By Rickey Robertson
Monday May 27, 2024 was a momentous occasion in the town of Zwolle, Louisiana. The Memorial Day
special dedication service was deemed as “Zwolle’s Saving Private Ryan” event due to the remembrance
and honoring of the 3 Torres Brothers, all killed in action in 1945 during World War II. A large crowd
gathered in St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery to see the unveiling of a historical marker honoring
these 3 brothers and the special memorial service in the Church Hall. As I looked at the beautiful
memorial marker in the cemetery in their honor, I can tell you even though it may have taken over 80
years to get this marker, they were never forgotten ! We remember our heroes, don’t we?! Memorial
Day is a special day in America and what a great day to dedicate this marker.
I have a special connection with the Torres Family. My grandparents also sent 3 sons to World
War II. Two came home and one was Missing in Action from 1944 until his remains were recovered in
1950. I know the grief that my grandparents held in their hearts until the day they died. The Torres
Family still feels grief after all these years. Now, let’s go back to 1945, and we will find out some of the
details of the service and deaths in combat of the Torres Brothers.
Corporal Hosie L. Torres was born on January 25, 1925, in Leesville, Louisiana. He was Killed in Action on
July 12, 1945 on Luzon Island in the Philippines. He served 28 months, with 18 months overseas. He was
assigned to the 20th Infantry Regiment of the 6th Infantry Division. This unit was attacking and pushing
back the Japanese forces in the Cagayan Valley and were assaulting enemy positions in the Cordillera
Mountains where Hosie Torres was killed in action on July 12, 1945.
Technician 5th Grade Willie Lee Torres was born on November 28, 1917 in Zwolle, Louisiana. He was
killed in action on July 25, 1945, on Luzon Island in the Philippines. He had served 39 months, with 25 of
those months being overseas. He was assigned to the 161st Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion that was a unit
of the 25th Tropic Lightning Infantry Division. These antiaircraft artillery units were made up of 50-caliber
and 20-millimeter machine guns that could be used against aircraft or ground targets. The 25th Infantry
was advancing against heavy Japanese opposition and requested the 161st AAA to assist in taking out
Japanese machine gun positions. At the village of San Manuel, Willie Lee Torres was killed in action on
July 25, 1945.
Private First Class John B. Torres was born on December 6, 1922, in Slagle, Louisiana. He had served in
the army for 34 months, with 14 months being overseas. He was assigned to the 555th Antiaircraft
Artillery Battalion attached to the 104th Infantry Division, known as the Timberwolves. The men of the
104th Infantry had fought for over 200 days in combat through France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany.
As they pushed the German Army back into their homeland, the 104th faced fierce counterattacks as
they fought near Aachen Germany. John was wounded in action and was sent to the US military hospital at Santa Maria, located in the Azore Islands. Sadly, he died of his combat wounds on October 11,
1945. Upon his death, John was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic actions while in combat in
Germany.
Corporal Ernest R. Torres was born on January 16, 1920, in Zwolle, Louisiana. Ernest served almost 5
years in the US Army and was severely injured in a military truck accident in England. He spent many
weeks in a US military hospital recovering from his injuries. Of the four Torres Brothers who left to serve
their nation in a time of war, only Ernest survived and came home to Zwolle. And throughout his life he
helped promote his community. Sadly, he passed away on September 22, 1986. But Ernest was again
remembered in 2013 when one of his dog tags were found at Sutton Veny in England, and that dog tag
was returned to the Torres Family…and it is was on display at the dedication service!
Many people don’t know it but in World War I and World War II, the ONLY Allied nation to return
and repatriate its honored war dead was the United States. Due to Mrs. Josephine Torres’ request to the
War Department, in 1948 all 3 brothers returned to their hometown of Zwolle by train. The Heroes had
returned home accompanied by a military honor guard. And hundreds of citizens of the Zwolle area met
this train and helped escort their bodies to the Torres home.
One of our greatest fighting generals of World War II was General George S. Patton. When the
3rd Army Cemetery was dedicated in Luxemburg, these words were spoken by General Patton and they
reflect also on the lives of the Torres boys. He said “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.
Rather we should thank God that such men lived” !