World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Silvestre Herrera
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Glendale, Arizona
Honored By
C. McCabe
WITH THE 142ND INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 36TH INFANTRY DIVISION, EARNED THE MEDAL OF HONOR NEAR MERTZWILLER, FRANCE FOR ACTION ON MARCH 15, 1945. ASSAULTED A MACHINE-GUN NEST, CAPTURING 8 GERMAN SOLDIERS, BUT LOST BOTH FEET IN A SUBSEQUENT MINEFIELD DURING A SECOND SOLO ASSAULT ON ENEMY POSITIONS. FIRING A SEMIAUTOMATIC M1 RIFLE, RAN TOWARD THE EMPLACEMENT & TOSSED 2 HAND GRENADES - THEN ATTACKED ANOTHER MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENT BEYOND AN EXTENSIVE MINEFIELD. ALSO RECEIVED MEXICO'S HIGHEST AWARD FOR VALOR, AWARDED AS HE WAS STILL A MEXICAN CITIZEN WHEN FIGHTING IN EUROPE. THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE BEEN AWARDED BOTH MEDALS.