Technical Sergeant (then Private), U.S. Army, Company
B,
148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Paco Railroad Station, Manila, Philippine
Islands,
9 February 1945.
Entered service at: San Antonio, Tex.
Birth: San Marcos, Tex.
G.O. No.: 97, 1 November 1945.
Citation:
He was an automatic rifleman when his unit attacked
the strongly
defended Paco Railroad Station during the battle for
Manila,
Philippine Islands.
While making a frontal assault across an open field,
his platoon
was halted 100 yards from the station by intense enemy
fire.
On his own initiative, he left the platoon, accompanied
by a comrade,
and continued forward to a house 60 yards from the
objective.
Although under constant enemy observation, the 2 men
remained
in this position for an hour, firing at targets of
opportunity, killing
more than 35 hostile soldiers and wounding many more.
Moving closer to the station and discovering a group of Japanese replacements attempting to reach pillboxes, they opened heavy fire, killed more than 40 and stopped all subsequent attempts to man the emplacements.
Enemy fire became more intense as they advanced to
within 20 yards
of the station. Then, covered by his companion, Pvt.
Rodriguez boldly
moved up to the building and threw 5 grenades through
a doorway
killing 7 Japanese, destroying a 20_mm. gun and
wrecking a heavy machinegun.
With their ammunition running low, the 2 men started
to return
to the American lines, alternately providing covering
fire for
each other's withdrawal.
During this movement, Pvt. Rodriguez' companion was killed.
In 2 l/2 hours of fierce fighting the intrepid team killed more than 82 Japanese, completely disorganized their defense, and paved the way for the subsequent overwhelming defeat of the enemy at this strongpoint.
Two days later, Pvt. Rodriguez again enabled his comrades
to advance
when he single-handedly killed 6 Japanese and destroyed
a well_
placed 20_mm. gun by his outstanding skill with his
weapons,
gallant determination to destroy the enemy, and heroic
courage in the
face of tremendous odds, Pvt. Rodriguez, on 2 occasions,
materially
aided the advance of our troops in Manila.
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Medal of Honor Recipient, Americans of Hispanic Heritage