Remembering Them Forever (RTF)!

Military Information:

• PH: Purple Heart
• US Marine Corps
• Medal of Honor
• Vietnam Veteran
• Deceased
• KIA
• SGT: Sergeant
• TVHOF Class 2020
• QR Code
• TVHOF Valor Award
• TVHOF Patriot Award
• Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
• 1-Alpha List
• Vietnam Memorial Wall

Bio:

Alfredo (Freddy) Gonzalez

Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez heroically placed himself in danger to save the lives of fellow Marines. Gonzalez ran through heavy enemy gunfire and carried a wounded comrade to safety. Despite suffering from wounds, Gonzalez again dashed through machinegun fire and destroyed a fortified Vietnamese position with grenades. He refused medical treatment to continue to lead his troops. The following day, his unit came under assault from fortified positions and suffered significant casualties. Gonzalez again attacked on his own, skillfully maneuvering and firing. He knocked out several Vietnamese positions before succumbing to mortal wounds.

Profile
Name:Gonzalez, Alfredo (Freddy)
Medal(s):Medal of Honor - Navy and Texas Legislative Medal of Honor (Awarded Posthumously)
Place of Birth:Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas
Entered Service at:San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Rank:Sergeant
Service:U.S. Marine Corps
Unit:3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein)
Date of Action:4 February 1968
Location of Action:near Thua Thien, Republic of Vietnam
Date of Presentation:Medal of Honor - Navy
31 October 1969

Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
4 February 2008
Place of Presentation:Medal of Honor - Navy
The White House, presented by Vice President Spiro Agnew to his family

Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District Cats Stadium, Edinburg, Texas presented by Governor Rick Perry to his mother Dolia Gonzalez
Background Information
Date of Birth:23 May 1946
Family:
Father: Andrés Cantu
Mother: Dolia Gonzalez
Hometown Overview:
Edinburg is the county seat of Hidalgo, seventh largest county in Texas
Home to the University of Texas-Pan American, the state‘‘s tenth largest public university (now the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley)
Population in 1950 was over 12,000
Early Life:
Attended Lamar Grammar School
An all-district high school football star
Graduated from Edinburg High School in 1965
Recognitions:
U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) named after him
Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home in McAllen, Texas named in his honor
Freddy Gonzalez Elementary School in Edinburg, Texas named in his honor
Alfredo Gonzalez Boulevard at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina named after him
Date of Death:4 February 1968
Place of Death:Republic of Vietnam
Cemetery:Hillcrest Cemetery, Edinburg, Texas
Conflict Information
Conflict

Vietnam War (1962-1975)

The United States supported South Vietnam in its struggle against the communist North Vietnam. American armed forces fought to keep the North Vietnamese Army out of South Vietnam as well as battled South Vietnamese insurgent fighters known as the Viet Cong.

Battle/Campaign

Battle of Huế

United States and South Vietnam vs. North Vietnam and Viet Cong

30 January-3 March 1968

In early 1968, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces launched multiple attacks throughout South Vietnam in operations dubbed the Tet Offensive. Initially Communist forces captured most of the city of Huế. American forces eventually regained control of the city through fierce house-to-house fighting.

Full Citation
Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon commander, 3d Platoon, Company A. On 31 January 1968, during the initial phase of Operation Huế City, Sgt. Gonzalez' unit was formed as a reaction force and deployed to Huế to relieve the pressure on the beleaguered city. While moving by truck convoy along Route No. 1, near the village of Lang Van Lrong, the marines received a heavy volume of enemy fire. Sgt. Gonzalez aggressively maneuvered the marines in his platoon, and directed their fire until the area was cleared of snipers. Immediately after crossing a river south of Huế, the column was again hit by intense enemy fire. One of the marines on top of a tank was wounded and fell to the ground in an exposed position. With complete disregard for his safety, Sgt. Gonzalez ran through the fire-swept area to the assistance of 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. Due to the increased volume and accuracy of enemy fire from a fortified machine gun bunker on the side of the road, the company was temporarily halted. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sgt. Gonzalez exposed himself to the enemy fire and moved his platoon along the east side of a bordering rice paddy to a dike directly across from the bunker. Though fully aware of the danger involved, he moved to the fire-swept road and destroyed the hostile position with hand grenades. Although seriously wounded again on 3 February, he steadfastly refused medical treatment and continued to supervise his men and lead the attack. On 4 February, the enemy had again pinned the company down, inflicting heavy casualties with automatic weapons and rocket fire. Sgt. Gonzalez, utilizing a number of light antitank assault weapons, fearlessly moved from position to position firing numerous rounds at the heavily fortified enemy emplacements. He successfully knocked out a rocket position and suppressed much of the enemy fire before falling mortally wounded. The heroism, courage, and dynamic leadership displayed by Sgt. Gonzalez reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Texas Legislative Medal of Honor Citation

WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor was established to honor gallant and intrepid service by a member of the state or federal military forces, and through his courageous actions in Vietnam, Sergeant Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez distinguished himself as a worthy recipient of this prestigious honor; and WHEREAS, Born May 23, 1946, in Edinburg and a graduate of Edinburg High School, Sergeant Gonzalez enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in May 1965; after his first tour of duty in Vietnam, he was chosen to train new marines for guerilla warfare; and WHEREAS, A few months later, Sergeant Gonzalez learned of an ambush in which men who had served under him had been killed; impelled by a strong sense of duty to his fellow marines and to his country, he volunteered for a second tour in Vietnam; and WHEREAS, When, at the end of January 1968, North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops launched the massive Tet Offensive, Sergeant Gonzalez and his platoon were ordered to Huế to relieve the pressure on that city; en route to Huế, the platoon's convoy was hit by heavy fire on several occasions; during one such encounter, Sergeant Gonzalez saw an injured marine lying in the road ahead and ran through enemy fire to carry the man to cover, receiving fragmentation wounds in the rescue; and WHEREAS, With the column halted by withering fire from a fortified machine-gun bunker, Sergeant Gonzalez proceeded to guide his men to a protective dike; he then moved out onto a road being raked by the gun and destroyed the bunker with hand grenades; later, on February 3, Sergeant Gonzalez was seriously wounded but continued to refuse medical treatment and to lead his men in their attack; and WHEREAS, During fighting in Huế on February 4, his platoon of some 35 troops was again pinned down by a ferocious barrage; telling his unit to stay behind shelter, Sergeant Gonzalez moved forward aggressively with hand grenades and small antitank rockets, firing numerous rounds against enemy emplacements; and WHEREAS, Entering a church, where the North Vietnamese were heavily fortified, he succeeded in suppressing virtually all of their fire; before the last of it could be silenced, however, he was mortally wounded; and WHEREAS, Because he succeeded in destroying so many North Vietnamese positions, Sergeant Gonzalez was credited with saving the lives of the men in his platoon; the following year, in consequence of his extraordinary and selfless action, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, becoming the only marine in combat during the Tet Offensive to receive that award; and WHEREAS, For those with whom he served, the heroism displayed by Sergeant Gonzalez was completely in character; "it seemed like he was everywhere all the time," one remembered; "he was always there in the front, never in the back...he was always there for us"; and WHEREAS, Among the awards subsequently conferred on Sergeant Gonzalez were three Purple Hearts, four Presidential Unit Citations, and a Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, and Cold War Certificate; in addition, he was the posthumous recipient of two South Vietnamese decorations—the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with gold palm and star and the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze stars; in 1996, the U.S. Navy commissioned a new guided missile-destroyer in his honor; and WHEREAS, Through his unhesitating selflessness and his unfaltering devotion to duty, honor, and his country, Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez embodied the highest ideals of the armed service, and he most assuredly merits the award of this state's supreme military medal; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby posthumously confer the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor on Sergeant Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez in recognition of his heroic service and express to his family its deepest appreciation on behalf of all his fellow Texans; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the family of Sergeant Gonzalez as an expression of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.

Posted: Gary Steele
Reference: Extracted fromhttps://txmedalofhonor.com/#/recipient/ba4d209d-24b7-d99b-ecb3-e2c71ca04b24

https://txmedalofhonor.com/#/recipient/ba4d209d-24b7-d99b-ecb3-e2c71ca04b24