Noe G. Contreras

PFC Noe G. Contreras, U.S. Army, WWII Veteran 1944-1946, entered into eternal rest at the age of 89 on Friday, April 17, 2015. He was born October 22, 1925 in Rivera, Texas to Donaciano “Chano” Contreras and Refugia “Cuca” Gonzalez Contreras. He was raised in Chapman Ranch; moved to Robstown, Texas and has been a resident of Molina since 1955. PFC Noe went to Basic Training at Ft. McLellan, Alabama and to Infantry Advanced Training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was a recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, 3 purple hearts, the EAME (Europe-African-Middle Eastern) Campaign Medal and Good Conduct Medal. The EAME was authorized by Executive Order 9265 issued by Franklin D Roosevelt for the period of December 7, 1941 to March 2, 1946. PFC Contreras departed to Europe, on his birthday, October 22, 1944. Serving with Company C 289th Regimen, 75th Infantry Division, he arrived at “Tent City” in Liverpool, England marching on through Holland, Ardennes Forest France and finally arriving at the Battle of the Bulge site where he received several injuries including gunshot wounds and later contracting frostbite on both feet. During one ambush PFC Noe Contreras rushed across enemy fire and carried his Platoon Lieutenant, who was wounded, back to safety. Months after being on medical hold from frostbite PFC Contreras completed his enlistment and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston on June 3, 1946. Several years later, Doctor Hector Garcia of Corpus Christi, Texas, a former First Lieutenant himself, extracted a round from Noe’s left calf. The military field doctors did not remove the round since it had originally entered the upper leg and was lodged next to the femoral artery. After the discharge Noe rode a bicycle long distances to attend school. This activity forced the round to travel down the leg to the calf. Noe is preceded in death by his parents; Donaciano “Chano” and Maria Del Refugio “Cuca” Contreras; brothers, Raymundo, Adan, Jesus, David, Fidencio, Baldemar and sister Maria Alvarado. His survivors are his wife Alicia R. Contreras, son, Rolando (Karen); daughters, Esperanza “Hope”, Esmeralda (Manuel) Barrientes; grandchildren, Sue (Jim) Ocuto, Ali (Miguel) Rengifo, Angela and Andrea De La Garza, Eric (Violet) De La Garza, Olympia (Mike Jr.) Garcia and 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brothers, Ruben (Irene), and Juan (Corina). Honoring him as pallbearers are Jim Ocuto, Rolando Contreras, Michael Garcia, Jr., Sinoel Contreras, Ramon Villarreal, Angela De La Garza and honorary pallbearers Donnie Contreras and Lee Castanon. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, 2015 with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. that same evening at Funeraria Del Angel-Memorial Holly. Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, at Our Lady of Pilar Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens.