Private First Class Silvestre Santana Herrera was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 15, 1945 near Merzwiller, France during World War II. At the time he was serving with 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Company E, 2d Battalion, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division. Herrera was 28 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 23, 1945 — the White House, presented by Pres. Harry S. Truman. He later rose to the rank of Sergeant.
Herrera was born on December 31, 1916 in Chihuahua, Mexico — one of 8 recipients born in Mexico. His Medal of Honor is credited to Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. Herrera died on November 26, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona, at the age of 90. He is buried at Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona.
Herrera is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 16 credited to Arizona.
Official Medal of Honor citation
He advanced with a platoon along a wooded road until stopped by heavy enemy machine-gun fire. As the rest of the unit took cover, he made a one-man frontal assault on a strongpoint and captured eight enemy soldiers. When the platoon resumed its advance and was subjected to fire from a second emplacement beyond an extensive minefield, Pvt. Herrera again moved forward, disregarding the danger of exploding mines, to attack the position. He stepped on a mine and had both feet severed; but, despite intense pain and unchecked loss of blood, he pinned down the enemy with accurate rifle fire while a friendly squad captured the enemy gun by skirting the minefield and rushing in from the flank. The magnificent courage, extraordinary heroism, and willing self-sacrifice displayed by Pvt. Herrera resulted in the capture of two enemy strongpoints and the taking of eight prisoners.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Silvestre Santana Herrera 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 Arizona →
Timeline
- December 31, 1916Born in Chihuahua, Mexico
- March 15, 1945Act of valor — near Merzwiller, FranceAge 28. 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Company E, 2d Battalion, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division
- August 23, 1945Medal of Honor presentedThe White House, presented by Pres. Harry S. Truman
- November 26, 2007Died in Glendale, ArizonaAge 90.
- Resting placeResthaven Park CemeteryGlendale, Arizona
Biography
Silvestre Santana Herrera (July 17, 1917 – November 26, 2007) was a private first class of the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Mertzwiller, France, during World War II. After he mounted a one-man charge on an enemy stronghold which resulted in the solo capture of eight enemy soldiers, his unit was again attacked by a machine gun placement across another minefield. Herrera again that day single-handedly took on the enemy. While crossing the second minefield, he lost one of his legs to a land mine explosion then the other leg to a second explosion.
From the Wikipedia article “Silvestre S. Herrera”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
