Asturians under American flag
Historical page about of those young people of Asturian origin who participated with the US in World War II.
Celestino Landeira Arniella was born in Tampa (Florida) on February 26, 1918, being the eldest son of the marriage formed by Manuel Arniella (Llamero (Candamo), Asturias, 06/01/1896) and Aurora Landeira (La Coruña, Galicia, 25 /06/1896). His brother Manuel would be born on June 2, 1926.
Celestino grew up in Tampa, attended Hillsborough High School, and enlisted in the army on March 3, 1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida. The next destinations were Camp Claiborne (Louisinana) and Fort Fragg (North Carolina) before leaving for Europe belonging to the 327th Glider Regiment in the 101 Airborne Division.
His unit would land on June 7 at Utah Beach together with the IV Infantry Division with the mission of securing Carentan and the nearby communication routes.
Later he would participate in Operation Market Garden, he would defend the southern sector of Bastogne together with the other regiments of the 101 Airborne and finally he would occupy positions in southern Germany and Austria as an occupying force.
Celestino would obtain numerous decorations such as the Bronze Star in the 6 campaigns that his unit would obtain in Europe. As fate would have it, Celestino died on July 21, 1945 in Bischofshofen, Austria, when the vehicle in which he was returning from a leave missed a roadblock and they were shot by the guards, dying shortly after in the hospital.
Celestino L Arniella is buried in the Lorraine Military Cemetery (France)
Celestino Landeira Arniella nace en Tampa (Florida) el 26 de febrero de 1918., siendo el primogénito del matrimonio formado por Manuel Arniella (Llamero (Candamo), Asturias, 01/06/1896) y Aurora Landeira (La Coruña, Galicia, 25/06/1896). Su hermano Manuel nacería el 2 de junio de 1926.
Celestino crece en Tampa, asiste al Hillsborough High School y se alista al ejercito el 3 de marzo de 1942 en Camp Blanding, Florida. Los siguientes destinos fueron Camp Claiborne (Louisinana) y Fort Fragg (Carolina del Norte) antes de partir hacia Europa perteneciendo al 327th regimiento de planeadores en la 101 Division Aerotransportada.
Su unidad desembarcaría el 7 de junio en Utah Beach junto con la IV Division de Infantería con la misión de asegurar Carentan y las vías de comunicación cercanas.
Posteriormente participaría en la Operación Market Garden, defendería el sector sur de Bastogne junto con los demás regimientos de la 101 Aerotransportada y finalmente ocuparía posiciones en el sur de Alemania y Austria como fuerza de ocupación.
Celestino obtendría numerosas condecoraciones como la Estrella de Bronce en las 6 campañas que su unidad obtendría en Europa. La fatalidad del destino quiso que Celestino falleciera el 21 de Julio de 1945 en Bischofshofen, Austria, cuando el vehículo en el que volvía de un permiso se saltase un control de carretera y fuesen disparados por los guardias, falleciendo poco después en el hospital.
Celestino L Arniella está enterrado en el Cementerio militar de Lorraine (Francia)