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Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division. Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 3 March 1945. Entered service at: Mercedes, Tex. Born: 26 June 1922, Rio Grande City, Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of an assault group attached to the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division during hand-to-hand combat with enemy Japanese at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 3 March 1945. Standing watch alternately with another marine in a terrain studded with caves and ravines, Sgt. Harrell was holding a position in a perimeter defense around the company command post when Japanese troops infiltrated our lines in the early hours of dawn. READ MORE......
Foxhole miracle
Marine’s life ends in tragedy, mystery
May 24, 2008 - 11:39PM
By BRUCE LEE SMITH/Valley Morning Star
In the small hours of Aug. 9, 1964, the family of Medal of Honor recipient Billy Harrell arrived home after a trip to the New York World's Fair. |
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Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Near Thua Thien, Republic of Vietnam, 4 February 1968. Entered service at: San Antonio, Tex. Born: 23 May 1946, Edinburg Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon commander, 3d Platoon, Company A. On 31 January 1968, during the initial phase of Operation Hue City, Sgt. Gonzalez’ unit was formed as a reaction force and deployed to Hue to relieve the pressure on the beleaguered city.
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Final sacrifice
Freddy Gonzalez ‘took care of his men’
May 23, 2008 - 11:47PM
ALLEN ESSEX/Valley Morning Star
When Alfredo Gonzalez was 9 years old, he watched John Wayne war movies.
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Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, 23d Infantry, 2d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Krinkelt, Belgium, 17 December 1944. Entered service at: Brownsville, Tex. Birth: Mission, Tex. G.O. No.: 47, 18 June 1945. Citation: On his own initiative, he carried his heavy machinegun from Company K’s right flank to its left, in order to protect that flank which was in danger of being overrun by advancing enemy infantry supported by tanks. Occupying a shallow hole offering no protection above his waist, he cut down a group of 10 Germans.
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Army of one
Soldier credited with saving his company
May 25, 2008 - 11:06PM
By STEVE SINCLAIR/Valley Morning Star
Sgt. Jose Lopez stood only 5-feet-4 and weighed 135 pounds. But on Dec. 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, he was a giant of a man for Company K. |
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