TheDutchman
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Oldest Medal of Honor winner dies in San Antonio
World War II fighter received highest honor for his heroics
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
SAN ANTONIO -- Jose M. Lopez, a World War II veteran who won the Medal of Honor for single-handedly killing more than 100 German soldiers in a single skirmish, died Monday. He was 94.
Lopez won the nation's highest military honor for his heroics during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.
He was the oldest living Hispanic Medal of Honor recipient and was among a dwindling group of such winners from World War II.
"He was a great hero, a super guy and a super dad," his oldest son, John Lopez, told the San Antonio Express-News.
Lopez had been hospitalized for several weeks while being treated for cancer. This month, he returned to his daughter's home, where he died.
His health had been in decline in recent years, but Lopez visited Washington in January for President Bush's second inauguration.
On Dec. 17, 1944, Lopez was a sergeant in the Army's 2nd Infantry Division, serving in Belgium when a superior force of German infantry and armor advanced on his company's position.
Lopez, born in Mission, jumped into a shallow hole with his heavy machine gun and killed 10 German soldiers, according to his Medal of Honor citation, issued in 1945.
In the face of enemy tank fire, the document said, he held his position and shot 25 more German infantrymen trying to get around his flank.
He later took another position and continued firing to slow down enemy forces while his comrades retreated.
World War II fighter received highest honor for his heroics
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
SAN ANTONIO -- Jose M. Lopez, a World War II veteran who won the Medal of Honor for single-handedly killing more than 100 German soldiers in a single skirmish, died Monday. He was 94.
Lopez won the nation's highest military honor for his heroics during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.
He was the oldest living Hispanic Medal of Honor recipient and was among a dwindling group of such winners from World War II.
"He was a great hero, a super guy and a super dad," his oldest son, John Lopez, told the San Antonio Express-News.
Lopez had been hospitalized for several weeks while being treated for cancer. This month, he returned to his daughter's home, where he died.
His health had been in decline in recent years, but Lopez visited Washington in January for President Bush's second inauguration.
On Dec. 17, 1944, Lopez was a sergeant in the Army's 2nd Infantry Division, serving in Belgium when a superior force of German infantry and armor advanced on his company's position.
Lopez, born in Mission, jumped into a shallow hole with his heavy machine gun and killed 10 German soldiers, according to his Medal of Honor citation, issued in 1945.
In the face of enemy tank fire, the document said, he held his position and shot 25 more German infantrymen trying to get around his flank.
He later took another position and continued firing to slow down enemy forces while his comrades retreated.
