About two years after moving to Boling, Mike
enlisted in the U.S. Army at Houston. At that time he was only
15 years, 10 months and 7 days old. To get into the service he
told the recruiters he was born in 1921, which would have made
him 18 years, 10 months and 7 days old.
The Division arrived at Brisbane, Australia
on July 26, 1943 and began six months of intense jungle and
amphibious training. The Fifth Cavalry Regiment landed at Oro
Bay, New Guinea in January 1944. Then in February they assaulted
Los Negros Island in the Admiralty Islands (North of New Guinea)
where he was wounded in the face by fragments from a Japanese
grenade on 3 March 1944, while serving as a squad leader. The
Fifth Cavalry was assigned to the Leyte-Samar Campaign and
helped liberate those islands from Japanese control in spite of
heavy resistance. When the Division saw service at Leyte,
Sargent Peña underwent 79 consecutive days of combat. Continuing
the attack onto the island of Luzon, Regimental history was
highlighted on February 3, 1945 when a flying column (a small,
independent, military land unit capable of rapid mobility, usually
composed of all arms, and is usually accompanied by a minimum of
equipment) of
Cavalrymen cut a 100 mile path through enemy-held territory to
be the “First in Manila”. Sargent Peña went in valiantly with
the flying column which were commanded by Major General William
C. Chase. The Battle of Manila lasted from February 3, 1945 to
March 3, 1945. The battle was fought by American and Filipino
forces against fanatical Japanese forces. The one month battle,
which culminated in a terrible bloodbath and total devastation
of the city, was the scene of the worst urban fighting in the
Pacific Theater, and ended almost three years of Japanese
military occupation in the Philippines (1942-1945). During this
battle Sargent Peña received a shrapnel wound in his left thigh
on February 24, 1945. His injury forced him out of action for
two days. During this battle he participated in the liberation
of Santo Tomas Internment Camp, which was the largest of several
camps in the Philippines in which the Japanese interned enemy
civilians, mostly Americans. The University of Santo Tomas was
utilized for the camp, which housed more than 4,000 internees
from January 1942 until liberation in February 1945. (
After the war was over General George C.
Marshall, Chief of Staff of the Army, communicated with
President Roosevelt about his concern for the morale of the
infantry troops. This ultimately led to those who had received
the Combat Infantry Badge or the Combat Medical Badge receiving
the Bronze Star Medal. This medal was added to those he had
already received.
Late
in June 1950, the Communists struck in Korea. The news
dispatches told how the 1st Cavalry was ticketed for
battle in Korea. Mike grew more and more restless in the
States. He re-enlisted for six years on July 11, 1950, after
having previously served for just over nine years, and
volunteered to return to the Far East and the gang in F Company,
5th Cavalry.
A
volume could be written about Staff Sergeant Mike Peña of Fox Troop.
This amiable Texan has served his country with honor and
distinction, but because of space limitations, we must condense his
"Biography" into one column.
His
wife, who resides at 1002 Wyoming street, wasn't surprised when Mike
announced he intended to stay in the Army--and the 5th Cavalry--at
the end of World War II.
The President of the
United States of America, under the
provisions of the Act of Congress
approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in
presenting the Distinguished Service
Cross (Posthumously) to Master Sergeant
Mike C. Peña (ASN: RA-18009659), United
States Army, for extraordinary heroism
in connection with military operations
against an armed enemy of the United
Nations while serving with Company F, 2d
Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment
(Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Master
Sergeant Peña distinguished himself by
extraordinary heroism in action against
enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity
of Waegwan, Korea, on 4 September 1950.
On that date, at approximately 2300
hours, an enemy battalion moved up to
within a few yards of Master Sergeant
Peña's platoon under cover of darkness
and an obscuring mist. Observing the
enemy, Sergeant Peña and his men
immediately opened fire but the sudden,
point-blank fire of the hostile forces
made it necessary for the friendly
troops to withdraw. Rapidly reorganizing
his men, Sergeant Peña led them in a
counterattack, regained the lost
positions, and attempted to hold back
the enemy. Despite the devastating fire
laid down by the friendly troops, the
enemy continued to hurl themselves at
the defenses in overwhelming numbers.
Realizing that a scarcity of ammunition
would soon make the positions untenable,
Sergeant Peña ordered his men to fall
back, manning a machine-gun to cover
their withdrawal. Single-handedly, he
held back the enemy until the early
hours of the following morning when his
position was overrun and he was killed.
