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Part 3 - Essay

Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez

May 23,1946 – Fed 4,1968

Alfredo Gonzalez was born in Edinburg Texas on May 23, 1946, he is one of the most recognized personalities in such area due to many of his accomplishments. He died at the early age of 21 protecting his comrades on February 4,1968 during the Vietnam War in KIA in Hue City Vietnam.

Being a Mexican- American citizen in the local area of Edinburg, he graduated from Lamar grammar school in 1955,and as well from Edinburg High School in 1965. Despite his small size (165 pounds) he was part of the Football team and was a district member. His mother Dolia Gonzalez described him as the most determined person she ever met. The relationship between them was very close and was the base of his life, since he was the only child and she was a single mother. The immense support given to Mr. Gonzalez by his mother helped him overcome any situations along the way.

Freddy’s life was no ordinary, he always had a vision and passion to helping others.

During high school he was part of many extracurricular activities, said to love math class and everything related to science. Many of his high school peers describe him as a very antisocial student, he used to only attend to the library during recess time and expand his knowledge with the use of historical books. He was also physically fit and a very athletic young man. His physical features together with his mental ability to solve problems, together made him a very mature man at such young age.

Naturally he loved to spend time with his family and attend to football games on saturday nights. His mother Dolia stated before she saw Gonzalez for the last time that she knew he was going to make history. That she would always send him letters and make fun of his skinny figure wearing such uniforms.

The Gonzalez family was a very typical family, they loved to spend time together and mostly share experiences. They were not a very high economic class type of family but they did have a very good economic support.

Freddy Gonzalez life was impacted at a very early age when he decided to do something for the community, he also decided to put to the side love and marriage.

Dolia Gonzalez shared a very special memory of his son, she said he would always read the newspaper headlines when it showed articles of the United States Army. Her son would always show a special interest in joining the service, to him it was more than just wearing a uniform. Joining the United States Marine Corps represented honor, respect ,and responsibility. As a mother it was very hard to let her son leave and serve his country. She always feared to lose him, since she had such a close relationship with him and he was her world.

Mr. Gonzalez enlisted the United States Marine Corps at the age of 18, on June 3,1965,completing his recruit training in San Diego California he showed a very special talent and various skills.

On October of the same year he became a rifleman with Service Company and Headquarters, 1^st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1^st Marine Division and served in that position until January of the year 1966.

After such period of time, he had showed a tremendous natural skill and passion to serve his country. He was then promoted to Private First Class, serving a one tour year in Vietnam as a rifleman. He was also promoted to Lance Corporal on october1 and to Corporal on December1. Such continuous promotions to higher ranks in a very short period of time reflected his talent and discipline with no doubt.

Coming back to the United States he saw duty as a rifleman with the Second Battalion,6^th Marines,2ndMarine Division at the very famous camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Then he became an instructor at such camp and gave those recruiters advice and special knowledge he had obtained with experience in techniques of guerrilla warfare. At this point Gonzalez had no limitations, he became the hero and mentor to those in the process of learning skills, he became the undeniable young master and the perfect son that wrote to his mother on a daily basis.

On July 1,1967 he was promoted to sergeant, and arrived to the very known dangerous Republic of Vietnam. He served as a squad leader and platoon sergeant with the 3^rd Platoon, Company A. He then started to fight in the Battle of Hue during January 1968, he was sent along with a troop to the city unit to reinforce safety. During such battle many men got injured and Gonzalez showed the biggest of his talents, helping and carrying others to safety.

His troops were seriously bombed, and in heavy combat this was a very delicate time for Gonzalez. He had witness many of his dearest friends die, and himself got injured on February 3.

Many of his terrible injuries and wounds hurt him physically but they did not reached his spirit. Refusing medical treatment he decided to act while moving by truck convoy a long route Using anti-tank weapons he fired the fortified positions. Before being mortally wounded by a rocket he checked the Vietnamese advance and silenced a rocket emplacement. He took cover in the Saint Joan of Art Catholic Church and died.

The brave actions of Sergeant Gonzalez awarded him with the highest decoration

The Medal of Honor on February 4,1968 such medal was awarded to him by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew during the Ceremony at the White House.

“His mother proudly held the Medal and pointed at the sky, knowing that even during such hard times he would be looking after our country.” Mrs. Dolia Gonzalez said she felt proud of having such a brave son when she received those awards and that she will always be thankful to those that admire him.

The significance of the Medal of Honor is conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of live above and beyond the call of duty.

Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez also called Freddy Gonzalez was also awarded with many more recognitions/decorations such as The purple heart, given to those that are enlisted in service and get injured along the way.

The Presidential Unit Citation which was an award given to those with Gallantry, determination, and spirit in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions. The Good Conduct Medal was also awarded to him and its significance is exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal Military Service. The National Defense Medal that was awarded for his military service during periods of national emergency and shows the bald eagle. The Vietnam Service Medal with four Stars was awarded to him for his participation in such war and the four stars represent his level of service. Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with service star and many more. All of those medals are a tribute to the bravery and undeniable sacrifice that our humble soldier decided to award to us.

