The family of Luis Lopez Contreras has invited the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) to attend the Military Honors of their loved one as he makes his final journey. It will be our honor to do so.
Luis was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and went to basic training at Buckley Field in Colorado. After training Luis was sent to Molesworth RAF, England where they would do bombing runs into Germany. Luis was a ball turret gunner on the B-17. The day that his plane was shot down there were twenty other planes that had gone down. Luis was stuck in the turret ball and only with the help of the radioman was he able to parachute from the plane. When Luis bailed out, before he had time to pull his ripcord the plane blew up. The plane went down over Dresden, Germany and Luis was immediately captured by German civilians. He sustained multiple injuries as a result of the civilians restraining him. The German soldiers took him and placed him in a jail with a cement slab. Luis was taken to a prison camp in Czechoslovakia and then was brought to a camp in Berlin. Luis spent a year in captivity until they were liberated by Patton’s Army.
Some of the awards that he received included the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the World War II Victory Medal. Luis was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1946.
After the military, Luis worked as an aircraft mechanic for over twenty years.
Luis is survived by his daughter Mary, six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the church to his final resting place. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
Time Table for Wednesday 26 September 20181100 – Stage at San Salvador Church, 178 W. K St., Colton, CA
https://goo.gl/maps/r7noqYiLaok 1115 – Mission Briefing
1145 – Flag line as our Hero is moved to the coach.
1200 – KSU to Hermosa Gardens Cemetery, 900 Meridian Ave., Colton , CA
https://goo.gl/maps/RNWN9xEYHKU21230 – KSU to assigned gravesite for Flag line, Service and Military Honors
Dean Parker aka Deano aka Gofer
SoCalPGR Ride Captain
909-732-7235
dean1951@verizon.net
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Please remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent, and with honor and respect for our Heroes. No talking, smoking, or cell phone use during the flag line or service. Please keep radios off and engine noise to a minimum. Observe the 15 MPH speed limit. Remember, cemeteries are hallowed ground. Show respect to all who are there, not just the ones we are honoring.
