Herrera, Silvestre Santana

Date of birth:: July 17th, 1917 (Camargo/Chihuahua, Mexico)
Date of death:: November 26th, 2007 (Gledale/Arizona, United States)
Nationality:: American

Biography

Silvestre Herrera was born in Camargo, Mexico. After his parents died, he was taken to the United States by an uncle and raised there.

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Medal of Honor - Army (MoH)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Private 1st Class
Unit:: Company E, 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division "Arrowhead", U.S. Army
Awarded on:: September 5th, 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."

General Order No.: 75, September 5th, 1945.
Place and date action: Near Mertzwiller, France, March 15th, 1945.