Photo courtesy of Johnny Marron

Vicente Campos Nieto, Jr. was born April 24, 1920 in Harris County, Texas and was killed in action on April 4, 1945 in Cebu, Philippines. He was the son of Vicente Rosales Nieto, Sr. (April 5, 1889 Zacatecas, Mexico - December 17, 1932 Baytown, Harris County, Texas) and Maria Gertrudis "Gertrude" Campos Nieto (May 20, 1901 Coahuila, Mexico - November 16, 1967 Baytown, Harris County, Texas). Gertrude entered the United States at Eagle Pass, Texas on December 29, 1909 and records indicate Vicente Sr. entered c 1911. They married c 1914. Vicente Sr. and Gertrude were living in Brookshire, Waller County, Texas on June 5,  1917 at the time of Vicente Sr. registered for the World War I draft. He was described as being short in stature, medium build, brown hair and black eyes. He indicated he had a wife and child. In January, 1920, the family was living in Magnolia Park, Harris County, Texas and Vicente, Jr. was born on April 24, 1920. By 1930, the family was living Baytown, Harris County, Texas and Vicente Sr. was working at an oil refinery. Vicente Sr. died in 1932 and Gertrude continued to live in Baytown until her death in 1967.

Vicente Jr. was apparently a Merchant Marine before joining the Army. He enlisted in the Army on May 1, 1943 and was stationed at Camp Roberts, California at one point. He was in company C, 182nd Infantry. On October 29, 1943, Pvt. Nieto shipped from San Francisco on the U. S. S. General George O. Squier AP-130. Private First Class Vicente C. Nieto, Jr., United States Army, 182nd Infantry Regiment, American Division was killed in action during the invasion of the Philippines by the United States.  He was first buried at the United States Armed Forces Cemetery #1, Leyte, Philippine Islands.  He was then returned to the United States a year after his death for re-burial at Hill of Rest Cemetery, Baytown, Texas. When the body was returned to Baytown, bad weather delayed the service, so his body was at his mother's house for a week guarded by a member of the military.

Vicente’s hometown was erroneously listed by the War Department as Bay City, and should have been listed as Baytown, Texas.  Even though he never lived in Matagorda County, we are proud to honor him and his sacrifice on our war memorial. 
 

Mrs. Gertrude Nieto

Mrs. Gertrude Campos Nieto, 66, of 1103 Cypress died in a Baytown hospital at 2:53 p. m. Thursday.

She had been a resident of Baytown 48 years.

A rosary for Mrs. Nieto will be recited at 8 p. m. Friday at Earthman Chapel. Services will be held at 2:30 p. m. Saturday at Earthman Chapel and at 3 p. m. at Guadalupe Catholic Church with Rev. Francisco Urbanovsky officiating.

Mrs. Nieto is survived by six daughters, Mrs. Jose F. Marron, Mrs. Raymond Barajas, Mrs. Consepsion Estrada, Mrs. Fred Castillo and Miss Mary Nieto of Baytown and Mrs. Paul Hernandez of Houston; four sons, Rodolfo Nieto, Jose Nieto and Jesse Nieto of Baytown and Henry Nieto of Houston. Thirty-six grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren also survive.

Baytown Sun, November 17, 1967

Photo courtesy of Belinda Moreno