The body of Sgt. Mike C. Peña, of Newgulf,
arrived in Bay City last night at 11:45. Sgt. Peña was killed in the
Korean War September 5, 1950. He enlisted in service from El Paso,
but he is from Newgulf and Bay City.
The
body of 1st Sgt. Mike C. Peña, son of Mr. and Mrs. Santos Peña of
Newgulf, was brought home and buried with military honors on
Wednesday, June 13, 1951. Sgt. Peña was killed in action in Korea on
September 5, 1950, while serving with the 1st Cavalry on his second
tour of service in the Pacific. He first volunteered for army
service in September, 1940, at the age of 16 and served 27 months in
the Pacific for which he was awarded five battle stars and a
Presidential Unit Citation ribbon. He served with the 1st Cavalry in
Australia, New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, Leyte and Luzon. He
was with the first group to enter Manila where they liberated the
Santo Thomas prisoners. The Presidential Unit Citation was for their
successful "suicide" landing on Los Negros Island in the Admiralty
group with only 700 men against 7,000 Japs.
f
El Paso; four sisters, Mrs. Ophelia [Ofilia] Peña of Newgulf; Mrs.
Betty Figueroa of Corpus Christi; Mrs. Helen Hernandez and Mrs.
Adelina Tijerina of Newgulf; four brothers, Rubin of Corpus Christi,
and Alfred, Jesse and Joe Peña of Newgulf.
Ofilia
P. Peña, 100 years young of Boling, TX passed away on Sunday July
31, 2022, peacefully surrounded by her family at Memorial Hermann
Hospital in Sugarland. She was born on April 3, 1922 in Corpus
Christi, TX to the late Maria and Miguel Peña. 
Ruben
C. Pena, 84, born July 29, 1928, has gone home to be with our
Heavenly Father on October 19, 2012. Ruben was retired from Reynolds
Metal after thirty three years of faithful service. After his
retirement from Reynolds Metal he worked for the Department of
Justice as a prison guard for about ten years. He served in the U.
S. Air Force where he studied as a radio operator, which led to a
hobby of a ham radio operator, which he was very passionate about.
He was a loving, caring, strong, passionate and ambitious man who
will be missed dearly by many. Ruben always found himself making
friends where ever he went, telling many jokes, bringing laughter to
everyone. He will be loved and missed by many, but never forgotten.
We love you Grandpa Joe. He is preceded in death by his wife, Adelina
Pena, his parents, Santos and Maria Pena, brothers, Mike
Pena, Joseph Pena, and sisters, Adelina Tejerina, Helen Hernandez
and Betty Ruiz. He is survived by four daughters, Elizabeth (Peter)
Agostino of Palm Harbor, Florida, Grace (Roy) Del Bosque of Corpus
Christi, Texas, Diana (Dan) Rodriguez of Channelview, Texas, and
Rose (Rick) Pimentel of Corpus Christi, Texas; one son, Daniel J. (Erlinda)
Robles of Corpus Christi, Texas; two brothers, Jesse (Janie) Pena,
Alfredo (Corina) Pena and one sister, Ofelia Pena.
