Cruz Lara Gamboa was born on 15 September 1925.  He was the son of Juan and Hijinia Gamboa.  He was the youngest in the family, and he had eleven siblings.  His father and the family was Roman Catholic.  Cruz attended school at Barstow, Texas, but it is believed that he quit school at the age of six to help his father on the farm.  He did his basic training at Ft. Bliss, Texas.  Cruz joined Company G of the 28th Infantry Regiment of the 8th Infantry Division as a replacement.  He went Killed in Action on 18 January 1945 in Germany, in the Hürtgen Forest.

Information provided by Philippe Vanderdonckt (http://users.skynet.be/2ltmalrait_gilbert/gamboastoryE.htm)