Freddy Gonzalez to receive Texas’ highest honor

EDINBURG — The city’s hometown hero is set to be honored once again for his bravery and leadership.

Sgt. Alfredo “Freddy” Gonzalez, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War, is set to be honored with the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor on Monday.

Gov. Rick Perry plans to present the award to Gonzalez’s mother, Dolia, at Cats Stadium at 2 p.m. Gates for the event open at 1 p.m.

Born in Edinburg in 1946, Freddy Gonzalez enlisted in the Marines and went to battle in Vietnam in 1965.

During his second tour of duty, he fell wounded but managed to avoid further enemy gunfire, save one of his comrades and knocked out several enemy positions before his mortal wound, according to The Handbook of Texas.

State Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, plans to be at Monday’s event, along with other local officials.

“Freddy is a symbol of all the soldiers of South Texas who had a full life of promise and gave it up for their country,” Peña said last week.

“Many of them we lost and many of them will be forgotten, but through Freddy we can remember all of them.”

The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest award the state can bestow. The award will add to Gonzalez’s already-long list of achievements, including the supreme Congressional Medal of Honor, a Purple Heart and many others.

The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor has been awarded only six times. It is the highest medal given by the state to a serviceman or woman for demonstrating extraordinary valor.

Dolia Gonzalez, who still lives in Edinburg, could not be reached for comment.

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Jared Taylor covers Edinburg, the Delta region and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.