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Master Sergeant Peña’s family history begins in old Mexico where grandparents Ventura Peña (c1849 - c1900) and Felipa Torregrosa (5 February 1851 - 6 October 1934) were born. They married before 1873, and began their family. In 1891 they immigrated to the United States with their children: Rosita (1874 - 1941), Maria (1876 - 1957), Ventura Jr. (1878 - 1949), Aldolpho (1881 - 1903), Elena (1883 - 1971), Julia (1887 - 1912) and Miguel (c1889 - c1941). They first settled in Robstown, Nueces County, Texas, then they moved to Corpus Christi, and established their Texas roots there. The last child, born in their new home in Robstown, was Adelina (1893 - 1939). Around 1900 Ventura (Sr.) passed away leaving Felipa as the matriarch of the family. Felipa passed away on 6 October 1934 in Corpus Christi and was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery. Their youngest son, Miguel, moved to Bay City, Texas about 1910 and settled in as a farmer. On December 6, 1913 he married Maria Castaneda (c1895 - c1954) in Bay City. The most extant record that has been found regarding Maria was a border crossing document from Mexico to the United States at Brownsville, Texas dated 18 April 1913. Within this document it revealed she was age 21 and was born about 1892 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. She stated she was going to Houston by way of San Antonio. A 1913 city directory of Houston revealed she was employed as a servant in the home of Horace A. Kelly, and was residing in their home. Their family grew to include: Adelina (1914 - 1986), Angela [Angelita] Helen (1917 - 2003) and Isabelle Betty (1920 - 1998). In the 1920 Federal census it reveals the family had moved to Corpus Christi, and was living in the home of Miguel’s mother, Felipa. There, Miguel managed a bicycle shop, and did repairs on bicycles. While living in Corpus two other children were born: Ofelia [Ofilia] and Miguel, Jr. (1924 - 1950). Sometime between 1924 and 1928 Miguel and Maria separated. It is believed Miguel may have returned to Mexico. Maria, with her children, returned to Matagorda County and on 20 March 1929, she married Santos Peña (1892 - 1977) in Bay City, Texas. Santos was born in Nuevo Leon, Mexico on 5 February 1892 and immigrated to the United States and settled in Texas in 1912. Nothing has been found concerning Santos for the period between 1912 and when he married Maria in 1929. To this marriage was born: Ruben (1928 - 2012), Alfredo (1930 - 2014), Jesse [Jesus], Jose (1933 - 1934) [twin to Jesse, buried at Matagorda Cemetery] and Jose [Joe] (1937 - 2000). Santos was employed with the Texas Gulf Sulphur Company at Gulf (near Matagorda). It is not known if Santos and Maria resided at Gulf or in Matagorda. During the years of the operation of Texas Gulf Sulphur, older students attended school in Gulf, while the younger children attended school in Matagorda. Mike was a student of Matagorda ISD, which included Gulf, for at least the first six years of his school education. There was a hospital at Gulf, and some of the children were born there.
The plant closed its Matagorda County
Operations in 1932 and moved to Wharton County, where it
established a new town which was named Newgulf. Because of the
oil and sulphur discoveries in the area where Newgulf was
established, during this same period the town of Boling emerged
three miles to the West. Santos, Maria and the family followed
the plant and reestablished their roots in Boling c1937. Maria
passed away c1954 and was buried at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay
City. Santos passed away on 19 February 1977 in Wharton, Texas
and was buried at Cedarvale Cemetery. |
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During the next two years he participated in the Louisiana maneuvers (a series of U.S. Army exercises held around Northern and Western-Central Louisiana in 1940 and 41), saw duty as a gunner in a light machine gun platoon, and was sent out on Border Patrol at Sierra Blanca (white mountain), Hudspeth County, Texas. On December 7, 1941, just one month and a day after his 17th birthday, the Empire of Japan made a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. America went to war. In 1943 the First Cavalry Division became a dismounted unit - foot soldiers - infantry, and in May of that year the Division embarked for service in the Pacific Theater, Mike was assigned to Co. F, 5th Cavalry Regiment.
On August 13th, the 1st Cavalry Division was alerted that they were selected to accompany General Douglas MacArthur to Tokyo, and would be part of the 8th Army in the occupation of Japan. On September 8th a history making convoy departed for Tokyo headed by Major General William C. Chase, commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, the party included a veteran from each troop of the division. Upon arrival at Tokyo another first was added to it’s name - “First in Tokyo”. For his service in World War II Sargent Peña received the American Defense Service Medal, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf cluster, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with five Campaign Stars and Bronze Arrow Head, the Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), the Distinguished Unit Citation, the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. He also received the Good Conduct Medal. From the Philippine Government he received the Philippine Military Merit Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal. The Distinguished Unit Citation, later renamed the Presidential Unit Citation, is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to units of the US Armed Forces and their allies. The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. This act should be equal to that of an individual who could obtain the Distinguished Service Cross for it.
