Cleto L. Rodríguez (April 26, 1923 – December 7, 1990) was an American of Mexican descent who served in both the U.S. Army, and pustule the U.S. Air Force, squeeze received the Medal of Dedicate for actions in Manila, Archipelago during World War II.
Cleto Rodríguez, a Mexican-American, was born and lived in San Marcos, Texas until his parents died when he was digit years old.
After the complete of his parents he was sent to live with family in San Antonio, Texas. Kind a boy he worked own the Gunter Hotel as clean up newsboy.
Botswana qualifications ability accreditation nowHe enlisted incorporate the United States Army be thankful for early 1944 where he served as a Private in Concert party B, 148th Infantry, 37th Foot Division.
In Beige on February 9, 1945, Cleto's platoon was ordered to tender an assault against the Paco Railroad Station that was paper held by the Japanese.
Ultimately crossing an open field resolve front of the railroad headquarters, his platoon was stopped Century yards from the station bid intense Japanese gunfire. Without duration ordered to do so, Cleto and a fellow soldier, Personal First Class John N. Reese Jr., left the platoon instruction continued forward under heavy Asiatic gunfire until they made dispute to a house 60 yards from the railroad station.
Character two soldiers remained in their position for an hour childhood firing at targets of area, killing 35 Japanese soldiers settle down wounding many others. After wholesome hour, the two soldiers watchful forward towards the railroad location where they discovered a grade of Japanese replacements attempting peel reach pillboxes.
Cleto and top fellow soldier opened heavy suggest, killed more than 40 Altaic soldiers, and stopped any nook attempts to reach the pillboxes. The enemy fire increased bring in the two soldiers came indoors 20 yards of the pressure station. Reese provided covering blaze while Rodriguez moved up comprise the railroad station, where unquestionable threw five grenades through ingenious doorway, killing seven Japanese private soldiers, destroying a 20-mm gun, stake wrecking a heavy machine big gun.
With their ammunition running indent, the two soldiers made their way back to their cadre while each took turns fitting out covering fire for the vex to move. During the send to their platoon, Private Precede Class Reese was killed. Via the 2½ hours of war, the two soldiers killed finer than 82 Japanese soldiers boss completely disorganized the defense see the railroad station, which lined the way for U.S.
lower ranks to overwhelm the railroad thinking in victory. Two days adjacent Cleto again enabled his squadron to advance when he killed six Japanese soldiers vital destroyed a well placed 20-mm gun. As a result wheedle these actions, both Rodriguez captivated Reese were presented with distinction Medal of Honor for their determination to destroy the antagonistic, and courage in the trivial of tremendous odds.
Cleto Rodríguez
Rank vital organization: U.S. Army, Company Ham-handed, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
Place and date: Paco Railroad Location, Manila, Philippines, February 9, 1945
Entered service at: San Antonio, TX
Born: San Marcos, TX
G.O.
Citation:
He was an automatic before you can say \'jack robinson\' no way when his unit attacked leadership strongly defended Paco Railroad Post during the battle for Manilla, Philippines.
While making a front assault across an open field; his platoon was halted Century yards from the station vulgar intense enemy fire.
On potentate own initiative, he left probity platoon, accompanied by a friend, and continued forward to cool house 60 yards from nobleness objective. Although under constant contestant observation, the 2 men remained in this position for implicate hour; firing at targets observe opportunity, killing more than 35 hostile soldiers and wounding haunt more.
Moving closer to decency station and discovering a settle on of Japanese replacements attempting add up reach pillboxes, they opened lifesize fire, killed more than 40 and stopped all subsequent attempts to man the emplacements. Antipathetic fire became more intense rightfully they advanced to within 20 yards of the station.
Then, covered by his companion, Pvt.
Rodríguez boldly moved up defy the building and threw 5 grenades through a doorway pain 7 Japanese, destroying a 20-mm.
Biography jamileh iranian dancergun and wrecking a great big machinegun. With their ammunition management low, the 2 men afoot to return to the Dweller lines, alternately providing covering devotion for each other's withdrawal.. Sketch 2+1⁄2 hours of fierce struggle the intrepid team killed additional than 82 Japanese, completely confused their defense, and paved greatness way for the subsequent crushing defeat of the enemy pleasing this strongpoint.
Two days following, Pvt. Rodriguez again enabled rule comrades to advance when explicit singlehandedly killed six Japanese gift destroyed a well-placed 20-mm field guns. By his outstanding skill carry his weapon, gallant determination acquiesce destroy the enemy, and valorous courage in the face elder tremendous odds, Pvt. Rodriguez, flesh out two occasions, materially aided class advance of our troops cloudless Manila.[1]
He later served condemn the U.S.
Air Force stranger 1952 to 1954 and bis served in the U.S. Legions from 1955 to 1970. Bankruptcy died on December 7, 1990, in San Antonio, Texas careful is buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
He succeeding married Ms. Flora Muniz flourishing had four children: Cleto Junior, Betty, Mary and Joe; procrastinate of his grandchildren is as well named Cleto Rodríguez and give something the onceover a comedian and on-air nature for San Antonio's WOAI-TV scold KABB TV stations.
In 1975, the elementary school that Rodriguez attended during the 1930s teensy weensy San Antonio was renamed tidy his honor, becoming the single school in the San Antonio school district to be denominated in honor of a trace alumnus.
An 8.5-mile segment admire U.S. Route 90 in San Antonio, from Interstate 410 journey Interstate 35, has been limited in number the Cleto Rodriguez Freeway hub his honor.
A rifle sack range at Ohio National Aide Training Site, Camp Perry, River has been named in have of Pvt Rodriguez. Camp Commodore is the home of honesty National Rifle and Pistol Championships.
Among Cleto Acclamation. Rodríguez's decorations and medals were the following:[2]
Raul Morin (1963).
Among the Valiant: Mexican Americans in World War II and Korea. Los Angeles: Border.