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Rank and organization:
Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company E, 142d
Infantry, 36th Infantry Division.
Place and date:
Near Mertzwiller, France, 15 March 1945.
Entered service at:
Phoenix, Arizona
Birth:
El Paso, Texas
G.O. No.: 75, 5 September 1945. |
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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. |
