We should honor and remember Pedro Cano today, who earned the Medal of Honor for his leadership on this day 79 years ago in World War II, by exposing himself to ferocious German fire to blast his bazooka at machine gun nests pinning down his company in the Hurtgen Forest.

As part of the 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division, Cano landed on Utah Beach on D-Day. He fought with the division through northern France, and, by November 1944, was in combat in the Hurtgen Forest. 

Between December 2 and December 3, 1944, Cano showed immense courage when he exposed himself repeatedly to enemy fire to launch his bazooka at a series of German gun emplacements that had pinned own both his own company and a fellow American infantry company. Fighting in the thick Hurtgen Forest was impeded by heavy foliage that made excellent defensive positions, but cano crawled close to each German gun pit and destroyed several over 48 hours, even single-handedly loading and firing his weapon. 

Cano was a Mexican immigrant, having arrived in the United States when he was two months old. He had a wife, Herminia, and three children when he joined the Army at 23 years of age. 

He returned to Texas after the War and was surprised to one day receive a Distinguished Service Cross in the mail. His fellow veterans were incensed by the unceremonious delivery and organized a ceremony presided over by a General Jonathan Wainwright, famed for is defense of Bataan and the Philippines.

Cano’s Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2014, after a review of valor medals by the Department of Defense, and President Obama presented the Medal to Cano’s surviving family.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Cano received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart during the War. He became an American citizen after the War. Cano tragically died in a car accident in 1952 and is buried in hi hometown of Edinburgh, TX. Please honor and remember this great American!