Returning to the United States in August 1945 he was assigned to Co. C, 807th Replacement Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and was Honorably Discharged on October 3, 1945; he immediately re-enlisted for three years on the same day. Before he was discharged he returned to El Paso, Texas to marry his sweetheart, Aurora Lola Urenda. She was born on February 21, 1926 at Brackettville, Kinney County, Texas. Her parents were Luis Barcena Urenda (1890 -1960) who was a tailor, and Trinidad Martinez Urenda (1894-1962). Luis and Trinidad are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso. Her parents were living in El Paso, and Mike and Aurora were married there on September 5, 1945. Staff Sergeant Peña was 20, and she was 19. Nuestras raíces están establecidos aquí. From Fort Leonard Wood Mike was transferred to Camp Cooke, Lompoc, California (Vandenberg Air Force Base today) and assigned to the 20th Armored Infantry Division. Subsequent transfers sent him to the 41st Armored Infantry Battalion of the famous (Hell on Wheels) 2nd Armored Division at Camp Hood (today Fort Hood), Killeen, Texas, and finally he rejoined Co. F, 5th Cavalry Regiment in February 1947 at Camp McGill near Yokuska, Japan. While Mike was making his move to Japan Aurora returned to El Paso presumably to stay with her parents. In March 1947 she and Mike shared in the joy of the birth of their first child, a son, whom they named Michael David. It is not known when, but after it was safe to travel, she and Michael journeyed to occupied Japan to join with Mike. [Picture at right taken while Mike was serving in Japan. Courtesy of granddaughter, Mollie Pena.] While living in Japan they again shared in the joy of the birth of a second son who was born on April 19, 1949 in Yokuska, they named him Frederick William. While at Camp McGill, Mike, now a Sargent First Class, re-enlisted for three years on October 3, 1948. On August 31, 1949 Sargent First Class Mike Peña was promoted to Master Sargent. In December 1949 the family left Japan and relocated at Camp Carson, Colorado.
Aurora and the children returned to El Paso to be near her parents and where she was employed at the Finance Office at Fort Bliss. The 1st Cavalry Division made an amphibious beachhead landing at Pohang-dong, Korea on July 18, 1950, the North Koreans were just 25 miles away. To complicate matters a heavy typhoon named Helene struck during this time. The 1st Cavalry Division was assigned to defend a 35 mile sector along the Naktong River, extending from three miles north of Waegwan, south to the area defended by the 24th Infantry Division in an area called the Pusan Perimeter, a roughly rectangular area approximately 100 miles in length (north to south) and approximately 50 miles wide (east to west). In the western region, the main line of resistance followed the Naktong River for some 80 miles, then cut sharply east in the southern region at the confluence of the Naktong and Nam Rivers. The northern region was steadily pushed south by the North Korean Peoples Army (NKPA) steady advances. The sea bordered the perimeter on the east and south. It became hell in a very small place. On September 4, 1950 at Waegwan, under cover of darkness and a dreary mist, an enemy battalion moved to within a few yards of Master Sargent Peña’s platoon. Recognizing the enemy’s approach, the platoon opened fire, but the enemy’s sudden emergence and accurate, point blank fire forced the platoon to withdraw. Mike rapidly reorganized his men and led them in a counterattack which succeeded in regaining the positions they had just lost. He and his men quickly established a defensive perimeter and laid down devastating fire, but the enemy troops continued to hurl themselves at the defenses in overwhelming numbers. Realizing that their scarce supply of ammunition would soon make their positions untenable, Mike ordered his men to fall back and manned a machinegun to cover their withdrawal. He singlehandedly held back the enemy until the early hours of the following morning, when his position was overrun and he was killed. For his heroism and his life, Mike was awarded his third Purple Heart and the Army Distinguished Service Cross. Sadly, he gave his life on the date of his fifth wedding anniversary. Following MSGT Peña's death on 5 September 1950 he was first buried at the temporary 1st Cavalry Division Cemetery located at Taegu, Korea. In May or June of 1951 his remains were repatriated to the United States, and he arrived in Bay City on 10 June 1951. He was buried with full military honors at Cedarvale Cemetery, Bay City, Texas on 13 June 1951.
Written By:
Kenneth L. Thames -
Matagorda County Genealogical Society -
This material may not be reprinted without permission. |
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TOKYO, Feb. 1. (U.P.)--Philippine Defense Secretary Ruperto Kangleon today announced the names of 14 combat veterans--including seven Texans--of the U. S. First Cavalry Division to be decorated by the Philippine government during the division's Manila Day celebration next Tuesday. The men to be decorated were all members of the First Cavalry's "flying column" which made a daring penetration into the Philippine capital three years ago to liberate 3,700 Allied internees held in Santa Tomas Prison Camp. Texas included are: Maj. Gen Verne D. Mudge of El Paso, Brig. Gen. High F. T. Hoffman of San Antonio, Lt. Col. William E. Lobit of Galveston, F/Sgt Roy K. Moffett of Ruby, F/Sgt. Robert R. Hutsell of El Paso, M/Sgt. Dale E. Mitte of Brownsville and T/Sgt. Mike C. Peña of New Gulf.
