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Our Military Hero, Pfc. Simon C. Jimenez
OUR MILTARY HERO
PFC. SIMON JIMENEZ
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EL PASO TIMES, 26 MAY 1942
Two of Francisca Jimenez's brothers would join the U.S. Army during World War II. Timoteo (born 22 August 1908) and Simon (born 29 October 1916) both filled our their draft cards on 16 October 1940. Timoteo was 32 years old and worked at Horn's Potato Chips, while Simon was 23 years old and stated that he worked at Valley Poultry and Egg Company.
Timoteo was called into service on 2 June 1942. He served in the campaign in North Africa and was medically discharged 1 September 1944, exactly 1 year and 1 day before the end of the war.
Simon enlisted with the National Guard on 25 November 1940 and served in Company E of the 141st Infantry, 36th division. After training, he was sent overseas and was involved in "the first World War II amphibious assault in Europe by any American division, " which occurred near Salerno, Italy on 9 September 1943.
COMPANY E, 141ST INFANTRY REGIMENT 36TH DIVISION - 1940
According to the Texas Forces Military Museum:
In the fighting for Highway Six - the Road to Rome - in November, the 141st spent November and December, 1943, fighting to clear the Mignano Gap. The Regiment assaulted San Pietro on December 15th. The old Italian village was located on the slopes of a mountain, and, after three attempts at assault, the 141st finally took the village when the 142nd outflanked the position. Soon they followed the First Special Service Force up Hill 730 after the capture of that position. The Germans called the 141st "wild men from Texas, skilled in fieldcraft and fighting" .
On 1 January 1944, the El Paso Times reported that a woman had received a Nazi flag from a relative in Company E. The flag was dated "September 9th, 1943" (the date of the Salerno assault) and signed by members of the company, including PFC Simon C. Jimenez. On January 4, Simon's parents received notification that their son had been killed in action on 15 December 1943 (the date of the assault on San Pietro.) According to World War II Hospital files, he received a traumatic amputation of the leg due to an blast or explosion.
EL PASO TIMES, 6 JANUARY 1944
EL PASO TIMES, 8 JANUARY 1944
Just days after learning that their son had died, Panfilo and Cruz received a package from their son. On January 8, 1944, the El Paso Times reported that Simon had sent home German and Italian flags, signed by members of Company E. On the same day, his former company in the 141st began their plan of attack in what is now known as the "Battle of Rapido River. "
In the book "The Men of Company E" by Samuel S. Ortega and Arnulfo Hernandez Jr., witness statements and a combat action report state that his company was pinned down by German machine gun fire. Without regard for his life, Pfc. Jimenez rushed towards the gun, but stepped on a land mine. Knowing that he was mortally wounded, he threw himself over barbed wire and implored his fellow soldiers to use his body as a bridge. "His last words express anxiety for his comrades. "
In 1944, Pfc. Simon C. Jimenez posthumously earned the Bronze Star for meritorious service, and a Purple Heart for military merit and wounds received in action resulting in his death. Simon was buried at the American war cemetery in Marzanello, Nuovo, Italy. He was later disinterred and reburied at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery on 29 September 1948.
MARZANELLO - NATIONAL ARCHIVES - U.S. AIR FORCE WWII
U.S. NATIONAL CEMETERY INTERMENT RECORDS
