Roy Cisneros

Roy Cisneros (February 6, 1949 - September 11, 1968) was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross[1] and the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor for his actions during battle in the Vietnam War. Texas House Concurrent Resolution No. 71 conferring the honor was adopted by both the House and Senate in May 2011 and approved by Governor Rick Perry in June 2011.[2][3] Corporal Cisneros is honored on Panel 44W, Row 22 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.[4]

Roy Cisneros
Navy Cross
Born(1949-02-06)February 6, 1949
Robstown, Texas
DiedSeptember 11, 1968(1968-09-11) (aged 19)
KIA at Hill 461 Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam
Place of burial
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, Section V Site 1367
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1967-1968
Rank
Corporal
Unit1st Battalion, 3rd Marines
Battles/warsVietnam War
Awards

Biography

Corporal Cisneros was born in Robstown, Texas, before moving to San Antonio, Texas with his family.[5] Roy attended Cenizo Park Elementary School, Truman Middle School, and Edgewood High School in San Antonio. Following his graduation in 1967, he joined the United States Marine Corps and trained at Camp Pendleton, California. In December 1967, he deployed to Vietnam, where he became a squad leader with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force.[2]

House Concurrent Resolution No 71

Representative Trey Martinez Fischer authored the resolution, which was sponsored by Senator Leticia Van de Putte.[6] Below is an excerpt from the resolution:[2]

WHEREAS, On September 11, 1968, Corporal Cisneros was conducting a reconnaissance in force in Quảng Trị, the northernmost province in the Republic of Vietnam, when his company came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from an opposing company of North Vietnamese soldiers occupying fortified positions on a hill; during the ensuing combat, Corporal Cisneros skillfully maneuvered his squad across the hazardous terrain and directed his men's fire with devastating accuracy, destroying three enemy bunkers; and

Texas Legislative Medal of Honor

WHEREAS, With his squad pinned down by a heavy volume of fire from a fourth emplacement, Corporal Cisneros advanced alone and sought single-handedly to destroy the position; after firing a light antitank assault weapon into the bunker, he hurled hand grenades at the defenders and then opened fire with his rifle as he aggressively continued his assault; disregarding his own safety, he was delivering an effective attack on the emplacement when he was mortally wounded; and

WHEREAS, The resolute determination and fighting spirit demonstrated by Corporal Cisneros inspired all who observed him, and he was instrumental in his unit's accounting for 45 North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed; as a result of his actions, Corporal Cisneros was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest honor for valor that can be bestowed on a marine; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Cisneros also received the Military Merit Medal and Gallantry Cross with Palm from the Republic of Vietnam; in 2009, the elementary school he attended was renamed Roy Cisneros Elementary School in his honor by the Edgewood Independent School District.

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References
  1. "Navy Cross Citation". Military Times. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  2. "House Concurrent Resolution No 71" (PDF). State of Texas. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  3. "Marine killed in 1968 honored". San Antonio Express-News. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  4. "Corporal Roy Cisneros". Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
  5. "Find A Grave Memorial No 492515". Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  6. "HCR 71, 82nd Regular Session". Texas Legislature Online.
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