In 1916, 20yr old Marcelino Serna decided to leave Mexico and enter the US, by crossing the Rio Grande in search of a job and better way of life. He did not know how to speak English and could only find employment that paid low wages, working as a farm hand. When the US entered WW1, he volunteered to serve in the US Army.
After basic, Serna landed in France with Co. B, 355th Inf. 89th Division. When the Army realized that he was a Mexican National, he was offered a discharge. Serna, however refused and chose to stay.
At St. Mihiel, France, Serna single-handedly took out an enemy machinegun position (even though his helmet was hit twice with bullets). He captured 8 Germans and killed everyone else in the nest.
On September 12, 1918, while fighting in the Argonne region, he spotted a German sniper and wounded him with his Enfield rifle. Serna then followed the wounded soldier to a trench. He single-handedly killed 26 enemy soldiers and captured 24 prisoners.
For his actions, Pvt. Serna was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Serna was told by an officer that “Buck Privates” were not eligible for the Medal of Honor, and that he did not know enough English to be promoted.
Serna returned to the U.S. as the most decorated soldier from Texas and the first Hispanic to be awarded the DSC. Soon after he married and settled down in El Paso, Texas until his death at the age of 95.
On January 17, 1995, Congressman Ronald D’Emory Coleman introduced a legislation before the House of Representatives that requested that Serna be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously, to no avail. His name is still on the list. #ww1 #hero #zerofoxtrot #stayzero