Corpus Christi Caller-Times, February 1,
1948 |
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 Pacific Stars and Stripes, November 21, 1948 |
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 February 25, 1949 LT GEN Wedemeyer, Deputy Chief of Staff, USA; MAJ GEN Chase, Commanding General, 1st Cavalry Division; SFC Mike Peña |
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Sergeant Peña enlisted in the Army on Sept. 13, 1940, and received his first assignment with the 5th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Clark, Texas. After initial training in the horse cavalry, he was transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas, in February, 1941. During the next two years he saw duty as a gunner in a light machine gun platoon, participated in the Louisiana maneuvers, and was sent out on Border Patrol at Sierra Blanca, Texas. In 1943 the First Cavalry Division became a dismounted unit, and in May of that year Sergeant Peña embarked for service in the Pacific war then being prosecuted against the Japanese. After landing at Brisbane, Australia, he was sent to Jungle school for intensive training in this type of warfare. In January, 1944, he landed at Oro Bay, New Guinea, then moved on to the Admiralties where he was wounded by a Jap grenade while serving in the capacity of Squad leader. When the Division saw service at Leyte, Sergeant Peña underwent 79 consecutive days of combat. Manila loomed on the horizon next, and he went in valiantly with the flying columns which were commanded by Major General William C. Chase. In February, 1945, he was wounded by Jap shrapnel and forced out of action for two days. After returning to the United States for discharge in August, 1945, he reenlisted, and was sent to the 20th Armored Infantry Division at Camp Cook, Calif. Subsequent transfers sent him to the 41st-Armored Infantry Battalion of the famous (Hell on Wheels) 2nd Armored Division at Camp Hood, Texas, and finally back to the 5th Cavalry Regiment which he rejoined in February, 1947. He wears the Purple Heart with Cluster, Philippine Liberation, Leyte & Luzon, and Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with 4 stars and Arrowhead, in addition to the Good Conduct Medal. His wife, Mrs. Aurora Peña, and son, Michael, reside in El Paso, Texas.
Date unknown |
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 Aurora holding Frederick and Mike holding Michael David |
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After Mike’s death, Aurora, with two young sons to raise, remarried to David Connell (1920-2007) who was born in Scotland and came to the United States with his family shortly after he was born in 1920. David was on active duty in the U.S. Army when they married, and he retired as a Master Sergeant in 1962. Like Mike, he served in both World War II and Korea. They were married on February 3, 1954 at Los Cruces, New Mexico. Of this marriage two daughters were born, Debbie and Kathy. Aurora, at the age of 86, passed away on December 1, 2012, and was buried next to David at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Texas. Belatedly, Congress took action in the 2002 National Defense Authorization Act to direct the Secretary of each military department to review the records of Hispanic Americans and Jewish Americans who had received the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross and the Air Force Cross during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The records were to be reviewed to see if the recipient should have received the Medal of Honor, but did not because of their ethnic or religious backgrounds. The Distinguished Service Cross is the nation’s second highest award for valor. The review took twelve years to complete and the Pentagon said the Army reviewed the cases of the 6,505 recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross from World War II, Korea and Vietnam and found an eligible pool of 600 soldiers who may have been Jewish or Hispanic. During the course of the review it was determined that six soldiers of African American descent should also have their Distinguished Service Cross upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Twenty four were found to be eligible for the Medal of Honor. Of the twenty four, eight fought in the Vietnam War, nine in the Korean War and seven in World War II. Most of the awards were posthumous - there were only three living. The majority of the recipients were of Hispanic descent, one was Jewish and three were African Americans. Master Sergeant Mike Peña was one of the nine from the Korean War. His son Michael received the award from President Obama at an impressive White House ceremony on March 18, 2014 in a ceremony which included all 24 recipients - it was the largest number to be awarded since World War II.
