Crosshairs of HistoryMedal of Honor winner ‘thought of himself as just a plain soldier who did what he had to do to save his fellow soldiers and defend his country.'
The Brownsville Herald ran an article featuring the life of Jose Lopez, who received the Medal of Honor for his service during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. (See story below.) I'm not sure why my mother decided to send this story to me, perhaps because we once lived in Brownsville, Texas. I had the honor of sitting at a dinner with two Medal of Honor winners a couple of years ago and it is possible that I mentioned this to her.
It was difficult to read this account of his heroism, despite the humility with which Mr. Lopez led his life. I suppose it was difficult because being Memorial Day weekend, there were war movies on every channel and I spent more time in front of the T.V. than I had intended. But, it was more than this. It was also the enormity of war - the pain, suffering, sacrifice - even the joy of surviving war seemed too much to comprehend. I think maybe this is why Mr. Lopez chose a humble life of hard work and family. These are things that a man can appreciate as meaningful and his accomplishments in peace have lived on well beyond his own life.
May God bless him and may he be at peace.
Crosshairs of History
May 25, 2008 - 11:49PM
Sgt. Jose Lopez stood only 5-feet-4 and weighed 135 pounds. But on Dec. 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, he was a giant of a man for Company K.
In what was called a "seemingly suicidal" mission, Lopez killed at least 100 Germans while enduring Tiger tank cannon fire and almost singlehandedly kept his company from being overrun during the early stages of the surprise winter counteroffensive.
A few months later, Army Third Corps Commander Maj. Gen. James A. Van Fleet awarded Lopez the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for heroism on the battlefield.
Lopez died May 16, 2005, at 94 from cancer at his daughter's home in San Antonio.
He was given a hero's burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, a ceremony reserved only for Medal of Honor recipients and general officers. Gov. Rick Perry ordered flags lowered to half-staff in his honor. (Click here to read more)
