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  81R25140 MMS-D
 
  By: Pena H.R. No. 1427
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The Rio Grande Valley has given legions of
  courageous men and women to the United States armed forces, and one
  of the most heroic was Pedro Cano, of Hidalgo County; and
         WHEREAS, Born to Nicholasa Gonzalez Cano and Secundino Cano
  on July 7, 1920, in Nuevo Leon in Mexico, Mr. Cano moved with his
  family to Texas when he was just two months old; with the exception
  of the time he spent in the U.S. Army, he lived the rest of his life
  on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, where he worked as an
  agricultural laborer and farmer; and
         WHEREAS, When he was called up by the army during World War
  II, Mr. Cano, a slight man with limited knowledge of English, had
  little wish to leave the Valley; he reported for duty nevertheless
  and subsequently deployed to the European theater; in the fall of
  1944 he was with the 4th Infantry Division when that force, after
  helping to liberate Paris, launched an attack on the Siegfried
  Line; and
         WHEREAS, In the course of that push against German defenses,
  Private Cano fought in the months-long battle of Hurtgen Forest,
  and it was during that struggle that he etched his name in the
  annals of military valor; he was advancing with his company near
  Schevenhutte, Germany, in December 1944 when the unit came under
  withering fire from German machine guns; with his comrades pinned
  down, Private Cano worked his way forward alone, through a hail of
  fire and over more than 100 yards of heavily mined terrain, until he
  was within 30 feet of the nearest German emplacement; firing one
  round with his hand-held rocket launcher, he destroyed the position
  and killed its two gunners and five supporting riflemen; he then
  moved on toward a second emplacement, which he attacked with his
  rifle and hand grenades, killing several more soldiers; and
         WHEREAS, With another American company nearby similarly
  immobilized, Private Cano crept to within 15 yards of a third
  emplacement, killed its two gunners with a rocket, and then
  destroyed yet another emplacement and killed its gunners, enabling
  that company to also advance; and
         WHEREAS, The next day, the Americans once more encountered
  heavy German resistance, and Private Cano again moved forward alone
  with his bazooka; crossing open, fire-swept ground, he succeeded in
  suppressing three more machine-gun positions and killing their
  gunners, bringing to nearly 30 the number of German soldiers he
  killed during that two-day period; and
         WHEREAS, Sometime later, while on patrol, Private Cano and
  his platoon were surprised by German soldiers, who inflicted heavy
  casualties; Private Cano lay motionless on the ground until the
  assailants closed in, then tossed a grenade into their midst,
  wounding or killing all of them; and
         WHEREAS, It was in this engagement, or shortly thereafter,
  that Pedro Cano sustained injuries that left him permanently
  disabled; in addition to a Purple Heart, he was awarded two Silver
  Stars and a Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's
  second-highest award for gallantry; of the more than 16,100,000
  individuals who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II,
  only 5,059 were recognized with the DSC; and
         WHEREAS, Mr. Cano's most illustrious medal arrived by mail at
  his home near Edinburg, and the unassuming veteran put it away in a
  closet; area citizens, however, learned of the award and were
  indignant at the military's seeming lack of respect; they secured
  the cooperation of the U.S. War Department in planning a public
  celebration, much to Mr. Cano's consternation, and April 26, 1946,
  was designated Pedro Cano Day; and
         WHEREAS, Edinburg schools and most businesses closed for the
  occasion and some 4,000 local residents turned out to witness a
  parade, followed by a ceremony at the courthouse square; there,
  General Jonathan M. Wainwright, commander of the 4th Army,
  presented the DSC to Mr. Cano in the presence of Rear Admiral Joseph
  James Clark of the U.S. Navy, General J. Trinidad Rodriguez and
  Colonel J. Tiburcio Garza Zamorra of the Mexican Army, Texas State
  Senator Rogers Kelley, Valley military heroes William G. Harrell,
  Luis N. Gonzalez, and Jose M. Lopez, U.S. and Mexican consular
  officials, Mr. Cano's wife and mother, and a throng of
  well-wishers; in his remarks, General Wainwright declared that he
  believed Pedro Cano actually deserved the highest recognition of
  all, the medal of honor; and
         WHEREAS, The day's festivities also included a barbecue
  funded by public subscription, a luncheon and reception for Mr.
  Cano and special guests, and a dinner and dance hosted by the
  Edinburg Civic Association; in addition, the state commander of the
  American Legion conferred on Mr. Cano a life membership in that
  organization; and
         WHEREAS, In May 1946, Mr. Cano realized a longtime aspiration
  when he received his American citizenship; though disabled, he also
  longed to take up farming again, and the state stepped in to provide
  him with 40 acres, a house, a truck, and farm equipment; and
         WHEREAS, Pedro Cano died on June 24, 1952, as a result of a
  traffic accident; survived by his wife, Herminia Garza Cano, his
  daughters, Dominga and Maria, and his son, Susano, the 31-year-old
  veteran was buried with military honors in Edinburg, where today a
  street and an elementary school both bear his name; and
         WHEREAS, The heroism exhibited by Pedro Cano is a testament
  to the extraordinary capacity of the human spirit for selfless
  action in the face of near-certain death, and his fellow citizens
  owe this quiet Texan a lasting debt of gratitude and remembrance;
  and
         WHEREAS, Representative Aaron Peña has justly recognized
  Pedro Cano by authoring this resolution in his behalf during the
  regular session of the 81st Texas Legislature; now, therefore, be
  it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
  Legislature hereby commemorate the courageous service of Pedro Cano
  and recognize April 26, 2009, as Pedro Cano Day in Edinburg; and, be
  it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Mr. Cano's family as an expression of high regard by
  the Texas House of Representatives.