Juan J. Rocha

War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Air Force Unit: 422nd Signal Aviation Company Service Location: China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater Rank: Technician Five Place of Birth: CA

An Air Force technician in the 422nd Signal Aviation Company, Juan Rocha served in China, Burma, and India, conveying messages by radio from front combat lines to camp headquarters. In northern Burma, where he spent several months replacing and repairing radios, it was often necessary to deliver messages on foot. One night while delivering a four-star (high priority) message, Rocha was attacked and knocked unconscious by a sniper. Limping to his commanding officer’s tent hours later, he was nearly shot when he stumbled over a string of cans placed to announce intruders. “After that incident,” says Rocha, “I never traveled alone.”