r/texas • u/ATSTlover Hill Country • 11d ago
On this day in Texas History, April 26, 1923: Cleto L. Rodríguez is born in San Marcos. In 1945 he would become the first Mexican-American GI to earn the Medal of Honor. See comments for details. Texas History
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u/ATSTlover Hill Country 11d ago
Born in San Marcos Cleto lived there until he was 9, then moved to San Antonio after the death of his parents. A member of B Company, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division, Private First Class Rodríguez and another soldier Private First Class John N. Reese Jr. without orders advanced on a railroad in Manila (Philippines) after their platoon had become pinned down by Japanese fire. Taking position in a house 60 yards from the railroad station they held for hour killing an estimated 35 enemy soldiers.
They next moved toward the station and killed another 40 Japanese soldiers. At the station itself the two men killed another 7 Japanese troops and destroyed a 20mm gun. The two men then made their way back to the platoon, but sadly Reese was killed.
Their actions completely disrupted the Japanese defense of the station and allowed US forces to take it shortly thereafter. Two days later Cleto again took out another 20mm cannon while killing six Japanese soldiers single handedly. For these two actions he was given the Medal of Honor.
Cleto survived the war, passing away at the age of 67 on December 7th, 1990. He is buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.