Silvestre S. Herrera
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| Silvestre S. Herrera | |
|---|---|
| July 17, 1917 – November 26, 2007 (aged 90) | |
  PFC Silvestre S. Herrera, Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Place of birth | Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico |
| Place of death | Glendale, Arizona |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Sergeant[1] |
| Unit | Company E, U.S. 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart Order of Military Merit (Mexico) |
PFC Silvestre S. Herrera (July 17, 1917 – November 26, 2007) was a member of the United States Army of Hispanic heritage who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during World War II in Mertzwiller, France. His one-man charge on an enemy stronghold resulted in his single-handed capture of eight enemy soldiers. At the time of his death he was the only living person authorized to wear both the Medal of Honor and Mexico's Order of Military Merit (first class).
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[edit] Early years
Herrera was born in the Mexican city of Camargo, Chihuahua, and not, as he once believed, in El Paso, Texas. His parents died when he was only a year old, and the man he had always thought was his father was really an uncle who had brought the 18-month old Herrera to El Paso to provide him with a better way of life in the United States. This fact was unknown to him until he was 27 years old. Herrera worked as a farm hand in El Paso. He soon moved to Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Ramona and three children, Mary, Elva, Silvestre, Jr. and the uncle he believed to be his father. Herrera was a member of the Texas National Guard, 36th Division. When the United States entered World War II, his unit was to be one of the first to land in Europe. When he broke the news to his family, he was told the truth about his parents' death and his place of birth.
[edit] World War II
On March 15, 1945 Herrera's unit found itself engaged in combat in a forest in the vicinity of Mertzwiller, France. His platoon came under heavy enemy fire from the woods, forcing most of the men to seek cover. Herrera charged the enemy stronghold and ended the threat, resulting in his single-handed capture of eight enemy soldiers.
Later that same day, his platoon came under fire and was attacked by a second enemy stronghold. The platoon found itself pinned down and the situation was difficult because there was a mine field between the platoon and the enemy. Herrera entered the mine field with the intention of attacking the enemy stronghold while drawing enemy gunfire away from his comrades. A mine exploded and shattered his leg. Then another mine exploded, severing his good leg below the knee. Herrera continued to fire upon the enemy with his own rifle, an act which allowed the members of his platoon to skirt the mine field and capture the enemy position.[2]
As Herrera lay in the Army hospital recovering from his wounds, President Truman was not sure that Herrera would be well enough for a formal presentation of the Medal of Honor. However, on August 23, 1945, Silvestre wheeled his wheel chair across the White House lawn so that the President could present him with his award.[2]
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
- He advanced with a platoon along a wooded road until stopped by heavy enemy machinegun fire. As the rest of the unit took cover, he made a 1-man frontal assault on a strongpoint and captured 8 enemy soldiers. When the platoon resumed its advance and was subjected to fire from a second emplacement beyond an extensive minefield, Pvt. Herrera again moved forward, disregarding the danger of exploding mines, to attack the position. He stepped on a mine and had both feet severed but, despite intense pain and unchecked loss of blood, he pinned down the enemy with accurate rifle fire while a friendly squad captured the enemy gun by skirting the minefield and rushing in from the flank. The magnificent courage, extraordinary heroism, and willing self-sacrifice displayed by Pvt. Herrera resulted in the capture of 2 enemy strongpoints and the taking of 8 prisoners.[3]
[edit] Later years
A year after he was presented with the Medal of Honor, the Mexican Government presented Herrera with its Order of Military Merit, first class.[4]
Herrera became the first resident from Arizona to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II. Arizona Governor Sidney P. Osborn declared August 14, 1945 to be "Herrera Day" and welcomed home Pfc. Silvestre S. Herrera with a hero's parade. A drive to bestow upon him citizenship of the only country he knew was started and as a result he was granted United States Citizenship. The citizens of Arizona raised $14,000 to provide him and his growing family with a new home.
Valle Del Sol, Inc. recognized him with a Special Recognition Award in 1994, and with a Hall of Fame award in 1999. On March 13, 1996, Herrera was honored by the United States House of Representatives upon recommendation of Congressman Ed Pastor.[5] An elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona — the Silvestre S Herrera School — bears his name.[6]
On October 24, 1998, the United States Army Reserve Center in Mesa, which houses the 164th Corps Support Group, was dedicated in honor of Silvestre S. Herrera. This dedication was thanks in large part to the efforts of neighbor and long time admirer of Herrera, Sergeant Major Douglas Mattson (retired).[7]
Herrera died at his home in Glendale, Arizona, on November 26, 2007.[8]
[edit] Awards and Recognitions
Among Silvestre S. Herrera's decorations and medals were the following:
Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal- Order of Military Merit-(Mexico)
[edit] See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
- List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
[edit] Notes
- ^ Discharged in March 1946 at the rank of Sergeant. See Medal of Honor.com profile.
- ^ a b Profile
- ^ of Honor citation
- ^ The Order of Military Merit is Mexico's highest award for valor. The Medal was awarded to Herrera, who was a Mexican citizen by birth. See MedalOfHonor.com profile.
- ^ Pastor, Ed (March 13, 1996). Honoring Silvestre S. Herrera — Hon. Ed Pastor; Extension of Remarks in the House of Representatives. Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
- ^ Silvestre S Herrera School. Phoenix Elementary School District #1, Phoenix, Arizona. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
- ^ 164th CorpsSupport Group – History. U.S. Army Reserve Command. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
- ^ Obituary
[edit] References
- HERRERA, SILVESTRE S., Medal of Honor citation. World War II Medal of Honor Recipients (G-L). United States Army. Retrieved on 2006-07-15.
- Silvestre S. Herrera, Medal of Honor, WWII. Profiles. HomeOfHeroes.com. Retrieved on 2006-07-15.
- Silvestre S. Herrera, Medal of Honor Recipient. Hispanic American Medal of Honor Recipients. Hispanic America U.S.A. Retrieved on 2006-07-15.
- World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Private First Class Silvestre S. Herrera, US Army. Retrieved on 2006-07-16.
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Herrera, Silvestre S. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American World War II veteran, Medal of Honor recipient |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 17, 1917 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 26, 2007 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Glendale, Arizona, United States |
