was born at Laredo, Webb County, Texas on December 24, 1923. His parents were Eduardo Jose De Lachica (29 Jun 1897 – 7 Dec 1941), who was born at Laredo, Webb County, Texas; and Elisa (Flores) De Lachica (12 Jul 1898 – 16 May 1936), who was born at Villaldama, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. His parents married about 1920. By 1930 the family home was at 1202 Corpus Christi Street, Laredo, Texas. His father was a cashier at Laredo National Bank. He had at least three siblings: Alberto Jose De Lachica (18 Aug 1921 – 24 Aug 1995); Maria Lydia (De Lachica) Flores (abt 1925 – unk); and Jose Ernesto De Lachica (19 Mar 1930 – unk). During World War II his sister Maria lived at Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico (near Laredo, Texas) and served for the U.S. Army as a telephonist.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army by 1943, and after basic training was assigned to an armor unit. (See the shoulder patch in his photo.) He later transferred to the Army Air Corps, and completed aerial gunnery training. He was then assigned as tail gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Flight Officer Max C. Hauenstein in the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.

S/Sgt De Lachica was killed in action on April 10, 1945, when his crew's aircraft, B-17G 44-8702 'Forever Amber', was shot down by German Me 262 jet fighters after bombing the German airfield at Briest, near Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. He was killed at his guns by cannon fire and went down with the ship. The other eight crew members bailed out and survived.

His remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo, Texas on July 1, 1949.

Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com