Cleto Rodriguez Cleto L . Rodriguez ( April 26 , 1923 – December 7 , 1990 ) was an American who served in both the U . S . Army , and in the U . S . Air Force , and received the Medal of Honor for actions in Manila , Philippine Islands during World War II . Early years . He was born and lived in San Marcos , Texas until his parents died when he was nine years old . After the death of his parents he was sent to live with relatives in San Antonio , Texas . As a boy he worked for the Gunter Hotel as a newsboy . He enlisted in the United States Army in early 1944 where he served as a Private in Company B , 148th Infantry , 37th Infantry Division . World War II . In Manila on February 9 , 1945 Cleto ' s platoon was ordered to initiate an offensive assault against the Paco Railroad Station that was being held by the Japan ese . While crossing an open field in front of the railroad station his platoon was stopped 100 yards from the railroad station by intense Japanese gunfire . Without being ordered to do so Cleto and a fellow soldier , Private First Class John N . Reese , Jr . , left the platoon and continued forward under heavy Japanese gunfire until they made it to a house 60 yards from the railroad station . The two soldiers remained in their position for an hour while firing at targets of opportunity , killing 35 Japanese soldiers and wounding many others . After an hour the 2 soldiers moved forward towards the railroad station where they discovered a group of Japanese replacements attempting to reach pillboxes . Cleto and his fellow soldier opened heavy fire and killed more than 40 Japanese soldiers and stopped any other attempts to reach the pillboxes . The enemy fire increased as the two soldiers came within 20 yards of the railroad station . Cleto ' s comrade provided cover fire while he moved up to the railroad station where he threw 5 grenades through a doorway killing 7 Japanese soldiers and destroying a 20 - mm gun and wrecking a heavy machine gun . With their ammunition running low the 2 soldiers made their way back to their platoon while each took turns providing cover fire for the other to move . During the return to their platoon PFC Reese was killed . During the 2½ hours of fighting the two soldiers killed more than 82 Japanese soldiers and completely disorganized the defense of the railroad station , which paved the way for U . S . soldiers overwhelming the railroad station in victory . Two days later Cleto again enabled his platoon to advance when he single - handedly killed 6 Japanese soldiers and destroyed a well placed 20 - mm gun . As a result of these actions both Rodriguez and Reese were presented with the Medal of Honor for their determination to destroy the enemy , and courage in the face of tremendous odds . He died December 7 , 1990 ( aged 67 ) . Medal of Honor citation . Cleto Rodriguez " Rank and organization : " U . S . Army , Company B , 148th Infantry , 37th Infantry Division " Place and date : " Paco Railroad Station , Manila , Philippine Islands , February 9 , 1945 " Entered service at : " San Antonio , TX " Born : " San Marcos , TX " G . O . " 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 . Later years . He later served in the U . S . Air Force from 1952 to 1954 and again served in the U . S . Army from 1955 to 1970 . He died on December 7 , 1990 in San Antonio , Texas and is buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery . Namesake . He later married Ms . Flora Muniz and had four children : Cleto Jr . , Betty , Mary and Joe . In 1975 , the elementary school that Rodriguez attended during the 1930s in San Antonio was renamed in his honor , becoming the only school in the San Antonio school district to be named in honor of a former alumnus . An 8 . 5 mile stretch of Texas highway 90 , from I - 410 to I - 35 , has been named in his honor . A small arms firing range at Ohio National Guard Training Site , Camp Perry , Ohio has been named in honor of Pvt Rodriguez . Camp Perry is the home of the National Rifle and Pistol Championships . Awards and recognitions . Among Cleto L . Rodriguez ' s decorations and medals were the following :