Joe Gandara

Joe Gandara (April 25, 1924 – June 9, 1944) was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Gandara was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a March 18, 2014 ceremony in the White House. The award came through the Defense Authorization Act which called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor.

Biography Gandara, who was the son of Mexican immigrants, joined the Army from Los Angeles in February 1943.

According to Gandara's U.S. Army's biography:

Awards and decorations alt=A metal device depicting a blue bar with a rifle, in front of a wreath of silver leaves. with 1 campaign star and arrowhead deviceWorld War II Victory MedalBadgeParachutist Badge-Basic with one Bronze Service Star.

Legacy Stewart Street Park, a 3.8 acre residential park located in Santa Monica, California, was renamed Gandara Park in his honor in 2017.