Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Joe Gandara was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on June 9, 1944 in Amfreville, France during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company D, 2d Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. Gandara was 20 years old.
Gandara was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 18, 2014, 69 years after the action — the White House presented to his niece by President Barack Obama.
Gandara was born on April 25, 1924 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California. His Medal of Honor is credited to Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica, California.
Gandara is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 142 credited to California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Private Joe Gandara distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company D, 2d Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Amfreville, France on June 9, 1944. On that day, Private Gandara’s detachment came under devastating enemy fire from a strong German force, pinning the men to the ground for a period of four hours. Private Gandara voluntarily advanced alone toward the enemy position. Firing his machinegun from his hip as he moved forward, he destroyed three hostile machineguns before he was fatally wounded. Private Gandara’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Firing his machinegun from his hip as he moved forward, he destroyed three hostile machineguns before he was fatally wounded.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (June 9, 1944).
- Age at death: 20
- Resting place: Woodlawn Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Joe Gandara received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →
Timeline
- April 25, 1924Born in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California
- June 9, 1944Act of valor — Amfreville, FranceAge 20. Company D, 2d Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division Killed in action.
- March 18, 2014Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe White House presented to his niece by President Barack Obama
- Resting placeWoodlawn CemeterySanta Monica, California
Biography
Joe Gandara (April 25, 1924 – June 9, 1944) was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and recipient of the Medal of Honor. Gandara was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a March 18, 2014 ceremony in the White House. The award came through the Defense Authorization Act which called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American 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.
From the Wikipedia article “Joe Gandara”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- Gandara Park — park
