Private First Class David M. Gonzales, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on April 25, 1945 at Hill 507, Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands during World War II. At the time he was serving with Company A, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. Gonzales was 21 years old.
Gonzales was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on December 24, 1945 — presented to his widow, Mrs. Stephanie Gonzales, at the home of David's mother in Pacoima, California, by a representative of the War Department.
Gonzales was born on June 9, 1923 in Pacoima, Los Angeles County, California. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Gonzales is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 142 credited to California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
He was pinned down with his company. As enemy fire swept the area, making any movement extremely hazardous, a 500-pound bomb smashed into the company's perimeter, burying five men with its explosion. Pfc. Gonzales, without hesitation, seized an entrenching tool and under a hail of fire crawled 15 yards to his entombed comrades, where his commanding officer, who had also rushed forward, was beginning to dig the men out. Nearing his goal, he saw the officer struck and instantly killed by machine-gun fire. Undismayed, he set to work swiftly and surely with his hands and entrenching tool while enemy sniper and machine-gun bullets struck all about him. He succeeded in digging one of the men out of the pile of rock and sand. To dig faster he stood up regardless of the greater danger from so exposing himself. He extricated a second man, and then another. As he completed the liberation of the third, he was hit and mortally wounded, but the comrades for whom he so gallantly gave his life were safely evacuated. Pfc. Gonzales' valiant and intrepid conduct exemplifies the highest traditions of the military service.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Nearing his goal, he saw the officer struck and instantly killed by machine-gun fire.
As he completed the liberation of the third, he was hit and mortally wounded, but the comrades for whom he so gallantly gave his life were safely evacuated.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (April 25, 1945).
- Age at death: 21
- Resting place: Calvary Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, David M. Gonzales received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in California →
Timeline
- June 9, 1923Born in Pacoima, Los Angeles County, California
- April 25, 1945Act of valor — Hill 507, Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine IslandsAge 21. Company A, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division Killed in action.
- December 24, 1945Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyPresented to his widow, Mrs. Stephanie Gonzales, at the home of David's mother in Pacoima, California, by a representative of the War Department.
- Resting placeCalvary CemeteryLos Angeles, California
Biography
Private First Class David M. Gonzales (June 9, 1923 – April 25, 1945) was a United States Army soldier who posthumously received the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration, for his actions during World War II. On April 25, 1945, at age 21, PFC Gonzales was killed in action in the Philippines while, in the face of enemy machine gunfire, digging out fellow soldiers who had been buried in a bomb explosion.
From the Wikipedia article “David M. Gonzales”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
