Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans: WWII hero Private Pedro Cano

March 17, 2014
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Medal of Honor News
Posted in Medal of Honor Recipients Pvt. Pedro Cano
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Pvt. Pedro Cano

Pedro Cano was born June 19, 1920 in La Morita, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He volunteered to serve in the Army during World War II.
As a private, he was deployed to the European theater to serve with the
4th Infantry Division where he engaged in battles both in France and in
Germany.

Cano is being recognized for his valorous actions in the months-long
battle of Hurtgen Forest.

He was advancing with his company near
Schevenhütte, Germany, in December 1944, when the unit met heavy enemy
resistance. During a two-day period, Cano eliminated nearly 30 enemy
troops.

Sometime later, while on patrol, Cano and his platoon were
surprised by German soldiers that caused numerous casualties within
their platoon. Cano lay motionless on the ground until the assailants
closed in, then tossed a grenade into their midst, wounding or killing
all of them. It was in this engagement, he sustained injuries that left him permanently disabled. He returned
to South Texas to join his wife and children and resumed his work as a
farm laborer.

Posthumously, Cano received the Texas Legislature Medal of Honor. A school in Edinburg, Texas is named after Cano.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Cano received the Distinguished Service
Cross (this award will be upgraded to the Medal of Honor on Mar. 18),
Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal,
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Silver Service
Star and Bronze Arrowhead, World War II Victory Medal, Army of
Occupations Medal with Germany Clasp, Presidential Unit Citations,
Belgian Fourragere, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Honorable Service
Lapel Button-World War II

After repeated requests during war time to become a U.S. citizen and
being ignored by his commanding officer due to other pressing matters,
Cano finally achieved his longest-lasting ambition, to become an
American citizen, in May 1946. He died six years later on June 24, 1952
at the age of 32 in a tragic automobile accident. He left a wife and
three children.