In a second impressive and emotional ceremony
on June 8, 2014, Michael Peña placed his father’s Medal of Honor
at his headstone in Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City, Texas. It
took sixty four long years for Master Sergeant Peña to receive
his just reward. In pace requiescat. |
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M/Sgt. Mike C. Peña, cited for bravery and gallantry in World War II, has been killed in action in Korea. His wife, Mrs. Aurora Peña of 1002 Wyoming street, has been notified of her husband's death. He was among 14 officers and enlisted men who won decorations for gallantry during the liberation of Manila. Serving with the 1st Cavalry Division, Sergeant Peña had been in action in Korea for two weeks before he was killed. He entered the Army in 1941 and had been stationed at Ft. Bliss. During World War II, he was wounded twice. He held the Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal and Bronze Arrowhead. Sergeant Peña is also survived by two sons, Michael David, and Frederick William, both of El Paso, and his parents of New Gulf.
El Paso Herald-Post, September 21, 1950 |
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SAN FRANCISCO, May 24. (AP)--The bodies of 20 Texans killed in Korea fighting arrive Friday aboard the troopship Bartlesville Victory. The bodies will be sent with an escort to the point designated by next of kin. The Bartlesville Victory is bringing 420 war dead.
The Texans include:
Abilene Reporter-News, May 25, 1951 |
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Texas honored one of Wharton County’s fallen sons Monday, a soldier who gave his life in the Korean countryside to save his men. Master Sgt. Michael Castaneda Pena’s family accepted the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor at the Texas Capital before a relatively small crowd. A Newgulf native, Pena was just 26 when he was killed in action on Sept. 4, 1950 outside Waegwan, Korea. It would be 64 years before the U. S. Army posthumously presented the nation’s highest recognition, the Medal of Honor, to his family and another decade until Texas offered its official salute. Assigned to Company F, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Pena’s night patrol realized it was in trouble as an enemy battalion passed by its position. The platoon attacked, but was outnumbered and outgunned. “He (Pena) and his men quickly established a defensive perimeter and laid down devastating fire, but enemy troops continued to hurl themselves at the defenses in overwhelming numbers,” according to the National Medal of Honor Citation. “Realizing that their scarce supply of ammunition would soon make their positions untenable, Master Sergeant Pena ordered his men to fall back and manned a machine gun to cover their withdrawal. He single-handedly held back the enemy until the early hours of the following morning when his position was overrun and he was killed, “the citation read.”
Had he not been stationed in Korea, Pena would have been celebrating his fifth wedding anniversary, and perhaps playing with his son, a child just three-and-a-half years old when he lost his father. Michael David Pena, who later became a career Navy man, accepted his father’s Medal of Honor from President Barak Obama on March 18, 2014. Monday, it was Pena’s nephew, Rick Pena, who accepted the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor. Also receiving the Texas honor Monday was U. S. Army Jerry Lynn Bell. “These brave service members showed that despite all of the division American has endured, there are still selfless souls willing to put down their civilian lives and put on the uniform of the United States to safeguard our freedom,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a press release Monday. Pena enlisted in the Army in 1940, lying about his age. He fought in the Pacific theater during World War II, one of the thousands of men tasked with liberating the Philippines. After Japan’s surrender, he served in the occupational force. Out processed from the military after the war, he reenlisted, but was no longer on duty when the hostilities broke out in Korea. Pena volunteered again then, participating in an amphibious landing at P’ohangdong, Korea, in July 1950. Two months later, he was killed in action. Pena was buried with full military honors at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City. El Campo Leader-News, March 27, 2024
Used with permission of Shannon Crabtree |
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A wife, Mrs. Aurora Peña of Newgulf and two sons, Michael and Frederick of El Paso survive. He is also survived by four sisters, Mrs. Ophelia [Ofilia] Peña of Newgulf, Betty Fergueroa of Corpus Christi, Mrs. Helen Hernandez and Mrs. Adelina Tijerina of Newgulf; four brothers, Rubin of Corpus Christi, Alfred, Jesse and Jose of Newgulf. Burial will be in Cedarvale Cemetery under the direction of Taylor Bros., but date of the funeral is pending arrival of relatives.
The Daily Tribune, June 11, 1951
Original marker moved to foot of grave when Medal of Honor marker
was installed. |
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He was discharged in 1945 but re-enlisted within a short time and in the early fall of 1950 rejoined the 1st Cavalry Division, 5th Regiment, somewhere in Korea.
He is also survived by his widow and two sons,
Michael and Frederick o Services were conducted by the Bay City American Legion Post and burial was in the Cedarvale Cemetery at Bay City.
