THE TERRIBLE STORY OF JOSE F. VALDEZ OF GOBERNADOR, A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS IN THE U.S. ARMY, HE MUST BE HONORED.

 Jose F. Valdez of Gobernador, New Mexico, a Private First Class in the U.S. Army, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on January 25, 1945, near Rosenkranz, France.


Valdez joined the Army in June 1944 and, upon completing basic training, was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division. On January 25, 1945, near Rosenkranz, France, Valdez was on patrol with 5 fellow soldiers when they unexpectedly were confronted with an enemy counterattack.

 An enemy tank was headed towards the patrol and Valdez opened fire against the tank with his automatic rifle. The tank withdrew and Valdez killed three enemy soldiers but the Germans ordered a full attack and sent in two companies of infantrymen. Valdez covered the withdrawal and was wounded but able to drag himself back to American lines. He died three weeks later from his wounds.

For his actions January 25, 1945, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He is buried in the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Valdez was just 20 years old.

Related Article 

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced last week that the future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer DDG-142 will be named USS Charles J. French, after Navy Mess Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Charles Jackson French.


Known for his heroic actions in the Pacific Theater of World War II, French saved 15 of his shipmates after their high-speed transport was sunk in combat during the Battle of Guadalcanal.

Hailed as the “Human Tugboat” and “Hero of the Solomons,” Charles French was an African American man born in Foreman, Arkansas, Sept. 25, 1919. 

He joined the Navy as a mess attendant before the United States formally entered World War II, and served four years aboard the Hawaii-based heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA 30). French left the service after his tour aboard Houston, but reenlisted four days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. He was assigned to USS Gregory (APD 3) in March 1942.

On the night of Sept. 4, 1942, in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands, three Imperial Japanese destroyers and one cruiser opened fire on the Gregory and its sister ship USS Little (APD 4).

 With his ship sinking and his fellow Sailors in shark-infested waters, the uninjured French gathered injured shipmates on a nearby raft and tied a rope around his waist in order to pull the survivors to safety. French swam through the night until friendly aircraft saw him the next morning.  

For his actions, he was recommended for the Navy Cross, but received a letter of commendation from the commander of the Southern Pacific Fleet, Adm. William F. “Bull” Halsey.

Previously, Secretary Del Toro posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to French in May 2022.

Fabrication of the ship is projected for 2026 with a projected keel laying set for 2027, projected christening in 2029, and delivery projected for 2031.

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