One of the problems with my local paper, the Houston Chronicle, is that it often provides only sketchy details on stories. This one, involving a call for the awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor to a WWI veteran, is one of this sort of frustrating stories that leaves as many questions as it answers.

AUSTIN — Texas legislators want Congress to right a wrong that they say was caused by bigotry — denial of the Medal of Honor to an American war hero with roots in Mexico.
Marcelino Serna served valiantly in World War I and returned to Texas a military legend, but his advocates say he was bypassed for AmericaÂ’s highest military decoration because of his heritage and the fact that he spoke little English.
State Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, last week presented a resolution on SernaÂ’s case to the Texas House Committee on Defense and VeteransÂ’ Affairs. The resolution would ask Congress to reconsider a Medal of Honor for Serna, who died in 1992 at age 95.
The resolution has already cleared the state Senate and the House committee. It needs final approval from the full House to be presented to Congress.
Serna spoke almost no English when he enlisted in the Army. After three weeks of training, the Army shipped him across the Atlantic.
“Can you imagine that? A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, then Colorado, sent to England,” Pickett said.
When Army officers realized that Serna was a Mexican national, they offered him the chance to return home. A friend translated his answer — a firm “no.” Serna decided he would stay and fight for the United States.
He carried out his duties with uncommon valor. Army records stated that Serna killed three dozen enemy soldiers and captured nearly the same number.
Serna received a medal for bravery from the French government, the Croix de Guerre, the British Medal of Honor, the Italian Cross of Merit and two Purple Hearts, among other awards. But the U.S. Medal of Honor, the rarest and most prestigious military decoration, eluded him.
After being discharged in 1919, Serna settled in El Paso and became a U.S. citizen five years later.

Now let’s get this on the table – Marcelino Serna appears to have been one hell of a man. He appears to have been an exemplary soldier, and to have performed acts that are justifiably called heroic. However, the criteria for receiving this award requires that the recipient engage in an act of

"[conspicuous] gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party."

And it is the phrase “above and beyond the call of duty” that leaves me stuck on this one. Did Serna rise above the call of duty in his actions? I’m not sure. I’d love to know more about the man and his deeds. Could someone direct me to more information?

Posted by: Greg at 12:43 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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