A Santa Clara transplant was on hand for the “big one,” but was unable to share the tale.

Julio Nevares Zepeda was a Santa Clara County resident who later lived and worked in Watsonville and was included in the Pajaronian Roll of Honor. He was born in Ventura County, California, in 1921, to Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Zepeda. No information regarding his siblings and early life is available. By 1942 the family had relocated to the Green Valley district of the Pajaro Valley. Julio's formal education ceased after he completed grammar school and in 1942 he was working with his father picking fruit on the Dave Mello ranch.

Julio Zepeda was inducted into the US Army as a private on September 26, 1942, and sent to a basic training facility. After completing his basic and special training phase, Julio was assigned to the 120th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division.

The 30th Infantry Division arrived in England on February 22, 1944, and trained for the invasion of France until June 11. When Zepeda and his unit landed at Normandy, they found themselves and other US forces contained within a narrow perimeter by the German army. During an attempt to break out of the Omaha Beach sector, Private First Class Julio N. Zepeda was killed in action on June 15, 1944. His body was buried in the Normandy American Cemetery at St. Laurent- sur-Mer, France. His awards include the Purple Heart.

(CBR; ABMC; NARA2; WRP October 7, 1944 1:2)