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Abelicio Baca Barela

T/4 in 23rd Headquarters Co

ASN#38071797

Born 1918 in NM, Died 2009

County of residence at enlistment: Socorro County, NM
Other residence(s): Albuquerque, NM
United States Army, did not accompany the unit to Europe
Occupation before the war: clerks, general office
College education before the war: 1 year
College education after the war: NM State Univ,; NM Tech; St. Joseph's College
Source: Travel Orders, 23d HQ, 29 August 1945; photo courtesy Albuquerque Journal, April 3, 2024

Born June 5, 1918 in La Joya, New Mexico, a tiny town in a farming/ranching area on the Rio Grande in Socorro County. Like many New Mexican Hispanics, he was able to trace his ancestry back to the first Spanish settlements in New Mexico in the early 1600s.

He worked as a clerk in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Bernalillo, NM prior to his four-year stint in the Army during WW2, where he served as a clerk/typist.

In August, 1943, he was working as a postal clerk at Camp Fannin, TX.

He was affiliated with the 23rd Headquarters Company in the late summer of 1945 in New York; he probably did not serve in the European theatre.

He married Beneranda Jaramillo on June 3, 1945 in La Joya.

After the war he graduated with a bachelor's degree in agriculture from NM State University, and then went on to graduate study at New Mexico Tech and St. Joseph's College. He was a teacher for 15 years, and then worked for the FHA for 25 years. After his retirement, he worked part time as a crossing guard.

Died October 30, 2009 in Albuquerque, NM.

Sources:

Ancestry Family Tree

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/74956176/person/42493064707/facts

Newspaper article about his military service

https://www.newspapers.com/image/156274930/?terms=abelicio%2Bbarela

Enlistment record

https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&tf=F&q=38071797&bc=,sl,fd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=7080594

New Mexico World War II Record (correct Army serial number)

https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/19983618?h=057e5b&utm_campaign=bandido-webparts&utm_source=post-share-modal&utm_medium=copy-url

Article Celebrating the Barelas' 50th Anniversary (contains some biographical data and a photo)

https://www.newspapers.com/image/158392839/?terms=abelicio%2Bbarela

Obituary

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/abelicio-baca-barela-obituary?pid=178287449

Find a Grave record

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/85202740/abelicio-baca-barela

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