H.C.R. No. 5
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor was established
to honor gallant and intrepid service by a member of the state or
federal military forces, and through his courageous actions in
World War II, United States Army Private Pedro Cano distinguished
himself as a worthy recipient of this prestigious award; and
WHEREAS, Born to Nicholasa Gonzalez Cano and Secundino Cano
on July 7, 1920, in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Pedro Cano moved with his
family to Texas as an infant and spent the rest of his life, except
for his time in the army, in the Rio Grande Valley; and
WHEREAS, After joining the armed forces during World War II,
Private Cano was deployed to Europe, where he fought with the 4th
Infantry Division; in December 1944, he was advancing with his
company near Schevenhutte, Germany, when they came under withering
fire from German machine guns; with his comrades pinned down,
Private Cano worked his way forward alone, through a hail of fire
and over more than 100 yards of heavily mined terrain, until he was
within 30 feet of the nearest German emplacement; firing one round
with his hand-held rocket launcher, he destroyed the position and
killed its two gunners and five supporting riflemen; he then moved
on toward a second emplacement, which he attacked with his rifle and
hand grenades, killing several more soldiers; and
WHEREAS, With another American company nearby similarly
immobilized, Private Cano crept to within 15 yards of a third
emplacement, killed its two gunners with a rocket, and then
destroyed yet another emplacement and killed its gunners, enabling
that company to also advance; and
WHEREAS, The next day, the Americans once more encountered
heavy German resistance, and Private Cano again moved forward alone
with his bazooka; crossing open, fire-swept ground, he succeeded in
suppressing three more machine-gun positions and killing their
gunners, bringing to nearly 30 the number of German soldiers he
killed during that two-day period; and
WHEREAS, Sometime later, while on patrol, Private Cano and
his platoon were surprised by German soldiers, who inflicted heavy
casualties; Private Cano lay motionless on the ground until the
assailants closed in, then tossed a grenade into their midst,
wounding or killing all of them; and
WHEREAS, It was in this engagement, or shortly afterward,
that Pedro Cano sustained injuries that left him permanently
disabled; in addition to a Purple Heart, he was awarded two Silver
Stars and a Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's
second-highest award for valor; of the more than 16,100,000
individuals who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II,
only 5,059 were recognized with the DSC; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cano's most illustrious medal arrived at his
home near Edinburg in the mail, prompting area citizens to plan a
formal ceremony, complete with numerous other festivities; on April
26, 1946, Pedro Cano Day, some 4,000 local residents turned out to
witness General Jonathan M. Wainwright present the medal to the
former private; also present on the dais were other high-ranking
American and Mexican military officers, as well as civil officials
and several other Rio Grande Valley military heroes; in his
remarks, General Wainwright declared that he believed Pedro Cano
actually deserved the highest recognition of all, the Medal of
Honor; and
WHEREAS, In May 1946, Mr. Cano realized a longtime aspiration
when he received his American citizenship; six years later, on June
24, 1952, he was killed in a traffic accident; survived by his wife,
Herminia Garza Cano, his daughters, Dominga and Maria, and his son,
Susano, Pedro Cano was buried with military honors in Edinburg,
where today a street and an elementary school both bear his name;
and
WHEREAS, Pedro Cano repeatedly risked his life to save the
lives of his fellow soldiers and to help advance their mission, and
for his extraordinary heroism he is most assuredly deserving of
this state's supreme military award; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby posthumously confer the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor on
Pedro Cano in recognition of his courageous actions in World War II
and express to his family its deepest appreciation on behalf of all
his fellow Texans; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Cano's family as an expression of highest regard by
the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.
Pea
Vaught
Turner of Tarrant
Maldonado
Farias
Anderson
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 5 was adopted by the House on May 7,
2009, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 5 was adopted by the Senate on May
27, 2009, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor