World War II Honoree

Silvestre S. Herrera

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Phoenix, Arizona

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS IN THE U.S. ARMY, COMPANY E, 142ND INFANTRY, 36TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PLACE AND DATE: NEAR MERTZWILLER, FRANCE MARCH 15, 1945. ENTERED SERVICE AT: PHOENIX, ARIZONA SEPTEMBER 5, 1945. CITATION: 'HE ADVANCED WITH A PLATOON ALONG A WOODED ROAD UNTIL STOPPED BY HEAVY ENEMY MACHINE GUN FIRE. AS THE REST OF THE UNIT TOOK COVER HE MADE A ONE MAN FRONTAL ASSAULT ON A STRONG POINT AND CAPTURED 8 ENEMY SOLDIERS. WHEN THE PLATOON RESUMED THE ADVANCE AND WAS SUBJECTED TO FIRE FROM A SECOND EMPLACEMENT BEYOND AN EXTENSIVE MINEFIELD, HE 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 RESULTED IN THE CAPTURE OF 2 ENEMY STRONG POINTS AND THE TAKING OF 8 PRISONERS'.