[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 13, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E344-E345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING SILVESTRE S. HERRERA

                                 ______


                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 13, 1996

  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Silvestre S. Herrera, 
of Phoenix, AZ, who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor 51 years 
ago by assaulting a German gun position on March 15, 1945.
  On that day, Pfc. Silvestre Herrera, an acting squad leader/automatic 
rifleman, and Company E, 142d Infantry of the 36th (Texas) Infantry 
Division, was the lead element as it moved into German-held territory 
somewhere near Merrwiller, France.
  Private First Class Herrera and other soldiers were moving along a 
wooded road when they were stopped by heavy enemy machinegun fire. As 
the rest of the platoon took cover from incoming fire, Private First 
Class Herrera moved forward and shot three German soldiers. Eight 
others surrendered.
  As the platoon continued forward, they were stopped by more 
machinegun fire. Herrera ran toward some large rocks, intending to take 
cover. Instead, he stepped on a landmine and it blew him into the air. 
When he came down, he hit another land mine. He had lost both legs just 
below the knee.
  Private First Class Herrera somehow managed to hold onto his M-1 
rifle. He applied a bandage to his leg and dragged himself to the 
rocks. He braced himself and began firing at the enemy. He hit at least 
one of the Germans and forced the others to stop shooting and take 
cover.
  Under Herrera's covering fire, his platoon moved in and killed the 
German machinegun crew. The platoon found a path through the minefield 
and located a bleeding and injured Herrera. They rushed him back to an 
aid station. Later, Herrera was sent to France and remained in a 
hospital until the war ended.

  Herrera was decorated by President Truman on August 23, 1945, at the 
White House and in March 1946, he was discharged from the Army as a 
sergeant.
  Although no books or films have been written about his heroics, 
Herrera's deeds are heralded. In 1956, the Phoenix Elementary School 
District named an elementary school after him. Herrera's own elementary 
school district, the Pendergast School District, also erected a bust to 
honor the Congressional Medal winner. The bust was unveiled at 
Pendergast School in Phoenix during a February reception. The bust, 
created by Zarco Guerrero, is part of the World War II Commemorative 
Community Program sponsored by the Department of Defense.

[[Page E345]]

  Fundraising for the bust was organized and initiated by the 
Pendergast family, who have known Herrera since childhood.
  The American G.I. Forum also formed a Silvestre Herrera Chapter on 
June 23, 1995. On March 15 of this year, the G.I. Forum will salute 
Herrera on the 51st anniversary of that fateful day in 1945.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in saluting and thanking Mr. Herrera 
for his service to the country and his heroism under fire.

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