Many of Gonzalez merits were recognized all over the state, the result of his hard work and passion to serving our country earned him valuable respect. Today in the city of Edinburg Texas and other locations, places hold his memory and are named after such brave hero in honor to his service. For example the memorial park, a veteran’s home, a very known high school, elementary school, a Dining Hall at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, a Boulevard at Camp Lejeune, a missile launcher and even a street. The memory of Gonzalez will be always with us, an exhibition with pictures, his uniform, and medals revives the story of our hero at the Hidalgo County Historical Museum.

 These places mentioned before are special sites of learning and historical value, people often visit them, the curiosity to know about the life of Freddy Gonzalez gives these sites more value.

Famous newspapers like the Monitor write articles about honorable heroes like Freddy Gonzalez. Poems and memories shared in these articles revive the story, gives us a different perspective of why veterans day is so important and why we should always thank those that give their life’s to protect us.

El dia de los muertos with the Gonzalez family couldn’t be an exception, His mother shares with his very close friends and family members the very emotional and colorful altar that every year represents the life of the young sergeant.

Pictures, favorite meals, candy, stories, and even precious objects like Freddy’s hair comb are displayed in such altar.

As in now Freddy Gonzalez will be always remembered by the community, Veterans day in Edinburg Texas became his day, during such festivity many people from the local community visit the memorial park and honor his memory by decorating the park with flowers and candles. Us as a community are very proud of having such a great personality in our grounds. As those great friends of him said “ All of us who survived remain in awe of him “

The hero

As he showed his natural skills on warfare techniques he also showed a very special passion to help others.
He had faced multiple challenges in life and had been emotionally affected by war and the terrific images of death. War affected him in a great range but inside him, he never stopped thinking of the great good that his service would do after all that dark time was over.
He also had very good communication skills and was a very respectable member of the Marine Corps.

documentation

Marines of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion

1st Marine Division at the Joan of Arch Church

after the battle.

Sergeant Gonzalez platoon was in Alpha Company.

Credit: Museum of History - Edinburg TX.

Picture: Eliana Calderon

                                         

Gravestone of Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez

Hillcrest Memorial, Edinburg, Texas

Credit : Eliana Calderon 

 

North Vietnamese B-40 Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) non functional.

Circa 1968

Derived from the Soviet RPG-2 ROCKET

propelled grenade was fired from a hand held launcher.

A B-40 felled Sgt. Gonzalez

MOSTH Collection

Donor:Dr. Scott Garrett.

Marine Corps guidon or unit flag,from Alpha Company, First Battalion, First Marine Division

Fleet Marine Force,circa 1968

On january 31,1968 it remained at Phu Bai

when the Marines left the Hue

MOSTH Collection

Museum of history -Edinburg tx.

Information :

Alfredo Gonzalez was born in Edinburg Texas on May 23, 1946, he is one of the most recognized personalities in such area due to many of his accomplishments. He died at the early age of 21 protecting his comrades on February 4,1968 during the Vietnam War in KIA in Hue City Vietnam.

The departure

After the death fo the young Hero , the Gonzalez family contributed to many organizations that were military related. The Gonzalez family received Freddy's medals and official uniform as a memory and award and decoration.
As in today, the Gonzalez family celebrates Veterans day with a great respect. They mostly gather together and talk about memories and special anecdotes they had with the young soldier.

Close friends, family, and even the community remember the brave man that gave his life to protect us as a country. The loss and impact made by his death was great, many of the places in the Edinburg area were named after him as a tribute and a way to show respect and honor.

The Edinburg Memorial Park, a street, one of the Edinburg High Schools and Elementary schools,a veterans home in Edinburg and many places more hold the precious name of the brave soldier, and revive the history that make us so  proud.

pictures and documentation

Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez 

Exhibition - Museum of History Edinburg Tx. 

Photograph: Eliana Calderon

 Sgt. Gonzalez

Exhibition - Museum of History Edinburg Tx. 

Photograph: Eliana Calderon

 Picture of the description given of the model of Sgt. Gonzalez 

Location: Museum of History Edinburg Tx. 

Photograph : Eliana Calderon 

Alfredo Gonzalez was born in Edinburg Texas on May 23, 1946, he is one of the most recognized personalities in such area due to many of his accomplishments. He died at the early age of 21 protecting his comrades on February 4,1968 during the Vietnam War in KIA in Hue City Vietnam.

He would always be remembered by his community for his sacrifice and deep passion to serve his country.

His mother Dolia Gonzalez was the base of his life.
Family always  supported him through hardships and challenges, the strongest relationship he had was the relationship between him and his mother. He was her only child and she was a single mother.
He was a very responsible and loving son and she really missed him when he would leave to serve in the Military.

Awards

As a true hero he will be always remembered by us and by the rest of the world.

Veterans day became even more significant to the Gonzalez family when he passed away serving to his country.

  He was awarded with the Medal of Honor for his true service and sacrifice.

Also other decorations/awards he received were : 

Purple heart Medal 

Presidential Unit Citation Medal 

Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal 

National Defense Service Medal 

Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal 

Vietnam Military Merit Medal 

The visit

Day of departure: Feb 4 1965

Place: Vietnam
Age: 21 

My blog will be based on a popular death. Alfredo Gonzalez had a very long and happy life.

He was born in Edinburg Texas

People who know him describe him as a selfless person, loving son and supportive individual.

He made a great impact in many peoples life's and was loved widely and deeply by the community.
He was part of the Vietnam war and was a true hero.