 |
| Sgt. Albert Barela served in the 809th Tank Destroyer Battalion in Germany. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14915601/albert-barela https://www.tankdestroyer.net/units/unitphotogalleries/809th-td-battalion |
Albert Barela never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on October 9, 1919 in New Mexico. I was unable to find census information about Albert's family. Elsewhere I found out he had four brothers and two sisters. He did live in Colorado in the 1930s and by 1940 he was living in Wyoming in an army unit (he joined in 1938). By 1945 his family was living in Bakersfield, California.
While in Wyoming, he reenlisted in the army on December 23, 1941. He became a sergeant in the 809th Tank Destroyer Battalion. the 809th TDB arrived in France in January 1945. By late February it was sent to action in Germany. It was equipped with M18 Hellcat tank destroyers.
Sgt. Barela was killed in action on April 13, 1945 when his unit was fighting near Wolfenbuttel in Lower Saxony. According to after actions reports, he was one of only eight enlisted men from the 809th TDB killed during April.
His grave is at Union Cemetery in Bakersfield, California. It erroneously says he served in the 2nd Armored Division, but the 809th TDB was never part of that unit.
Last year on this date I profiled Robert Craanen, 5th Infantry Division. You can read about Robert here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
R.I.P.......SALUTE!!!
ReplyDeleteRIP my grandfather was on the 809th lost his hand March 30th'31st near Polsum Germany
ReplyDelete