Michael Castaneda Pena (1924 - 1950)

Born 6 Nov 1924 in Newgulf, Wharton, Texas, United States

Husband of Aurora Lola (Urenda) Connell — married 5 Sep 1945 in El Paso County, Texas, United States

Died Sep 1950 at age 25 in Waegwan, South Korea

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Biography

Michael was born in 1924. He passed away in 1950. Michael was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

Sources

• National Archives at Washington DC; Washington DC, USA; Applications for Headstones For U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941; NAID: 596118; Record Group Number: 92; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General. [Available on Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1470356:2375)]

• Michael C Pena, Korean War, US Army, Medal of Honor Recipient, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Stories of Sacrifice. (https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/mike-c-pena)

• Wharton Journal-Spectator, Wharton, Texas, 5 July 2023, Front Page. "Newgulf Soldier Honored - Texas pays tribute to soldier's last stand"

• Longview News-Journal, March 18, 2014, Page A12. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-michael-c-pena-ma/127695818/ : accessed July 5, 2023), clip page for Michael C Pena, Man Awarded Medal of Honor posthumously by user celticmama1965

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17163342/michael-castaneda-pena: accessed 05 July 2023), memorial page for MSGT Michael Castaneda Pena (6 Nov 1924–5 Sep 1950), Find a Grave Memorial ID 17163342, citing Cedarvale Bay City Cemetery, Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave. (Includes biography and links to family members.)

Research Notes

There is a conflict between sources in regards to Michael's death date. The Wharton Journal-Spectator says 4 Sep 1950, which was also stated to be his fifth wedding anniversary. Longview News-Journal lists 5 Sep 1950. The Medal of Honor Society page lists both 4 & 5 Sep 1950. FindaGrave memorial lists 5 Sep 1950.

I looked on the National Archives site for the Application for Headstone for Michael, but was unable to find it directly on NARA, either as Mike or Michael.