Obituaries:  Willie Lee Torres, Sabine Parish       T-620
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Jul 2, 1948
Submitted by: Tammy Larche-Smith
              tammy@cp-tel.net




**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 

The Sabine Index

  2 Jul 1948 - Three Zwolle brothers who gave their lives in
World War II were buried with special honors at Zwolle.  They
were:

  T/5 Willie Lee Torres, who was born Nov. 28, 1917 at Zwolle,
and who died July 25, 1945 on Luzon island in New Guinea.  He
served 39 months, 25 which were overseas with the 161st AAA
battalion in New Guinea, the Philippines and South Pacific.

  Pfc. John B. Torres, who was born Dec. 6, 1922 at Slagle.
He volunteered for service in 1942.  He was fatally wounded
in Belgium on July 29, 1945 at Santa Maria, Azores islands,
while being returned to the Unites States for hospitalization.
He served 34 months, 14 of which were overseas with the 555th
AAA battalion of the 104th Infantry division.

  Cpl. Hosie Louis Torris, who was born Jan. 25, 1925, at
Leesville. He volunteered for services in 1943.  He was killed
in action on July 12, 1945 on Luzon island.  He had served 28
months, 18 of which were overseas with the 20th Infantry
division in New Guinea, the Philippines and the South Pacific.

  Mrs. Josephine Torres, mother of the three, the surviving
brother, ex-Cpl Ernest R. Torres, and two sisters, Mrs. Pearl
Torres Knight and Mrs. Ida May Torres LaRue, were present as
a requiem high mass was sung at 9 a.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph's
Catholic church in Zwolle for the brothers.

  The Torres family has numerous friends and many relatives
in the Zwolle area.  All Zwolle city and American Legion
officials were present for the rites, which were conducted
by Rev. Robert C. Friend, pastor of St. Joseph's church.
Burial in St. Joseph's church cemetery was accompanied by
full military honors.  A firing squad from Barksdale air base
was provided.  Special ceremonies were performed by members
of the Ebarb-Shaw Legion Post No. 314 of Zwolle under
leadership of Dr. Lloyd H. Murdock, wartime army major and
post commander.

  Mrs. Torres' fourth son, Ernest, was himself badly injured
in a truck accident in England.

  One of the three, John, was awarded the Bronze Star
posthumously for gallantry in action in Germany on April 8,
1945.  Mrs. Torres, accompanied by her son and two daughters,
accepted the honor for him at a special reviews held at
Ft. Polk.

  The citation which accompanied the medal follows:
"Voluntarily, and at great risk to his life, Private Torres
left his covered position to rescue an injured man who was
lying exposed to enemy fire.

  As he reached his fallen comrade, the enemy artillery fire
increased in intensity. 

  Using his body to shield the wounded man from the flying
shrapnel, Private Torres dragged the man to a position of
safety, undoubtedly saving his life.

  The courage, skill and intense devotion to duty and to his
comrades displayed by Private Torres are in keeping with the
finest traditions of the American soldier . . ."

  This is the first shipment of three brothers to one family
in the state of Louisiana.