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Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant (then Private), U.S. Army,
Company B, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division. Place and date: Paco
Railroad Station, Manila, Philippine Islands, 9 February 1945.
Entered service at:
San Antonio, Tex. Birth: San Marcos, Tex. G.O. No.: 97, 1 November
1945. Citation: He was an automatic rifleman when his unit attacked the
strongly defended Paco Railroad Station during the battle for Manila, Philippine
Islands. While making a frontal assault across an open field, his platoon
was halted 100 yards from the station by intense enemy fire. On his own
initiative, he left the platoon, accompanied by a comrade, and continued
forward to a house 60 yards from the objective. Although under constant
enemy observation, the 2 men remained in this position for an hour, firing
at targets of opportunity, killing more than 35 hostile soldiers and wounding
many more. Moving closer to the station and discovering a group of Japanese
replacements attempting to reach pillboxes, they opened heavy fire, killed
more than 40 and stopped all subsequent attempts to man the emplacements.
Enemy fire became more intense as they advanced to within 20 yards of the
station. Then, covered by his companion, Pvt. Rodriguez boldly moved up
to the building and threw 5 grenades through a doorway killing 7 Japanese,
destroying a 20-mm. gun and wrecking a heavy machinegun. With their ammunition
running low, the 2 men started to return to the American lines, alternately
providing covering fire for each other's withdrawal. During this movement,
Pvt. Rodriguez' companion was killed. In 2 l/2 hours of fierce fighting
the intrepid team killed more than 82 Japanese, completely disorganized
their defense, and paved the way for the subsequent overwhelming defeat
of the enemy at this strongpoint. Two days later, Pvt. Rodriguez again
enabled his comrades to advance when he single-handedly killed 6 Japanese
and destroyed a well-placed 20-mm. gun by his outstanding skill with his
weapons, gallant determination to destroy the enemy, and heroic courage
in the face of tremendous odds, Pvt. Rodriguez, on 2 occasions, materially
aided the advance of our troops in Manila.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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