WWII · Battle Death Record
Salvador Lara
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army · California
Medal of Honor
Personnel File — Core Information
- Name
- Salvador Lara
- Entered the Service From
- California
- Rank
- Staff Sergeant
- Service
- U.S. Army
- Unit / Regiment
- 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division
- War
- WWII
- Date of Death
- September 1, 1945
- Awards
- Medal of Honor, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal
- Burial / Memorial
- Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, France
- Grave
- Plot F, Row 17, Grave 33
Their story
On May 27-28, 1944, near Aprilia, Italy, Staff Sergeant Lara aggressively led his rifle squad of Company L, 180th Infantry Regiment, in neutralizing multiple German strongpoints, killing and capturing numerous enemy soldiers. The following morning, despite a severe leg wound, he refused first aid and continued to lead the assault until his objective was captured. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously on March 18, 2014.
Compiled from American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) and National Archives (NARA) records and public sources.
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