Jesse V. De Leon

Jesse was the youngest of 13 siblings. He graduated from Lamar Consolidated High School. He proudly served in the U.S. Army, 71st Infantry (1944-1946) during WWII. He was a Private First Class and served as a Military Police Officer in Germany as part of the rescue missions to free prisoners of war. Jesse was awarded the following medals: BRONZE STAR MEDAL; GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL; EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL & BRONZE STAR; WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL; ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL & GERMANY CLASP; COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE 1ST AWARD AND HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON WWII.

He was known as “Mr. Clean” to all those that served with him because of his tailored clothes and shined shoes. Jesse returned home to Houston at the end of the war and later met Victoria Susie Herrera. They soon married and raised seven children.

Jesse is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Victoria Susie De Leon and their children Frank Mata, Carmen Herrera, David De Leon, Freddie De Leon, Elizabeth De Leon-Preciado, Jesse De Leon, Jr. and Jeanette De Leon, including 16 grandchildren and 10 great grand-children.