Staff Sergeant Salvador J. Lara (July 11, 1920 – September 1, 1945) was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and recipient of the Medal of Honor.[2] He was of Mexican-American descent.[3]
Background
Lara was born in Riverside, California[4] and raised in the neighborhood of Casa Blanca. He was the son of Juan and Isabel (Herrera) Lara, and worked in Riverside's citrus production before enlisting with the United States Army in Los Angeles on July 29, 1942.[5] He never married, and had no children.[1]
In May 1944 Lara was wounded in action during the Italian campaign while serving as the squad leader of a rifle squad.[6] Despite his injuries, he continued to lead his squad taking multiple enemy strongholds. Lara's hometown newspaper reported his injury was sustained at the Anzio beachhead,[7] which is about 10 miles (16 km) from Aprilia, the location of Lara's Medal of Honor citation.
Lara died on September 1, 1945, shortly after World War II ended, while serving with the 602d Ordnance Armament Maintenance Battalion in Europe.[8]
Medal of Honor
Lara's brother Alfonzo accepted the Medal of Honor on behalf of his late brother during a White House ceremony on March 18, 2014.
Members of Lara's family received the Medal of Honor flag from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in a March 19, 2014, ceremony when Lara was inducted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes. They received the actual medal from President Barack Obama at the White House on March 18, 2014.[9]
The award came through the Defense Authorization Act, which called for a review of Jewish and Hispanic veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor.[10]
Then-Pfc. Salvador Lara was bestowed the Medal of Honor to recognize his valorous actions in Aprilia, Italy, May 27–28, 1944. During the fight, May 27, he aggressively led his rifle squad in neutralizing multiple enemy strong points and inflicting large numbers of casualties on the enemy. The next morning, as his company resumed the attack, Lara sustained a severe leg wound, but did not stop to receive first aid. Lara continued his exemplary performance until he captured his objective.
^Santschi, Darrell R. (February 23, 2014). "Riverside men to get top honor: Jesus S. Duran and Salvador J. Lara will be awarded the Medal of Honor". The Press-Enterprise.
^"Sgt. S. J. Lara Awarded DSC". Riverside Daily Press. 12 February 1945. p. 12.
^"Salvador J. Lara". American Battle Monuments Commission. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
^"Riversider Wounded On Anzio Beachhead". Vol. LIX, no. 150. Riverside Daily Press. 23 June 1944.
Johnson, Kim Jarrell (October 2022). "Salvador J. Lara: Medal of Honor Recipient". Riverside During World War II. Riverside, CA: Riverside Historical Society. pp. 178–180. ISBN979-8849200880.
