Valor 24: Manuel Mendoza

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

03.21.2014

Courtesy Photo

Office of the Chief of Public Affairs

Medal of Honor candidate Manuel Mendoza was born in Miami, Ariz., June 15, 1922. Mendoza entered the U.S. Army at Fort MacArthur, Calif., November 1942. He served in both WWII and Korea. Then-Staff Sgt. Manuel Mendoza is being recognized for his actions while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company B, 250th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division on Oct. 4, 1944 in Mt. Battaglia, Italy, where he is credited with single-handedly breaking up a German counterattack. That afternoon, the enemy launched a violent counterattack preceded by a heavy mortar barrage. Mendoza, already wounded in the arm and leg, grabbed a Thompson sub-machine-gun and ran to the crest of the hill, where he saw approximately 200 enemy troops charging up the slopes employing flame-throwers, machine pistols, rifles, and hand grenades. Mendoza immediately began to engage the enemy. Mendoza was nicknamed the “Arizona Kid” for his actions in combat. After the enemy had withdrawn, he advanced down the forward slope of the hill, retrieved numerous enemy weapons scattered about the area, captured a wounded enemy soldier, and returned to the consolidated friendly positions with all available men. Mendoza’s gallant stand resulted in thirty German soldiers killed, and the successful defense of the hill. Following his Army career, Mendoza found employment as a foreman at a nuclear plant. He passed away at age 79. Alice Mendoza will accept the Medal of Honor award from President Barack Obama on March 18, 2014, on behalf of her late husband. Sylvia Nandin, Mendoza’s daughter, will serve as the family spokesperson. Growing up, Sylvia did not hear many stories from her father’s time in combat. She only found out about her father’s heroic actions at age 12 upon reading a book titled “Among the Valiant,” which mentions Mexican heroes of the Korean War and WWII. Sylvia is is a retired educator.

• Date Taken: 03.21.2014
• Date Posted: 03.21.2014 15:38
• Photo ID: 1192596
• VIRIN: 140321-A-ZZ999-001
• Resolution: 595x794
• Size: 259.82 KB
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)