Namesake:
Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez
Alfredo
Gonzalez was born May 23, 1946, in Edinburg, Texas. He graduated from
Lamar Grammar School in 1955, and from Edinburg High School in 1965.
Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at San Antonio, Texas, June
3, 1965, he completed Recruit Training with 3rd Recruit Training
Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Dept, San Diego, California, the
following September, and Individual Combat Training 2nd Battalion, 2nd
Infantry training regiment, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton,
California, that October.
After completing Individual Combat Training, he became a rifleman with
Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st
Marine Division (Rein), FMF, and served in that capacity until January
1966. He next saw a one year Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine
Division (Rein), FMF. He was promoted to Private First Class, January
1, 1966; to Lance Corporal, October 1, 1966, and to Corporal, December
1, 1966.
Upon his return to the United States in February 1967, he reported for
duty as a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp
Pendleton, California, for transfer to the Far East.
On July 1, 1967, he was promoted to Sergeant, and later that month,
arrived in the Republic of Vietnam. He served as Squad Leader and
Platoon Sergeant with 3rd Platoon Company "A", 1st Battalion, 1st
Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF.
While participating in the initial phase of Operation HUE CITY in the
vicinity of Thua Thien, Vietnam, on February 4, 1968, Sergeant Gonzalez
was mortally wounded from hostile rocket fire.
A complete list of medals and decorations include: the Congressional
Medal of Honor; the Purple Heart; the Presidential Unit Citation; the
National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal with two
bronze stars; the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm; the Military
Merit Medal; and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Sergeant Gonzalez is survived by his mother, Mrs. Dolia Gonzalez and
his grandmother, Mrs. Herminia Gonzalez.
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