By: Campbell, Zaffirini S.C.R. No. 44
(In the Senate - Filed May 7, 2015; May 7, 2015, read first
time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military
Installations; May 15, 2015, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 15, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor was established
to recognize gallant and intrepid service by a member of the state
or federal military forces, and Cleto L. Rodriguez proved himself a
deserving recipient of this prestigious award; and
WHEREAS, Born in San Marcos on April 26, 1923, Cleto
Rodriguez lost both his parents when he was nine, and he moved to
San Antonio to live with relatives; he joined the United States Army
in 1944, becoming a private in Company B of the 148th Infantry; and
WHEREAS, On February 9, 1945, during the battle for Manila in
the Philippines, Private Rodriguez and his unit were advancing on
the heavily defended Paco Railroad Station when they were pinned
down by intense enemy fire; at that point, Private Rodriguez and
Private First Class John Reese took the initiative to charge the
enemy position; the two men reached a house 60 yards from the
Japanese emplacements, and from that location, under the gaze of
enemy gunners, they killed 35 combatants; and
WHEREAS, On moving closer to their objective, the pair
spotted Japanese reinforcements moving toward the station;
Privates Rodriguez and Reese killed more than 40 of the group, which
discouraged further attempts to reinforce the Japanese defenses;
Private Reese then provided covering fire as Private Rodriguez ran
forward and lobbed five grenades into the station doorway,
destroying a 20mm gun and a heavy machine gun and eliminating their
crews; as the pair withdrew to their own lines, Private Reese was
mortally wounded; and
WHEREAS, The bold actions of Privates Rodriguez and Reese
threw Japanese defenses at the station into disarray and made
possible the subsequent seizure of the stronghold; two days later,
Private Rodriguez again enabled his comrades to move forward when
he singlehandedly killed six more enemy soldiers and took out
another 20mm gun; for having materially aided the advance of United
States troops in Manila, he was awarded the Medal of Honor; and
WHEREAS, Upon his return to San Antonio, Cleto Rodriguez was
presented with the key to the city; he worked as a representative
for the Veterans Administration and then served in the United
States Air Force from 1952 to 1954 and in the army from 1955 to 1970,
rising to the rank of master sergeant before his retirement; over
the years, he also served his community as a member of the League of
United Latin American Citizens; his boyhood elementary school was
renamed in his honor in 1975; and
WHEREAS, Married to Flora Muniz in November 1945, Cleto
Rodriguez became the proud father of four children; he passed away
on December 7, 1990, and was buried at Fort Sam Houston National
Cemetery; the following year, a section of United States Route 90 in
San Antonio was named after him; the city has two murals featuring
his likeness, at the Cassiano Homes housing project and at the San
Antonio Central Library; and
WHEREAS, Cleto Rodriguez repeatedly risked his life to
complete his mission and save the lives of his fellow soldiers, and
for his remarkable heroism, he is most assuredly deserving of this
state's supreme military award; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby direct the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously
award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Cleto L. Rodriguez in
recognition of his valiant service during World War II.
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