H.R. No. 1427
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Rio Grande Valley has given legions of
courageous men and women to the United States armed forces, and one
of the most heroic was Pedro Cano, of Hidalgo County; and
WHEREAS, Born to Nicholasa Gonzalez Cano and Secundino Cano
on July 7, 1920, in Nuevo Leon in Mexico, Mr. Cano moved with his
family to Texas when he was just two months old; with the exception
of the time he spent in the U.S. Army, he lived the rest of his life
on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, where he worked as an
agricultural laborer and farmer; and
WHEREAS, When he was called up by the army during World War
II, Mr. Cano, a slight man with limited knowledge of English, had
little wish to leave the Valley; he reported for duty nevertheless
and subsequently deployed to the European theater; in the fall of
1944 he was with the 4th Infantry Division when that force, after
helping to liberate Paris, launched an attack on the Siegfried
Line; and
WHEREAS, In the course of that push against German defenses,
Private Cano fought in the months-long battle of Hurtgen Forest,
and it was during that struggle that he etched his name in the
annals of military valor; he was advancing with his company near
Schevenhutte, Germany, in December 1944 when the unit 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 thereafter,
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 gallantry; 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 by mail at
his home near Edinburg, and the unassuming veteran put it away in a
closet; area citizens, however, learned of the award and were
indignant at the military's seeming lack of respect; they secured
the cooperation of the U.S. War Department in planning a public
celebration, much to Mr. Cano's consternation, and April 26, 1946,
was designated Pedro Cano Day; and
WHEREAS, Edinburg schools and most businesses closed for the
occasion and some 4,000 local residents turned out to witness a
parade, followed by a ceremony at the courthouse square; there,
General Jonathan M. Wainwright, commander of the 4th Army,
presented the DSC to Mr. Cano in the presence of Rear Admiral Joseph
James Clark of the U.S. Navy, General J. Trinidad Rodriguez and
Colonel J. Tiburcio Garza Zamorra of the Mexican Army, Texas State
Senator Rogers Kelley, Valley military heroes William G. Harrell,
Luis N. Gonzalez, and Jose M. Lopez, U.S. and Mexican consular
officials, Mr. Cano's wife and mother, and a throng of
well-wishers; in his remarks, General Wainwright declared that he
believed Pedro Cano actually deserved the highest recognition of
all, the medal of honor; and
WHEREAS, The day's festivities also included a barbecue
funded by public subscription, a luncheon and reception for Mr.
Cano and special guests, and a dinner and dance hosted by the
Edinburg Civic Association; in addition, the state commander of the
American Legion conferred on Mr. Cano a life membership in that
organization; and
WHEREAS, In May 1946, Mr. Cano realized a longtime aspiration
when he received his American citizenship; though disabled, he also
longed to take up farming again, and the state stepped in to provide
him with 40 acres, a house, a truck, and farm equipment; and
WHEREAS, Pedro Cano died on June 24, 1952, as a result of a
traffic accident; survived by his wife, Herminia Garza Cano, his
daughters, Dominga and Maria, and his son, Susano, the 31-year-old
veteran was buried with military honors in Edinburg, where today a
street and an elementary school both bear his name; and
WHEREAS, The heroism exhibited by Pedro Cano is a testament
to the extraordinary capacity of the human spirit for selfless
action in the face of near-certain death, and his fellow citizens
owe this quiet Texan a lasting debt of gratitude and remembrance;
and
WHEREAS, Representative Aaron Pea has justly recognized
Pedro Cano by authoring this resolution in his behalf during the
regular session of the 81st Texas Legislature; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the courageous service of Pedro Cano
and recognize April 26, 2009, as Pedro Cano Day in Edinburg; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Cano's family as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.
Pea
Gonzales
Guillen
Lucio III
Rios Ybarra
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1427 was adopted by the House on April
21, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House