Lieutenant Tedd Edwin Zavilla

Silver Star

Tedd Edwin Zavilla was born on April 13 1922 to Leo and Margaret Zavilla. The family was living in Colorado at the time but soon moved to Maxwell NM where Tedd was raised and attended school. After graduation from Maxwell HS he enrolled at NMAMC in the fall of 1941 and attended for the next two years. He left school to enter the Army and after training was assigned to the 405th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division. The Division shipped to the European Theater and entered combat in September 1944. In November 1944 SSgt Zavilla was wounded and forced to be hospitalized for months. He returned to combat in February 1945. He proved himself to be a capable leader and in April had the unique recognition of being given a battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant. On April 14th , as the unit approached Gadelegen Germany, Company E came under intense enemy fire. Lt Zavilla rose up and walked thru the hail of fire leading his men to the edge of the enemy positions. After a fierce exchange of almost point blank fire he neutralized three enemy machine gun positions and captured many of the enemy. For this action he would be awarded the Silver Star. That same day the 405th came across what is known as the Gadelegen Massacre. Retreating German forces crowded over 1,000 prisoners into a barn, locked the doors and set the barn on fire, killing all inside.