Essay/Joel Freedman: A fallen Vietnam War hero comforted his grieving mother from the hereafter
Joel Freedman
Sgt. Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez, nicknamed Freddy, born on May 23, 1946, was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas. He enlisted in the Marine Corps for two tours of duty in Vietnam. While serving as a squad leader and platoon sergeant during the Battle of Hué in early 1968, Gonzalez gave his life for his country. On Oct. 31, 1969, Gonzalez was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was presented to his mother, Dolia Gonzalez, at a White House ceremony.
The citation, posted online, said that during the battle, “with complete disregard for his safety, Sgt. Gonzalez ran through the fire-swept area to his injured comrade. He lifted him up and though receiving fragmentation wounds during the rescue, he carried the wounded Marine to a covered position for treatment,” after which “Sgt. Gonzalez exposed himself to the enemy fire and moved his platoon along th
Castro and other Hispanic lawmakers renew call to rename Fort Hood for Roy Benavidez
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Steve Campbell /Houston Chronicle
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and nearly two dozen others in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday to rename Fort Hood for Medal of Honor recipient Roy Benavidez.
A Pentagon commission was appointed in early January to look at the issue after 10 Army installations named for Confederate generals drew renewed attention during last summer’s racial justice protests and debate, reviving a dormant effort to re-brand them after less divisive war heroes.
“Latinos have fought and died in every single American war since our nation’s independence, yet too often our community’s service and sacrifice has been overlooked,” Castro, D-San Antonio, and U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego wrote in a letter to Austin that was signed by 18 other members of the Hispanic Caucus.