Francisco Conde Gutierez, brother of Feliciano "Pecha" Gutierez

Francisco was born in Nuevo Lardo, Mexico and became a naturalized American citizen just prior of leaving for Europe during WWII. He lived most of his 1ife in Laredo, Texas. He celebrated his 82 birthday on the 9 Oct 2005 and currently stays at the Regent Care Center in Laredo. Pancho served as a combat engineer assigned to the 42 Inlantiy Division nicknamed the "Rainbow" Division. The Rainbow became famous during WWI under the command of Colonel Douglas Macarture and again distinguished itself during WWII. The division landed in Marseille, France on Dec 9, 1944. From there it snaked moving forward across the Non-Fraternization Line (Siegfried Line). The Rainbow received a Presidential Citation for action at Marten where the last German offensive was stopped. Francisco was instrumental in building bridges across main rivers like the Rhine, Main, Danube and other minor rivers. Most of this was under enemy fire. One of his most memorable action was in liberating Prisoners of War at Dachau Concentration camp. They discovered more than 30,000 prisoners at the overcrowded camp.

Before the war ended, elements of his division completed its drive into Bavaria and entered Austria, Hitlers "home".

Franciso received in 2003 a Certificate of appreciation from the French Government for participating in the liberation of France.

His DD-2 114 contains the following: Grade: Sergeant. Company A, 142 Engineer Combat Battalion, Military Occupation and specialty and Number. Foreman Auto Repair shop 337, Battles and Campaigns: Rhinland and Central Europe Go-105-WD-45, Decorations and Citations: American Theater Campaign ribbon with 2 bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Ribbon, 1 service stripe, 2 overseas Service Bars. Date of departure: 6 Jan 1946.

Francisco Gutierrez. The caller went on to say that he and Pancho had been war buddies during WWII, and he was trying to see if he was still alive. I told him that he is my brother. I brought him up to date on my brothers "life" and his current health condition. Panchos stroke left him paralyzed and unable to communicate. Presently he is doing as well as can be expected. The caller sent a copy of the photo of Pancho. Thats how I exactly remember my brother when he came home on leave. Especially, when he came home after the war. What I remember were his ribbons on his chest, strips on his arms, but must of all was the "Rainbow" patch on his shoulder.

The 42nd Infantry ( Rainbow) Division's history as a unit began with America's entry into World War I. Amidst the rush by America to mobilize, individual states competed with each other for the honor to be the first to send their National Guard units to fight in the trenches of Europe.

To check the negative implications of this competition and to minimize the impact the mobilization could have upon any one state, the government decided to create a division composed of hand picked National Guard units from 26 states and the District of Columbia. As a result of this unified effort, the 42nd Infantry Division was born in August and organized in September 1917 at Camp Mills on Long Island, New York Colonel Douglas MacArthur, who had been instrumental in the forming of the Division, said shortly after its completion. "The 42nd Division stretches like a Rainbow from one end of America to the other."

The 42nd Division arrived in France in November 1917 and entered the front line in March 1918, where it remained in almost constant contact with the enemy for 174 days. During it's time in France, the 42nd Division participated in six major campaigns and incurred one-out-of-sixteen casualties suffered by the American Army during the war. The 42nd Division's service officially came to and end in May 1919.

With the onset of America's participation in the Second World War, the 42nd Division was reactivated. At the July 1943 reactivation ceremony, the new division commander, Brigadier General Harry Collins echoed MacArthur's sentiments on the 42nd Division's unique status when he said, "The Rainbow represents the people of our country."

The 42nd landed in France in December 1944 and as part of the 7th Army, advanced through France and entered Germany in March of 1945. It was during the 42nd Division's rapid advance through Germany in April 1945 that they, along with the Guard's 45th Infantry Division, liberated the infamous Dachau concentration camp.

By the end of the war, the 42nd Division had established an enviable record. It was first in its corps to enter Germany, first to penetrate the Seigfried line and first into Munich. Rainbow soldiers had seized over 6,000 square miles of Nazi held territory during their march across Europe. The Division ended the war serving as occupation forces in Austria and was inactivated in June 1946.

The 42nd returned in 1947 as a National Guard division and was recognized as a component of the New York Army National Guard. During the Cold War years, the Division was involved in numerous domestic emergencies while actively training for its wartime mission.

In December 1989, the 42nd Division headquarters was moved from New York City to Troy, New York, where it remains today.

In 1991, hundreds of Rainbow soldiers volunteered and served in the Gulf War. In addition the division was called upon to provide an opposing force battalion at the National Training Center to help prepare units for deployment overseas. The troops preformed so well that they received the prestigious Hanby Trophy, the first National Guard unit ever to do so.

The 42nd Division returned to its roots as a truly diversified division in 1993 when it was consolidated with elements of the 26th and 50th Divisions to form one National Guard division. The Division now has elements in eight different states. Soldiers from New York, Vermont, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, and New Mexico wear the famous Rainbow patch and continue the Division's tradition of service to nation, state, and community.

2ndRow: James (Coty) Hale; Raul Moreno; Feliciano (Pecha) Gutierrez; Luis Ramirez

Front Row: Jose (Pepe) Villarreal; Victor Tijerina (RIP); Ramiro Vargas; Albert (El Coach de Oro) Ochoa (RIP)

Doc, I have submitted this for your info. Emmanuel Riojas, your brother, he may be interested in seeing this group. I am certain that he knows each of these batos.

Erasmo,
You bought a Good looking shotgun. It's too late for me, but I always wanted an Italian double barrel shotgun with a slim strap. Just like the ones they used in "The Godfather".

Today when I mentioned squirrel soup it reminded me of being in Tony's barber shop in Laredo on the corner of Sanchez and Davies. There was an old man there and the conversation had to do with rabbit stew.

This viejito said that the best tasting rabbit he had was a Jack rabbit. The way he prepared it was to gut the rabbit (I glad he did) spiced up with chingos of spices and then boil it FUR and all. This old fella was actually licking his chops when he was telling his recipe.

Do you remember the barber shop it was right across the Panaderia la Huelga? I lived three blocks from there and I was sent to buy pan de dulce y pan frances. By the time I got home las chiches del pan were gone. Que sabroso era ese pan. Now I am licking my chops.

"Pecha"

Riojas' Answer:

Tony, The barber, was from "Las Minas." Yes I remember him vividly. Dad, my brother Emanuel and I used to get our haircuts by him always. I also remember "La Huelga Panaderia." We also shopped there. El pan de barra con con homemade mantequilla! I am also licking my chops!"

Thank you my fellow Laredoan and "homie."

Erasmo Elias Riojas, del barrio la ladrillera