Namesake:
Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez
Alfredo Gonzalez was born May 23, 1946, in Edinburg,
Texas. He graduated from Lamar Grammar School in 1955, and from
Edinburg High School in 1965.
Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at San Antonio,
Texas, June 3, 1965, he completed Recruit Training with 3rd
Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Dept, San
Diego, California, the following September, and Individual
Combat Training 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry training regiment,
Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, that October.
After completing Individual Combat Training, he became a
rifleman with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st
Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF, and
served in that capacity until January 1966. He next saw a one
year Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division (Rein), FMF. He
was promoted to Private First Class, January 1, 1966; to Lance
Corporal, October 1, 1966, and to Corporal, December 1, 1966.
Upon his return to the United States in February 1967, he
reported for duty as a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, Marine Corps
Base, Camp Pendleton, California, for transfer to the Far East.
On July 1, 1967, he was promoted to Sergeant, and later
that month, arrived in the Republic of Vietnam. He served as
Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant with 3rd Platoon Company "A",
1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF.
While participating in the initial phase of Operation HUE
CITY in the vicinity of Thua Thien, Vietnam, on February 4,
1968, Sergeant Gonzalez was mortally wounded from hostile rocket
fire.
A complete list of medals and decorations include: the
Congressional Medal of Honor; the Purple Heart; the Presidential
Unit Citation; the National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnam
Service Medal with two bronze stars; the Vietnamese Cross of
Gallantry with palm; the Military Merit Medal; and the Republic
of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Sergeant Gonzalez is survived by his mother, Mrs. Dolia
Gonzalez and his grandmother, Mrs. Herminia Gonzalez.
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