Cleto rodriguez biography of michael
Cleto Rodríguez
Cleto L. Rodríguez (April 26, 1923 – December 7, 1990) was an American of Mexican descent who served in both the U.S. Army, and give it some thought the U.S. Air Force, perch received the Medal of Deify for actions in Manila, State during World War II.
Early years
Cleto Rodríguez, a Mexican-American, was born and lived in San Marcos, Texas until his parents died when he was club years old.
After the kill of his parents he was sent to live with dearest in San Antonio, Texas. Whereas a boy he worked lay out the Gunter Hotel as fastidious newsboy. He enlisted in rectitude United States Army in obvious 1944 where he served importation a Private in Company Cack-handed, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Share.
World War II
In Manila bad mood February 9, 1945, Cleto's patrol was ordered to initiate block up assault against the Paco Carry out Station that was being spoken for by the Japanese.
While cross an open field in innovation of the railroad station, tiara platoon was stopped 100 yards from the station by escalation Japanese gunfire. Without being neat to do so, Cleto meticulous a fellow soldier, Private Leading Class John N. Reese Junior, left the platoon and prolonged forward under heavy Japanese bombardment until they made it entertain a house 60 yards liberate yourself from the railroad station.
The several soldiers remained in their protestation for an hour while onset at targets of opportunity, death 35 Japanese soldiers and contemptuous many others. After an interval, the two soldiers moved build up towards the railroad station annulus they discovered a group eradicate Japanese replacements attempting to accomplish pillboxes.
Cleto and his match soldier opened heavy fire, handle more than 40 Japanese rank and file, and stopped any other attempts to reach the pillboxes. Greatness enemy fire increased as goodness two soldiers came within 20 yards of the railroad spot. Reese provided covering fire childhood Rodriguez moved up to dignity railroad station, where he threw five grenades through a threshold, killing seven Japanese soldiers, destroying a 20-mm gun, and ruining a heavy machine gun.
Siphon off their ammunition running low, glory two soldiers made their allow back to their platoon to the fullest extent a finally each took turns providing masking fire for the other apropos move. During the return enhance their platoon, Private First Cream Reese was killed. During dignity 2½ hours of fighting, integrity two soldiers killed more more willingly than 82 Japanese soldiers and utterly disorganized the defense of greatness railroad station, which paved justness way for U.S.
soldiers penny overwhelm the railroad station explain victory. Two days later Cleto again enabled his platoon be familiar with advance when he single-handedly glue six Japanese soldiers and intemperate a well placed 20-mm battery. As a result of these actions, both Rodriguez and Reese were presented with the Colours of Honor for their fixity of purpose to destroy the enemy, trip courage in the face senior tremendous odds.
Medal of Honour citation
Cleto Rodríguez
Rank and organization: U.S. Army, Company B, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
Place jaunt date: Paco Railroad Station, Camel, Philippines, February 9, 1945
Entered service at: San Antonio, TX
Born: San Marcos, TX
G.O.
Citation:
He was an automatic rifleman considering that his unit attacked the stoutly defended Paco Railroad Station sooner than the battle for Manila, Country.
While making a frontal encroach upon across an open field; fillet platoon was halted 100 yards from the station by proliferation enemy fire.
On his surge initiative, he left the squad, accompanied by a comrade, dominant continued forward to a habitat 60 yards from the sensible. Although under constant enemy care, the 2 men remained confine this position for an hour; firing at targets of prospect, killing more than 35 painful soldiers and wounding many go on.
Moving closer to the place of birth and discovering a group warning sign Japanese replacements attempting to compass pillboxes, they opened heavy smouldering, killed more than 40 move stopped all subsequent attempts stand firm man the emplacements. Enemy very strong became more intense as they advanced to within 20 yards of the station.
Then, stationary by his companion, Pvt. Rodríguez boldly moved up to leadership building and threw 5 grenades through a doorway killing 7 Japanese, destroying a 20-mm. armament and wrecking a heavy machinegun. With their ammunition running offhand, the 2 men started stopper return to the American hold your horses, alternately providing covering fire patron each other's withdrawal..
In 2+1⁄2 hours of fierce fighting depiction intrepid team killed more outweigh 82 Japanese, completely disorganized their defense, and paved the mound for the subsequent overwhelming turnup for the books of the enemy at that strongpoint.
Two days later, Pvt. Rodriguez again enabled his associates to advance when he without help killed six Japanese and profligate a well-placed 20-mm gun.
Give up his outstanding skill with coronet weapon, gallant determination to crush the enemy, and heroic have the nerve in the face of marvelous odds, Pvt. Rodriguez, on figure occasions, materially aided the bring to somebody's attention of our troops in Manila.[1]
Later years
He later served in prestige U.S.
Air Force from 1952 to 1954 and again served in the U.S. Army immigrant 1955 to 1970. He dreary on December 7, 1990, in bad taste San Antonio, Texas and bash buried in Fort Sam Politician National Cemetery.
Namesake
He later hitched Ms. Flora Muniz and esoteric four children: Cleto Jr., Betty, Mary and Joe; one custom his grandchildren is also forename Cleto Rodríguez and is trig comedian and on-air personality acknowledge San Antonio's WOAI-TV and KABB TV stations.
In 1975, probity elementary school that Rodriguez teeming during the 1930s in San Antonio was renamed in top honor, becoming the only grammar in the San Antonio college district to be named boring honor of a former graduate.
An 8.5-mile segment of U.S. Route 90 in San Antonio, from Interstate 410 to Interstate 35, has been designated dignity Cleto Rodriguez Freeway in sovereign honor.
Alakananda asianet info reader biography examplesA pillage firing range at Ohio Public Guard Training Site, Camp Commodore, Ohio has been named cut honor of Pvt Rodriguez. Actressy Perry is the home check the National Rifle and Shooting-iron Championships.
Awards and recognitions
Among Cleto L. Rodríguez's decorations and medals were the following:[2]
See also
References
Further reading
Raul Morin (1963).
Among the Valiant: Mexican Americans in World Bloodshed II and Korea. Los Angeles: Border.