The family of Moses Perea Lechuga, 92 has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to honor their loved one at his Services. We are honored to accept this invitation. We will accompany our Hero and his family from his daughters home to the church in Temecula, CA, a four mile ride. Mr. Lechuga was active member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion in Murrietta.
Mr. Lechuga joined the Army Infantry in October 1943. Moses was a corporal in the infantry during WWII. He was part of the 90th Infantry Division that led the invasion at Utah beach on D Day, 1944. After he made it off the beach, he and some others were called to assist in the fighting in St. Mere-Eglise & St. Lo, France. His unit continued fighting through the hedge rows and after breaking through one, his squad was taken captive by an armor unit of the Nazi SS. As a POW in Germany he had even more "adventures". Although being of Apache ancestry, his mother was a devout Catholic and named him Moses. That name almost got him loaded onto a Jewish POW train car once. He was also tortured & beaten severely after being re-captured for his two escapes and was successful on his third escape. Eventually being reunited with American troops when Patton’s Armored Division came through, he recovered in Camp Lucky Strike (one of the many “Cigarette Camps” for Recovered (POWs). He was then just waiting to be shipped home along with all the other GI’s after the war. It took a while but he returned to New York aboard the Queen Mary in its Troop Transport configuration; a definite No Frills passage. Then it was a train ride back to California where he learned he still owed the Army a few months of service if he desired an Honorable instead of a Medical Discharge. So then it was back up to Camp Roberts, California where he finished his service obligation and received his Honorable Discharge. Moses earned a Purple Heart for his war service and in 1988 was awarded the POW Medal during a recognition ceremony at the Long Beach Naval Station for his internment by Germany.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Lechuga and his long-time partner, Virginia Forthum. Children: Gloria Ingalls of Sequim, Washington, Joseph Lechuga of Riverbank, California, Cynthia Robles of Temecula, California and Deborah Norman of Sequim, Washington. Grandchildren: 7 Great-grandchildren: 4
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this American Hero. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the family residence to the church, a short accompaniment. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the church, we will meet you there.
Time Table for Monday 10 FEB 14:
0745 - Stage at Home Depot, 32020 Temecula Parkway, Temecula, CA 92592
http://goo.gl/maps/zuxN3 0815 - Mission Briefing
0845 - KSU To family residence approximately 3 Miles.
0900 - Flag line as our Hero is brought out to awaiting vehicle.
0945 - KSU To St. Catherine Catholic Church. 41875 C St. Temecula Ca 92592. Mass: Feb. 10 at 10am.
http://goo.gl/maps/z7KgK 1000 - Estimate arrival and flag line as our hero enters the church.
R/C Chuck "Machine" Johnson
So Cal PGR Ride Captain
chuckj661@hotmail.com
760 271-2544
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 to share condolences at:
http://www.patriotguard.org/showthread.php?386624-Moses-Perea-Lechuga-92-USA-WWII-Veteran-POW-Temecula-CA-10-FEB-13
