SERGEANT
ALFREDO GONZALEZ, USMC (DECEASED)
 

Medal of Honor Citation

Alfredo Gonzalez, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in February 1968, was born 23 May 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, 3 June 1965, he was discharged to enlist in the regular Marine Corps, 6 July 1965.

He completed recruit training with the 3d Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, the following September, and individual combat training with the 2d Battalion, 2d 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, and served in that capacity until January 1966. He next saw a one year tour of duty as a rifleman and squadron leader with Company L, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division. He was promoted to private first class on 1 January 1966; to lance corporal on 1 October 1966; and to corporal on 1 December 1966.

Upon his return to the United States in February 1967, he saw duty as a rifleman with the 2d Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Ordered to the West Coast in May 1967, he joined the 3d Replacement Company, Staging Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, for transfer to the Far East.

On 1 July 1967, he was promoted to sergeant, and later that month, arrived in the Republic of Vietnam. He served as a squad leader and platoon sergeant with the 3d Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.

While participating in the initial phase of Operation Hue City in the vicinity of Thua Thien, Vietnam, on 4 February 1968, Sergeant Gonzalez was mortally wounded from hostile rocket fire.

A complete list of his medals and decorations includes: the 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 star, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Military Merit Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Vietnam War 1965-1973 Medal of Honor