England to Service Company, 508th PIR.

He was subsequently transferred to Company C on 22 November 1944.

Pvt Salsas was wounded in action on 7 January 1945 and evacuated to a field hospital..

He was transferred the Detachment of Patients on 30 May 1945 and did not return to the regiment..

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