Jose M . Lopez José Mendoza López ( July 10 , 1910 – May 16 , 2005 ) was a Mexican and United States Army soldier who was awarded the United States ' highest military decoration for valor in combat — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic actions during the Battle of the Bulge , in which he single - handedly repulsed a German infantry attack , killing at least 100 enemy troops . Early years . López was raised by his mother Cándida López in Santiago Ihuitlán , Oaxaca , Mexico . As a young boy he helped his mother sell clothes that she made as a seamstress in the city . However , his time with his mother was cut short due to tuberculosis which took her life when López was only eight years old . López then relocated to Brownsville , Texas to live with his uncle ' s family . While living in with his uncle ' s family López began working various jobs to bring in income and never returned to school . As a young man , López caught the attention of a boxing promoter and for seven years he traveled the country fighting a total of 55 fights in the lightweight division with the nickname of ' Kid Mendoza ' . In 1934 , during a boxing match in Melbourne , Victoria , Australia , he met a group of Merchant Marines and signed a contract with them . He was accepted in the union in 1936 and spent the next five years traveling the world . He was en route to California from Hawaii on December 7 , 1941 , when he learned about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor . When he arrived in Los Angeles , the authorities believed he was Japanese and he was forced to prove otherwise . López returned to Brownsville and , in 1942 , married Emilia Herrera . That same year , he received his draft card and relocated to San Antonio where he enlisted in the U . S . Army . López was first sent to Fort Sam Houston , Texas , and then to Camp Roberts , California , where he received his basic training . Medal of Honor citation . José M . López " Rank and organization : " Sergeant , U . S . Army , 23d Infantry , 2d Infantry Division " Place and date : " Near Krinkelt , Belgium , December 17 , 1944 " Entered service at : " Brownsville , Texas " Born : " Santiago Ihuitlán Plumas , Oaxaca " G . O . No . : 47 , June 18 , 1945 " Citation : " Post World War II . López received an enthusiastic reception when his ship landed in New York City and he was greeted by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia . On a visit to Mexico City , he was greeted by the president of Mexico , Manuel Ávila Camacho and awarded Mexico ’ s highest military commendation , " la Condecoración del Mérito Militar " . He later moved his family to San Antonio , where he was hired as a contact representative with the Veterans Administration . Upon the outbreak of the Korean War , López was accidentally ordered to serve for his country and without hesitation was prepared to do so , until President Harry S . Truman , heard of and corrected the matter so that López could remain in the United States . José died one year after his wife ; they were together for 62 years . Namesakes . The city of Mission , Texas , López ' hometown , has recognized Sgt . López by naming a street and a city park — José M . López Park — in his honor . The North East Independent School District in San Antonio , Texas , has recognized Sgt . López by naming a middle school in his honor , José M . López Middle School . A statue of Sgt . López stands at Brownsville , Texas ' Veterans Park . Awards and recognitions . Among José M . López ' s decorations and medals were the following :