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World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Private First Class Silvestre S. Herrera, US Army
Silvestre Herrera receiving Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman
Credit: National Archives
Sgt. Silvestre Herrera, 87, lost both feet in World War II during an assault on a German machine-gun position in France. Despite his injuries, Herrera fought on, capturing eight enemy soldiers.
In 1945, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the first World War II veteran from Arizona to receive the award.
Sgt. Silvestre Herrera dedicated a new Army reserve training center in Mesa, Arizona on September 11, 2004
HONORING SILVESTRE S. HERRERA -- HON. ED PASTOR
(Extension of Remarks - March 13, 1996)
in the House of Representatives
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1996
- Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Silvestre S. Herrera, of Phoenix, AZ, who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor 51 years ago by assaulting a German gun position on March 15, 1945.
- On that day, Pfc. Silvestre Herrera, an acting squad leader/automatic rifleman, and Company E, 142d Infantry of the 36th (Texas) Infantry Division, was the lead element as it moved into German-held territory somewhere near Merrwiller, France.
- Private First Class Herrera and other soldiers were moving along a wooded road when they were stopped by heavy enemy machinegun fire. As the rest of the platoon took cover from incoming fire, Private First Class Herrera moved forward and shot three German soldiers. Eight others surrendered.
- As the platoon continued forward, they were stopped by more machinegun fire. Herrera ran toward some large rocks, intending to take cover. Instead, he stepped on a landmine and it blew him into the air. When he came down, he hit another land mine. He had lost both legs just below the knee.
- Private First Class Herrera somehow managed to hold onto his M-1 rifle. He applied a bandage to his leg and dragged himself to the rocks. He braced himself and began firing at the enemy. He hit at least one of the Germans and forced the others to stop shooting and take cover.
- Under Herrera's covering fire, his platoon moved in and
- killed the German machinegun crew. The platoon found a path through the minefield and located a bleeding and injured Herrera. They rushed him back to an aid station. Later, Herrera was sent to France and remained in a hospital until the war ended.
- Herrera was decorated by President Truman on August 23, 1945, at the White House and in March 1946, he was discharged from the Army as a sergeant.
- Although no books or films have been written about his heroics, Herrera's deeds are heralded. In 1956, the Phoenix Elementary School District named an elementary school after him. Herrera's own elementary school district, the Pendergast School District, also erected a bust to honor the Congressional Medal winner. The bust was unveiled at Pendergast School in Phoenix during a February reception. The bust, created by Zarco Guerrero, is part of the World War II Commemorative Community Program sponsored by the Department of Defense.
- Fundraising for the bust was organized and initiated by the Pendergast family, who have known Herrera since childhood.
- The American G.I. Forum also formed a Silvestre Herrera Chapter on June 23, 1995. On March 15 of this year, the G.I. Forum will salute Herrera on the 51st anniversary of that fateful day in 1945.
- I urge my colleagues to join me in saluting and thanking Mr. Herrera for his service to the country and his heroism under fire.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company E, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Mertzwiller, France, 15 March 1945. Entered service at: Phoenix, Ariz. Birth: El Paso, Tex. G.O. No.: 75, 5 September 1945. Citation: He advanced with a platoon along a wooded road until stopped by heavy enemy machinegun fire. As the rest of the unit took cover, he made a 1-man frontal assault on a strongpoint and captured 8 enemy soldiers. When the platoon resumed its advance and was subjected to fire from a second emplacement beyond an extensive minefield, Pvt. Herrera 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 by Pvt. Herrera resulted in the capture of 2 enemy strongpoints and the taking of 8 prisoners.
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