Fidel Elizondo

FIDEL RAUL ELIZONDO APRIL 24, 1918 - AUGUST 30, 2015 On Sunday, August 30, 2015, our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor and best friend, Fidel Raul Elizondo, passed away peacefully at home. Fidel Raul Elizondo was born in Marin Nuevo Leon, Mexico on April 24, 1918 to Manuel Elizondo Gonzalez and Maria Luisa Dimas Garza. Fidel's father passed away when he was only eleven years old. As a result he and his brother Manuel went to work eventually driving trucks full of onions to Colorado and other states. On January 15, 1941, he joined the United States Army and became a Naturalized Citizen on April 23, 1941. He was assigned to the 141st Infantry Regiment of the 36th Infantry Division at Camp Bowie, Texas as a Private First Class. The 36th Division further trained for combat at Mansfield, Louisiana; Camp Blanding, Florida; and Camp Edwards, Massachusetts; before departing from New York Harbor by ship on April 1, 1943, arriving fourteen days later at Oran in French Algeria, North Africa to engage the Nazi German Army. On September 1, 1943, the 36th Division sailed from North Africa to Salerno, Italy arriving eight days later to engage the enemy on the beaches and onward. The 36th Division is considered the first American Division to land on the European mainland. At this time Fidel was assigned as driver and bodyguard to Lt. Col. Andrew F. Price who was Executive Officer of the first Battalion of the 141st Infantry Regiment. The subsequent battle at the Rapido River cost the 36th Division heavy casualties. It was as the battle of Monte Casino on Sunday, February 13, 1945, when Fidel drove Lt. Col. Price to a forward headquarters that a 150mm enemy mortar shell bounced off the roof of an adjacent building and fell at the door step of the forward headquarters killing the Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Aaron Wyatt and severely wounding Lt. Col. Price. This is taken from the book, "From Texas to Rome" by the Commander of the 35th Division General Fred. L. Walker. Amidst continuing enemy fire Fidel picked the body of Lt. Col. Price and drove him to a field hospital and saved his life. He was then ordered to return for the body of Lt. Wyatt which he did amidst continuing enemy fire. For his heroic action he was ordered home and was awarded the following: Bronze Star and Ribbon; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and Bronze Star; Combat Infantry Badge 1st Awards; Good Conduct Medal; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; World War II Victor Medal; Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII. Fidel received his honorable discharge for the U.S. Army on October 5, 1945. On June 1, 1944, Fidel and Maria Adelfa Rodriguez Vela were married at San Agustin Cathedral. They were married for sixty-seven years until Maria Adelfa passed away at the age of ninety-seven on February 7, 2012. They raised three children together. In 1959 Fidel bought a small family ranch where the family spent many years camping, hunting and fishing; building many great memories. Fidel and Maria Adelfa were hardworking and dedicated parents who demonstrated a heroic attitude towards life and whose example is to be emulated. Fidel owned and operated Humble Gas Station at the corner of Meadow and Guadalupe for many years. He retired as a teacher from LISD. Fidel is preceded in death by his wife Maria Adelfa Elizondo; son Ernesto A. Elizondo, and son Fidel Raul Elizondo, Jr. He is survived by his son Jorge J. Elizondo and wife Norma; Edna Elizondo (Fidel, Jr.); grandchildren, David J. Elizondo, Daniel J. Elizondo and wife Margie, Eduardo E. Elizondo, Judith C. Elizondo, Darlene R. Elizondo, Illene R. Alvarado and husband Jose A. Alvarado; Kendall R. Beaird, Marcos D. Elizondo and Ruben A. Elizondo. Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, 719 Loring at Cortez from 5 to 9 in the evening. A Rosary will be held at 7 in the evening. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, September 3, 2015 departing the funeral home at 9:30 a.m. to Christ the King Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. You may express your condolences online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com Arrangements are under the direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson Heights Funeral Chapels, 719 Loring at Cortez, Laredo, TX 78040, 956.722.0001