We are starting a month of celebrations marking our freedom and the country’s 250th anniversary. In this era of ICE and the deportation of thousand of illegal immigrants it’s a good time to stop and consider the truth. Immigrants have made up the fabric of our nation and fought violently in our many wars. It’s a good time to remind everyone of one of Arizona’s heroes.
Sgt. Sylvester Herrera was one of those young illegal immigrants who fought in WW11. Hererra was an orphan toddler and was brought to this country by his uncle.
His uncle raised him as his own child. Sergeant Herrera was married with a family, in Glendale, Arizona, when he volunteered to fight for his adopted country in World War II.
I saw his homecoming.
One August evening during the World War II when I was kid my dad announced, “That young soldier from Glendale is coming in on the train this evening. He is a real hero and we’re going down to Union Station to help welcome him home.”
It seemed like most of Phoenix and the whole town of Glendale was there.
As the train slowed to a stop I saw a soldier back carefully down the steps. He was holding one arm of a wheelchair and another soldier had the other. But before they got down the crowd surged forward and many eager arms snatched the occupant from the chair. The proud, jubilant throng passed him from shoulder to shoulder.
The noise was overwhelming and I couldn’t make my dad hear my distressed question, “What happened to his legs?”
I was separated from my parents, and I ran along side the red convertible where the hero sat atop the back as it was driven up Washington to Central Ave. Phoenix was a small town then and the speakers stand decorated in red, white and blue was in front of the R and G building on Central. I ducked around people and made my way to the front. Herrera had been placed on the platform along with the Governor of Arizona and the Mayor of Phoenix, and other dignitaries. As a kid I probably wasn’t listening carefully as the politicians droned on, but I remember one speaker finally asking, “Sgt.Herrera how does it feel to be the first living recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor from Arizona?” I couldn’t hear his answer. He was surrounded by the politicians.
Later, as an adult, I read the account of how Sylvester Herrera earned his medal. When the young infantryman’s platoon was pinned down by Germans in a forest near Metzwiller, France. He charged the enemy and captured eight enemy soldiers. That same day, to draw enemy fire away from his comrades, Herrera entered a mine field and in two explosions lost both legs. He then continued to fire upon the enemy which allowed his platoon to skirt the field and capture the enemy position.