Johnnie Flores

Among The Valiant.....Raul Morin

Los Diablos Azules (The Blue Devils)

The 88th was another Infantry Division in the Italian front that included many of our men.
The was the first 'all-selectee' Division that was brought up to aid the battle-tested combat groups, who had been battling the Germans since back in Africa and Sicily, and comprised part of the 5th Army in Italy.
Their men were called "Los Soldados A Huevo" (soldiers by compulsion) by ribbing infantrymen of the other divisions who had doubting suspicions of their fighting ability. They quickly dispelled all doubts by their sterling performance on the battlefield, by the impressive record of their infantryman in the Italian campaign, they were calling them,"BlauTeufels" or the Blue Devils.

March 15, 1944-While fighting near Cassino with the 349th Infantry Regiment of the newly arrived 88th Division. Johnnie Flores, rifleman from Los Angeles, went out on a daylight patrol and heard a funny noise in a house two miles behind the German lines. Investigating, Flores burst in upon a Kraut officer writing a letter. Mustering all the courage he possessed, he harshly ordered the officer outside. He was astonished to have fourteen other Germans rush in from an adjoining room, meekly surrender, and join the party to be marched back to the American lines. He felt worse after he goose-stepped the supermen to a POW cage and then discovered that his rifle had been jammed all during the performance.

For this daring exploit, Flores was recommended for a Silver Star, but he never received it,Instead, he was court-martialled because of a run-in with one of the officers of his company.
The officer complained that Flores had laughed at him when he ordered him to put on his helmet while out on patrol. Flores contended it wasn't customary to wear a helmet in a night patrol since he was the lead scout, and furthermore, the officer "wasn't even on the patrol." He (Flores) could not resist telling the officer he did not agree, in no uncertain terms.

Many months later, Flores was awarded the Bronze Star for his "heroic acheivement" in volunteering to occupy a tower near the Arno River to observe German movements. The Germans spotted him, turned direct artillery on the observation post and reduced it to rubble. Flores received severe wounds on his back and neck. He was sent back to an Army hospital, then sent stateside and later honorably discharged.