Manuel Gonzales ★ World War II Gold Star Veteran from California
On December 7, 1941 Ensign Gonzales was declared a casualty of World War II. ★ He served with honor in the United States Navy. ★ He is remembered by the people of California. ★ May his positive example inspire us. Working together towards peace, mutual respect, and equality for all.
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Our displayed data concerning the life and military history of Manuel Gonzales is a work in progress. We've assembled a list of elements we are in the process of researching and reviewing. This profile was last edited on 2021-12-07 02:58:58.
Missing : Core Data
· Middle name· Enlistment type
· Date of tour or service
Missing : Supplemental Data
· Marriage history· Parents, family history
· Expanded references and citations
Service Details
| This Profile ID | 365889 |
| Service ID | O-81553 |
| Name | Manuel Gonzales |
| From | Oakland, Alameda County, California |
| Birth Date | April 26, 1911 |
| Casualty Date | December 7, 1941 |
| War | World War II |
| Service Branch | Navy |
| Rank | Ensign |
| Specialty | Pilot |
| Unit/Group | Scouting Squadron Six, USS Enterprise (CV-6) |
| Casualty Type | Killed in action, Missing in action |
| Location | Pearl Harbor, Hawaii |
| Burial | Courts of the Missing, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Notable Awards |
★ Air Medal
★ Purple Heart |
| Remembered | 
Manuel Gonzales is buried or memorialized at Courts of the Missing, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Honolulu, Hawaii. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location. |
Additional Details
Manuel Gonzales was born and raised in the area of Oakland, California. He graduated from McClymonds High School before enlisting in the US Navy. He went on to serve with Scouting Squadron Six aboard the USS Enterprise.On the morning of December 7, 1941 he and his gunner Radioman 3rd Class Leonard Joseph Kozelek were flying their #S-B-3-SBD-Dauntless dive bomber some miles off the coast of Oahu. They were on a routine search mission when they encounter dozens of Japanese fighter planes forming for the imminent attack at Pearl Harbor. The last radio report overheard was Gonzalez telling Kozelek to break out the life rafts. It is believed they were shot down by the Japanese aircraft. Based on the time of the radio message, it is believed that these two men were the first Navy flyers to lose their lives on December 7, 1941. We identified 2 casualties in our archive related to the #S-B-3-SBD-Dauntless incident on December 7, 1941.
◼Manuel Gonzales :: Pilot
|
Commendations + Awards
Please note this might not be a complete or completely accurate accounting. For some awards we use probability factors based on known service details. Thanks for your understanding.
★ Air Medal
★ Purple Heart
★ Combat Action Ribbon
★ United States Aviator Badge Navy
★ World War II Victory Medal
★ American Campaign Medal
★ Navy Presidential Unit Citation
★ Navy Good Conduct Medal
★ Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
★ Navy Expeditionary Medal
California Gold Star Veterans Gallery
Honoring the men and women of California who gave their all for their country. May their example of courage and sacrifice be our guide. To be strong and responsible in our lives as citizens of the world. 
Through honest daily actions, we honor them.
Through honest daily actions, we honor them.
▶ California was home to over 30,000 American Gold Star veterans from 4 wars of the 20th Century. Some significant statistics:
• 1,934 World War I
• 19,843 World War II
• 2,648 Korean War
• 5,575 Vietnam War
• 628 Prisoners of war
• 7,015 Missing in action
• 330 Pearl Harbor casualties
• 155 D-Day Normandy casualties
• 40 Medal of Honor recipients
• 19,843 World War II
• 2,648 Korean War
• 5,575 Vietnam War
• 628 Prisoners of war
• 7,015 Missing in action
• 330 Pearl Harbor casualties
• 155 D-Day Normandy casualties
• 40 Medal of Honor recipients
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