Seems like whomever was in charge of this burial in 1943 was a little too accommodating to German wishes.
I would have guessed they were buried in accordance with some sort of regulation.
There are parts of Texas that had large German populations.
Old school Warrior’s Code of Honor: bury the dead under their own flag.
Read a great article about a trip to Midway taken by former WW2 pilots from Japan and the U.S. The honor between these groups of former enemies was beautiful. They had shared opposite sides of the same conflict as warriors under opposing flags, but their respect for each others’ selfless dedication to home and country led them to greatly honor their fellows as they told each other what part they had taken in the events over those waters.
We may live as enemies, but we all die as mere men.
Was probably buried in accord with regulations for US veterans, which would have included recognition of awards for valor. In this case, the Iron Cross, which was simply depicted with the swastika as it was the way the Germans made the medal in WWII.