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Medal of Honor recipient Marine SGT Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez
Congressional Medal of Honor
Episode 2867 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Marine SGT Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode comes from Wikipedia the Texas State Cemetery website.
As a platoon sergeant, Gonzalez was leading his men during the initial phase of the battle when they were ambushed by a well-entrenched enemy force. Despite being wounded by shrapnel, he refused evacuation and continued to lead his Marines. Displaying extraordinary courage, Gonzalez directed his platoon through intense enemy fire, clearing bunkers and laying down suppressive fire to ensure his comrades could advance.
During the grueling urban combat that followed, Gonzalez repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue wounded Marines and replenish ammunition. On February 4, 1968, while his platoon was under heavy enemy fire, Gonzalez spotted a concealed enemy rocket position that posed a severe threat to his men. Without hesitation, he charged the position, firing his weapon as he advanced. His heroic action destroyed the enemy emplacement, but he was mortally wounded in the process.
For his selfless bravery, determination, and sacrifice, Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His actions saved countless lives and embody the highest traditions of the Marine Corps, leaving behind a legacy of valor and heroism that continues to inspire.
In 1996, the USS Alfredo Gonzalez, a guided missile destroyer, was commissioned in Corpus Christi. Gonzalez’s mother was asked to be the ship’s sponsor; in 1996 she still worked as a waitress. There is a permanent display of his uniform and medals at the Hidalgo County Historical Museum. In Edinburg, Freddy Gonzalez Elementary School and the Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez American Legion Post are both named in his honor. Students at Edinburg High School can receive the Alfredo Gonzalez Athletic Award. The Alfredo Gonzalez Dining Hall at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi is named for him, as is Alfredo Gonzalez Boulevard at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. There is also a Freddy Gonzalez Drive in Edinburg. Gonzalez is buried at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Edinburg.
Listen to Episode 2867 and discover more about SSG John G. Gertsch and his Congrehttps://aw51bd4.aweb.page/p/74a965a7-be50-4e5c-be86-e2244a76dc18ssional Medal of Honor award.