Paper and date unknown. |
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September 22, 1950 - 50 Years Ago Sulfurcrat News: 1st Sgt. Mike C. Peña killed in Korea. Peña joined the Army, age 16, in 1940, serving in the Pacific 27 months, where he earned five battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation ribbon. He served with First Cavalry and was a part of the first group to enter Manila to liberate Santo Tomas POWs. He was a member of forces landing at Los Negros and Leyte. He wrote that American planes planned to drop roasted turkeys to the U.S. troops on Leyte, but accidentally dropped them to the starving Japanese. Mike's group occupied Tokyo. He reenlisted and was sent to Korea with 1st Cavalry, 5th Regiment. He is survived by his parents, wife and two sons. His father has worked for TGS [Texas Gulf Sulphur] for 24 years.
Paper and date unknown [on or near September 22,
2000] |
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On 9 October 2014, Michael D. Peña received an email from Mrs. Beatriz (Calero) Clark, who resides in Australia. Mrs. Clark, who is the daughter of Mr. Jaime Calero who also resides in Australia, related that the family had been searching for MSGT Peña’s family since the end of WWII. It was through Master Sergeant Peña’s webpage on the Matagorda County TXGenWeb site Mrs. Clark was able to discover that he had not died in the Philippines, but was wounded, and later was Killed In Action during the Korean War. This is the wonderful family story she included in her email: ........... “Let me start back in 1945. “The Calero family was a large family with 8 children. One of Grandma’s sisters, Minnie, her husband and 2 sons were also with them. I think my Great Grandmother Blanca was with them too. My Dad was the 4th child and he was 14 at the time. They lived in Manila and had so far survived the Japanese occupation. My Grandmother Laura was of German/Austrian descent, and her husband Tony was of Spanish descent but at least 3rd generation in the Philippines. They spoke Spanish and English at home. “The night of February 10th, Japanese soldiers started to go on a rampage and torched my father’s home. Grandma and Grandpa had them practice their exit drill many times and a couple of carts with food were packed ready for an escape anytime. Clothes were at the end of their beds ready to change into and load into the cart. Very organized. “So they fled as their house burned down. They all ran with my grandparents leading them to a humble nipa hut or house made of bamboo and woven coconut leaves, the house of their favourite fish monger who the family had known for years. He and his wife took in the family group of 16 into their tiny house. They had dug out a trench under the house which my Dad recalls smelt foul. They hid there til day break when a mortar hit the house and another refugee, who my father said might have been a “lady of the night” (by the way she was dressed) was injured. As they started to discuss what they should do a young soldier came to the door. At first they thought it was a Japanese soldier because that is all they had seen for years. “The wife of the fisherman slowly peeked out the door and said “Americano”. They all rejoiced. It was February 11th and was the day this section of the city was Liberated by the Americans. The soldier advised them to move out because they were in the firing line. It was your Dad, Mike. He and another soldier were going from house to house risking their own lives to make sure the houses were cleared. My Dad can’t recall who asked him his name, but it stuck - they all remembered he said he was Mike Pena. They (all the Caleros) clearly remember he had a rosary around his neck. The Caleros like many Filipino families were very devoted to the Virgin Mary. They felt he was one of them. “They all took his advice and started to move. Mike Pena must have watched disbelievingly as all these fair haired blue and green eyed children emptied this little nipa hut along with the fisherman and his lovely wife. My Uncle carried the “lady of the night” on his back and they crossed to Lourdes Street for safety. My Dad always stresses that it was the feast of the Lady of Lourdes and they found safety in Lourdes Street as they were warned to move by a Mexican American soldier wearing a rosary. “I think my father’s family continued to move from place to place during these horrific days of Liberation. About a week after they met Mike Pena, my Dad’s older brother Dico, who was about 16, went looking for him to thank him and also to ensure he was alright. He came back to the family with the sad news that the young soldier Mike Pena was killed in friendly fire a few days before in Maytubig Street. The Calero family were all so sad and for many, many years they felt sad that this happened to their Liberation Soldier, Mike Pena.
