REP. GOMEZ ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION TO NAME BOYLE HEIGHTS POST OFFICE AFTER WWII HERO, PVT JACOB CRUZ
Washington,
November 10, 2021
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Cameron Edinburgh
(202-515-1301)
LOS ANGELES – Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) introduced bipartisan legislation to designate a post office in Boyle Heights after U.S. Marine Corps Private Jacob Cruz, a World War II veteran who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Battle of Tarawa in 1943. “The Pvt. Jacob Cruz Post Office will honor the contributions of this brave Marine and all Latino servicemembers who have given their lives in the service of our country,” said Congressman Gomez. “I am proud to pay tribute to the rich history of service from our Boyle Heights veterans, to whom we owe a great deal.” Pvt. Cruz was 17 years old and a junior at Roosevelt High School when he asked his single mother, Gracia Cruz, a Mexican immigrant who worked as a custodian at White Memorial Medical Center, for permission to enlist. After initial training, Pvt. Cruz shipped off to the Pacific theater, where gave his life while running ammunition boxes to gunners on the front line amid enemy fire. Pvt. Cruz's heroic devotion to duty played a vital role in enabling U.S. forces to maintain a foothold in the Pacific. After being declared unrecoverable for 77 years, Pvt. Cruz’s remains were identified and returned home to his family in Los Angeles, where he was laid to rest with full military honors on March 25, 2021. “This has been a historic time for our family,” said Mike Mahan-Soto, nephew of Pvt. Cruz. “Through the efforts of Representative Jimmy Gomez, a U.S. Post Office in this neighborhood will be named after our uncle Jacob. What an incredible honor! On behalf of the Cruz family, I thank Rep. Gomez for this honor. We are fiercely proud of our uncle, and all veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country.” Pvt. Cruz served in Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. For his service and sacrifice, Pvt. Cruz was posthumously awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart. The post office to be designated in honor of Pvt. Cruz is located at 2016 East 1st Street, Los Angeles, California, 90033. ### |
