Today we celebrate the life and heroics of Marine Corps Sgt. Alfredo “Freddy” Gonzalez of Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Regiment, 1st Marine Division.


Today we celebrate the life and heroics of Marine Corps Sgt. Alfredo “Freddy” Gonzalez of Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

 Sgt. Gonzalez would posthumously receive the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam on this day in 1968 that cost him his life.

Serving as platoon commander near Thua Thien, Vietnam on a mission to relieve pressure on the beleaguered city of Huế, Sgt. Gonzalez’s truck convoy came under a barrage of enemy fire. Responding quickly, Sgt. Gonzalez aggressively maneuvered his platoon to direct fire until the area was cleared of snipers. 

Immediately after crossing a river south of the city, the convoy was again hit by intense enemy fire. When one of his fellow Marines on top of a tank was wounded and fell to the ground in an exposed position, Sgt. Gonzalez ran through the fire-swept area to aid his injured comrade, lifting him up carrying him to cover. But Sgt. Gonzalez’s company was soon halted by enemy fire from a fortified machinegun bunker. 

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sgt. Gonzalez, exposing himself to the fire, moved his platoon along the east side of a bordering rice paddy to a dike directly across from the bunker. Sgt. Gonzalez then moved to fire-swept road and destroyed the hostile position with hand grenades. Although seriously wounded, he steadfastly refused medical treatment and continued to supervise his men and lead the attack. 

The next day, the enemy again pinned his company down, this time inflicting heavy casualties with automatic weapons and rocket fire. Sgt. Gonzalez, utilizing a number of light antitank assault weapons, fearlessly moved from position to position firing numerous rounds at the heavily fortified enemy emplacements, successfully knocking out a rocket position and suppressing much of the enemy fire before being mortally wounded. 

Help keep Sgt. Gonzalez’s memory alive by SHARING his story of heroism, courage, and dynamic leadership with your friends and family!

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