Joseph “Jose” O. Quintero 

CPL, US Army, Joseph “Jose” O. Quintero   

 

Born: September 19, 1918, Texas, USA

Died: November 12, 2000, Arizona, USA

US Army | World War II
Jose Quintero in uniform

Burial Site: SFNC Section 11 Site 181 

Bronze Star | New Mexico Medal of Honor | Purple Heart | Silver Star

Joseph “Jose” Quintero was born on September 19th, 1918, in Fort Worth, Texas to parents, Faustino Quintero and Lorenza Olivas. During World War II, he served as a corporal in the United States Army. He was captured on the Island of Corregidor in the Philippines and endured four and a half years as a prisoner of war. During his imprisonment, he managed to make an American flag that was inspirational to his fellow POWs and to others after the war ended. He was awarded numerous medals including the New Mexico Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. The story of this flag is well documented in books and articles of World War II history.  

Images & Documents

Jose Quintero in uniform

Jose Quintero in uniform

Jose Quintero with American flag that he made in POW camp

Jose Quintero with American flag that he made in POW camp

Jose Quintero gravestone

Jose Quintero gravestone

Notes:

  1. “Joseph O. Quintero (1918-2000) .” Find a Grave. Accessed March 31, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17579940/joseph-o-quintero. 
  2. Reed, Ollie, Jr., Albuquerque Journal via the AP. “US Flag, Sewn by Soldier at POW Camp, Settles at Smithsonian.” Army Times. Army Times, August 19, 2022. https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/09/13/us-flag-sewn-by-soldier-at-pow-camp-settles-at-smithsonian/. 
  3. Reed, Ollie, Jr. “Courage and Compassion Hallmarks of WWII Vet’s Life,” Albuquerque Journal, September 27, 2021, A1–A2. 
  4. “The Story of Jose Quintero’s Flag.” The Harrodsburg Herald, May 24, 2017. https://www.harrodsburgherald.com/2017/05/24/the-story-of-jose-quinteros-flag/. 
  5. “WWII POW Flag Added to National Museum of American History Collections – Flag Reflects Pacific-Front Survival and Resilience Story of Cpl. Jose Quintero.” Sierra Sun Times, November 11, 2022. https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/41795-wwii-pow-flag-added-to-national-museum-of-american-history-collections-flag-reflects-pacific-front-survival-and-resilience-story-of-cpl-jose-quintero#:~:text=The%20Texas%2Dborn%20son%20of,to%20the%20Japanese%20in%201942. 

 

Prepared by Steve Martinez, Santa Fe Community College, VLGP