Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez
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| Alfred Cantu Gonzalez | |
|---|---|
| May 23, 1946 - February 4, 1968 | |
  Medal of Honor recipient Sgt Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez |
|
| Place of birth | Edinburg, Texas |
| Place of death | KIA in Hue City, Vietnam |
| Allegiance | USMC |
| Years of service | 1965-1968 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 1st Reconnaissance Battalion 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines 1st Battalion, 1st Marines |
| Battles/wars | Operation Hue City, Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez (also known as Alfredo Gonzalez and Freddy Gonzalez) (born May 23, 1946 in Edinburg, Texas; died February 4, 1968 in Hue City, Vietnam), United States Marine Corps sergeant who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for service in the Vietnam War during the Battle of Hue.
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[edit] Early life
Freddy Gonzalez was the child of Andrés Cantu and Dolia Gonzalez. He was raised by his mother in Edinburg, where he played on the Edinburg High School football team and graduated in 1965. On June 3 of that same year, Gonzalez travelled to San Antonio, Texas, to enlist in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. A little more than a month later, on July 6, he enlisted in the regular Marines Corps. Pvt. Gonzalez went through recruit training in September and individual combat training in October before being transferred to Vietnam in January 1966. That same month, Pvt. Gonzalez was promoted to a Private First Class.
[edit] First Tour: January 1966 to January 1967
PFC Gonzalez served as a rifleman and squad lead during his first tour in Vietnam. He was promoted to lance corporal in October and to corporal in December.
Cpl. Gonzalez returned to the United States in January 1967. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to prepare recruits for guerrilla warfare; he ultimately wanted to be transferred to the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. Here he would be 150 miles (approximately a two hours' drive) away from Edinburg, where his mother, girlfriend, and other friends lived. Cpl. Gonzalez's plan was to spend the rest of his time in Corpus Christi, then return home to Edinburg when his time with the Marines was over.
However, several months after Cpl. Gonzalez returned to the United States, he learned of an entire platoon that was ambushed and killed. Cpl. Gonzalez felt responsible for the deaths of some of these men as some of them had served under him while he was in Vietnam. Cpl. Gonzalez then volunteered for a second tour.
[edit] Second Tour: July 1967 to February 1968
Cpl. Gonzalez was transferred to Camp Pendleton in California in May 1967 in preparation of sending him back to Vietnam. He was promoted to sergeant on July 1 and shipped out later that month.
On January 31, 1968, Sgt. Gonzalez was the platoon sergeant of a platoon of marines that was bringing relief to Hue City, Vietnam via a truck convoy. As the truck convoy neared the village of Lang Van Lrong, Viet Cong soldiers, dressed as civilians, attacked. Gonzalez and his troops counter-attacked and drove the enemy soldiers away. One Marine who was atop a tank was hit and fell off the tank. Sgt. Gonzalez was wounded when he ran through heavy fire to retrieve the wounded soldier. Several days later, on February 3, he was wounded again, but refused medical treatment, ordering the medics to take care of the other soldiers.
On February 4, Sgt. Gonzalez and his platoon engaged the Viet Cong, who were holed up in St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Hue City, firing at the Americans with rockets and automatic weapons. Almost single-handedly, Sgt. Gonzalez neutralized the enemy with a barrage of LAW rockets. When it became quiet, it was thought that all of the Viet Cong inside the church had been killed. However, one had survived, and he shot and killed Sgt. Gonzalez.
[edit] Military Awards and Other Honors
Sgt. Gonzalez is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Edinburg. The Hidalgo County Historical Museum, also in Edinburg, has his uniform and medals on display.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Sgt. Gonzalez also received the following military medals:
- the Purple Heart
- the Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
- the National Defense Service Medal
- the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars
- the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm
- the Vietnam Military Merit Medal
- the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
The USS Gonzalez, a destroyer commissioned for the United States Navy, is named in his honor. Sgt. Gonzalez's sacrifice has also been honored by the following:
- Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez American Legion Post in Edinburg, Texas
- Alfredo Gonzalez Athletic Award at Edinburg High School in Edinburg
- Alfredo Gonzalez Boulevard at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina
- Alfredo Gonzalez Dining Hall at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas
- Freddy Gonzalez Drive in Edinburg
- Freddy Gonzalez Elementary School in Edinburg
Sgt. Gonzalez's name can be found on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It is located on panel 37E, row 021.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- USS Gonzalez web site.
- "Gonzalez, Alfredo Cantu" article at The Handbook of Texas Online.
- "The Ballad of Freddy Gonzalez," an article originally published in Hispanic Magazine, November, 1996. Biography, "When The River Dreams," by John W. Flores, published Oct. 2006.
- Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez, USMC, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps]
- Medal of Honor citation
