Iwo Jima veteran Jose Dominguez dies

DOWNEY - Jose A. "Alfred" Dominguez, a longtime Downey resident and U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in the 5th Marine Division during the invasion of Iwo Jima in 1945, passed away Dec. 11 after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.He was born Sept. 30, 1925, in Alberhill, Calif., to Jose and Placida Dominguez. He dropped out of high school after the 10th grade and began working to help his parents support the family. In December of 1943, Dominguez enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and went to boot camp in San Diego. After graduating from boot camp, he was assigned to the 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton to prepare for the Iwo Jima invasion. He landed with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, on Feb. 19, 1945 and fought until he was severely wounded on March 14, 1945. He was evacuated from the island and spent many months in the hospital in Hawaii and later in San Diego. He was honorably discharged - having attained the rank of corporal - in November, 1945. After the war, Dominguez learned the trade of auto body repair at Lake Chevrolet in Lake Elsinore, Calif., and then worked for Harry C. Clark Buick in Compton and Simpson Buick in Downey before retiring in 1990. He married the former Georgia L. Weir on May 23, 1950, in Yuma, Ariz., and together they raised four children. Dominguez was a Christian and a member of the Imperial Highway Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Georgia; four children, Jose A. (Fred) Dominguez Jr. and wife, Nyla, of Pecos, Tex., Ramona M. Dominguez, of Downey, Charlotte A. Widdis, and husband, Lawrence, of Montrose, and Charles E. Dominguez, and wife, Anna, of Downey; grandchildren, David Dominguez, and wife, Kristi; Daniel Dominguez, and wife, Syndi; Samuel Dominguez, and wife, Arly; Laura Widdis and Alexander Dominguez; and seven great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Jonathan Dominguez; Ema, Eli, Elena and Everet Dominguez; and Nathan Dominguez. Funeral services were conducted by his son, Fred Dominguez, on Dec. 15 at the Imperial Highway Church of Christ in Downey. Interment with full military honors was at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.

********** Published: December 23, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 36