A branch was lopped off an old Pajaro Valley family tree during World War II.

Edward B. Lettunich, a member of an old Pajaro Valley family, was born in Watsonville on November 19, 1913. He was the son of Edward and Stella Lettunich and the brother of George and Ann Lettunich. Edward was raised and educated in the Pajaro Valley, attending local grammar schools and Watsonville High School. Lettunich later transferred to Lowell High School in San Francisco where he graduated in 1931. A Watsonville Register-Pajaronian obituary at the time of his death indicated that he was "a graduate of Stanford" and "was at one time an all-American tackle." However, neither of these facts has been confirmed. After leaving college, he re-joined his family in Los Angeles where they had relocated.

When World War II began, Lettunich received a commission in the US Army and advanced to the rank of Captain. He was assigned to the 413th Infantry Regiment of the 104th (Timberwolf ) Infantry Division that was formed at Camp Adair, Oregon.

“The 104th Infantry Division landed in France on 7 September 1944 and moved into a defensive position in the vicinity of Wuustwezel, Belgium, 23 October 1944...The 104th went over to the offensive on the 25th, soon liberating Zundert, Holland, gaining control of the Breda-Roosendall Road, and overrunning the Vaart Canal defenses. Leur and Etten fell as the Division advanced in a coordinated drive to the Mark River at Standdarbuiten on 2 November 1944 and established a bridgehead. Zevenbergen was captured and the Maas River reached 5 November.”

On November 4, 1944, Captain Edward B. Lettunich was killed in action in Holland and his remains were interred in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Henri-Chapelle, Belgium. His awards include the Purple Heart.

(CBR; ABMC, WRP November 24, 1944; Natl. Timberwolf Org, WWII, 104th Infantry Division, 1999 http://www.104infdiv.org/WORLDWAR.HTM, [16 Sept 2008])