Manuel V. Mendoza

Manuel V. Mendoza
Born (1922-06-15)June 15, 1922
Miami, Arizona
Died December 12, 2001(2001-12-12)
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1942–1945
1949–1953
Rank Master Sergeant
Unit Company B, 350th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division
Battles/wars World War II
Korean War
Awards

Manuel Verdugo Mendoza[1] (June 15, 1922 – December 12, 2001[2]) is a recipient of the Medal of Honor.[3]

Background

Mendoza joined the Army from Phoenix, Arizona in November 1942[4] and served in World War II, during which his actions in Italy earned him the Medal of Honor. He later served in the Korean War, and left the Army in 1953.[5]

Medal of Honor action

According to Mendoza's U.S. Army biography,[3] Mendoza received the Medal of Honor to recognize his actions on Oct. 4, 1944, in Mt. Battaglia, Italy, where he is credited with single-handedly breaking up a German counterattack.

Mendoza was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a March 18, 2014 ceremony in the White House. The award came through the Defense Authorization Act which called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor.[6]

Honors and awards

Mendoza received the Medal of Honor, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with five Bronze Service Stars, Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman Badge (Second Award), Honorable Service Lapel Button-World War II, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea Korean War Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Italian Cross for Merit of War Unit Citation.[3]

Mendoza's wife Alice accepted the Medal of Honor on his behalf during a White House ceremony on March 18, 2014.

References

  1. ↑ Hall of Valor
  2. ↑ "Manuel Verdugo "Arizona Kid" Mendoza (1922-2001)". Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Master Sergeant Manuel V. Mendoza". Army.mil. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  4. ↑ WWII Army Enlistment Records
  5. ↑ Service profile
  6. ↑ Daniel Rothberg (2014-02-21). "Obama will award Medal of Honor to 24 overlooked Army veterans". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
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