Remembering Them Forever (RTF)!
Cano, Pedro
- La Mortia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Military Information:
- US Army
- Bronze Star Medal
- PH: Purple Heart
- Medal of Honor
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Deceased
- WWII Veteran
- TVHOF Class 2020
- QR Code
- TVHOF Valor Award
- TVHOF Patriot Award
- WWII Victory Medal
- Combat Action/Infantry Badge (CIB)
- PVT (Private)
- Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
Bio:
Pedro Cano
Over two days, Private Pedro Cano single-handedly destroyed nine German machinegun positions. After enemy fire halted his unit's advance, Cano crawled through a densely mined area under a barrage of bullets. He came within ten feet of the Germans before firing a rocket launcher. Cano quickly fired another rocket at a second position and charged them while throwing hand grenades. When another unit came under attack, Cano crawled near the enemy and fired a devastating rocket assault. The following day, Cano moved across gunfire-swept terrain and launched successive rocket attacks that destroyed three machineguns.
Profile
Name:Cano, Pedro
Medal(s):Medal of Honor - Army and Texas Legislative Medal of Honor (Awarded Posthumously)
Place of Birth:La Mortia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Entered Service at:Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas
Rank:Private
Service:U.S. Army
Unit:Company C, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
Date of Action:2-3 December 1944
Location of Action:Schevenhutte, Germany
Date of Presentation:Medal of Honor - Army
18 Mach 2014
Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
18 May 2010
Place of Presentation:Medal of Honor - Army
The White House, presented by President Barack Obama to his daughter Dominga Perez
Texas Legislative Medal of Honor
Municipal Auditorium, Edinburg, Texas, presented by Governor Rick Perry to his family
Background Information
Date of Birth:19 June 1920
Family:
Father: Secundino Cano
Mother: Nicolasa Gonzalez Cano
Wife: Herminia Garza Cano
Children: Dominga Cano (daughter)
Maria Cano (daughter)
Susano Cano (daughter)
Place of Entry 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 1920 was 1,406
Early Life:
Family moved to the Rio Grande Valley when he was 2 months old
Served as a farm laborer in Edinburg, Texas until he volunteered to serve in the Army during World War II
Post-Service Life:
Became a United States citizen in May 1946
Received a hero's welcome to Edinburg, Texas on 26 April 1946 (Pedro Cano Day); following a parade, General Matthew Wainwright presented him with the Distinguished Service Cross
Resumed work as a farm laborer
Recognitions:
Cano-Gonzalez Elementary in Edinburg, Texas named in his honor
Cano Street in Edinburg, Texas named in his honor
Date of Death:24 June 1952
Place of Death:Pharr, Hidalgo County, Texas
Cemetery:Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Edinburg, Texas
Conflict Information
Conflict
World War II (1941-1945)
The United States joined the Allied nations to defeat the Axis powers of Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan. American military forces freed Europe from the grip of totalitarian control by battling through Italy, France and Western Europe before conquering Germany.
Battle/Campaign
Battle of Hürtgen Forest
United States vs. Nazi Germany
19 September 1944-10 February 1945
A series of intense battles where American forces attempted to break through the German-controlled forest along the Belgium and German border. The longest single battle in U.S. Army history.
Full Citation
Medal of Honor Citation
Private Pedro Cano distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company C, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Schevenhütte, Germany on December 2 and 3, 1944. On the afternoon of the 2nd, American infantrymen launched an attack against German emplacements but were repulsed by enemy machinegun fire. Armed with a rocket launcher, Private Cano crawled through a densely mined area under heavy enemy fire and successfully reached a point within ten yards of the nearest emplacement. He quickly fired a rocket into the position, killing the two gunners and five supporting riflemen. Without hesitating, he fired into a second position, killing two more gunners, and proceeded to assault the position with hand grenades, killing several others and dispersing the rest. Then, when an adjacent company encountered heavy fire, Private Cano crossed his company front, crept to within fifteen yards of the nearest enemy emplacement and killed the two machinegunners with a rocket. With another round he killed two more gunners and destroyed a second gun. On the following day, his company renewed the attack and again encountered heavy machinegun fire. Private Cano, armed with his rocket launcher, again moved across fire-swept terrain and destroyed three enemy machineguns in succession, killing the six gunners. Private Cano's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
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 World War II, United States Army Private Pedro Cano distinguished himself as a worthy recipient of this prestigious award; and WHEREAS, Born to Nicholasa Gonzalez Cano and Secundino Cano on July 7, 1920, in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Pedro Cano moved with his family to Texas as an infant and spent the rest of his life, except for his time in the army, in the Rio Grande Valley; and WHEREAS, After joining the armed forces during World War II, Private Cano was deployed to Europe, where he fought with the 4th Infantry Division; in December 1944, he was advancing with his company near Schevenhütte, Germany, when they came under withering fire from German machine guns; with his comrades pinned down, Private Cano worked his way forward alone, through a hail of fire and over more than 100 yards of heavily mined terrain, until he was within 30 feet of the nearest German emplacement; firing one round with his hand-held rocket launcher, he destroyed the position and killed its two gunners and five supporting riflemen; he then moved on toward a second emplacement, which he attacked with his rifle and hand grenades, killing several more soldiers; and WHEREAS, With another American company nearby similarly immobilized, Private Cano crept to within 15 yards of a third emplacement, killed its two gunners with a rocket, and then destroyed yet another emplacement and killed its gunners, enabling that company to also advance; and WHEREAS, The next day, the Americans once more encountered heavy German resistance, and Private Cano again moved forward alone with his bazooka; crossing open, fire-swept ground, he succeeded in suppressing three more machine-gun positions and killing their gunners, bringing to nearly 30 the number of German soldiers he killed during that two-day period; and WHEREAS, Sometime later, while on patrol, Private Cano and his platoon were surprised by German soldiers, who inflicted heavy casualties; Private Cano lay motionless on the ground until the assailants closed in, then tossed a grenade into their midst, wounding or killing all of them; and WHEREAS, It was in this engagement, or shortly afterward, that Pedro Cano sustained injuries that left him permanently disabled; in addition to a Purple Heart, he was awarded two Silver Stars and a Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest award for valor; of the more than 16,100,000 individuals who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II, only 5,059 were recognized with the DSC; and WHEREAS, Mr. Cano's most illustrious medal arrived at his home near Edinburg in the mail, prompting area citizens to plan a formal ceremony, complete with numerous other festivities; on April 26, 1946, Pedro Cano Day, some 4,000 local residents turned out to witness General Jonathan M. Wainwright present the medal to the former private; also present on the dais were other high-ranking American and Mexican military officers, as well as civil officials and several other Rio Grande Valley military heroes; in his remarks, General Wainwright declared that he believed Pedro Cano actually deserved the highest recognition of all, the Medal of Honor; and WHEREAS, In May 1946, Mr. Cano realized a longtime aspiration when he received his American citizenship; six years later, on June 24, 1952, he was killed in a traffic accident; survived by his wife, Herminia Garza Cano, his daughters, Dominga and Maria, and his son, Susano, Pedro Cano was buried with military honors in Edinburg, where today a street and an elementary school both bear his name; and WHEREAS, Pedro Cano repeatedly risked his life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers and to help advance their mission, and for his extraordinary heroism he is most assuredly deserving of this state's supreme military award; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas hereby posthumously confer the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor on Pedro Cano in recognition of his courageous actions in World War II 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 Mr. Cano's family as an expression of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.
Posted:G.Steele
Reference: Extracted fromhttps://txmedalofhonor.com/#/recipient/4f36f75e-142e-83d2-15c9-76a24b9ab8cf
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