“I grew up hearing the name Mike
Pena when the family would get together and the conversation often
went back to the war days. The Calero family had a very brief
encounter with him in 1945, but never forgot him.” |
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PENA, FREDERICK "FRED" W. On September 9, 2001, Frederick W. Peña (Fred) was called home to be with our Lord. He was a longtime resident of El Paso. He was a graduate of Austin High School and a U.S. Navy Veteran. Fred worked as a technician for the Steris Corporation. He is survived by his wife Irene Adauto Peña, daughters Victoria Gibson (Shawn), Mollie Peña, parents David and Aurora Connell, brother Michael David Peña, sisters Debbie Jameson and Kathy Cross. The Peña and Connell Families would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the IHS Staff, 5th Floor on North Oregon Street and to the Staff at Loma Vista Dialysis on Lomaland Drive. Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 13, 2001 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home-Central. Graveside Service will be on Thursday, September 13, 2001 at 9:30 a. m. at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, Pastor Tom Delgado officiating. Burial at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery with Military Honors. In Lieu of flowers, please make donations to the El Paso Diabetes Association, 1921 E. Yandell Drive, El Paso, Texas 79903.
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Ofilia married the Love of her life, Matias Peña on November 2, 1936 in El Campo, TX. Together they spent the next 59 years together enjoying life and raising a beautiful family until his passing on June 7, 1996. Ofilia enjoyed flower gardening where many of the neighbors would stop and complement the beauty of it. She also loved reading, cooking and baking for her family and friends. Her true love was the time she spent with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Ofilia is survived by her children Matias Peña, Jr. (the late Stella), Eusebio Peña (Sharon), Dora Garza (Al), Edward Peña (Kathy), Cristella Martin (the late Don), Deborah Hayes (the late Herman) and Miguel Peña (Ida). She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren. She was proceeded in death by sisters and brothers, Adelina Tijerina, Helen Hernandez, Betty Ruiz, Master Sargent Mike C. Peña, Ruben Peña, Alfred Peña, JoePeña,and Jesse Peña Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Thursday from 5-7 P.M. at Wharton Funeral Home 515 E. Boling Hwy. Memorial service to begin at 7:00 P.M. Friends and family will also gather for a graveside service on Friday August 5, 2022, 11:00 A.M. at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, Wharton. Condolences may be left for the family at www.whartonfuneralhome.com Services under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home, 515 E. Boling Hwy., Wharton, TX 77488, (979) 532-3410
Wharton Funeral Home |
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Visitation will begin 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 22, 2012, at the Maxwell P. Dunne Funeral Chapel with a Prayer Service to be held later that evening at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 6102 Greenwood Dr., with Pastor Gilbert Flores officiating. Burial will follow in Seaside Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be Daniel J. Del Bosque, Ricky Pimentel Jr., Andrew J. Robles, James Rodriguez, Roland Pimentel, Ruben Pimentel, Mark Villarreal, Damian Trejo.
Maxwell P. Dunne Funeral Home |
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Miller Funeral & Cremation Services |
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JOSEPH C. PENA, 62, of Houston, passed away
Saturday, January 1, 2000. He is survived by children David Pena,
Eva-Wirth Pena, and Trisha Cortez, all of Houston and 5
grandchildren. Funeral service will be Tuesday, January 4, 2000 at
1:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home with
Rev. Eugene Vickrey officiating. Interment will follow in the
Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.
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Pictures and articles courtesy of sister, Mrs. Ofilia Peña and son, Mike Peña. |
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Alfred
C. Pena (Kenny), 83, of Missouri
City, Texas went to be with the Lord
on April 29, 2014.Mr. Pena was born
in Gulf, Texas on February 10, 1931
to the late Santos and Maria Pena.
He spent his childhood surrounded by
8 beloved siblings and many friends.
After playing baseball and football
at Boling High School, he earned a
scholarship to Wharton Junior
College before he was drafted to the
military.A proud Korean War veteran,
Corporal Pena served in the US Army
from 1952 to 1954 where he earned
the Korea Service Medal, two Bronze
Stars, the UN Service Medal, the
National Defense Service Medal, and
the Good Conduct Medal. After
leaving the Army, Mr. Pena married
his childhood sweetheart Corina
Garcia of Gulf, Texas in 1954.
Together, they raised their family
in Houston, Texas where he spent 38
years working for the US Postal
Service. Mr. Pena's passion for
baseball led him to coach his sons
and he loved watching them play from
Little League to high school.
Perhaps his proudest moment was
seeing his brother, the late Master
Sgt. Mike C. Pena, recently awarded
the Congressional Medal of Honor for
his acts of heroism during the
Korean War in 1950. He will always
be remembered for his quiet,
thoughtful personality, his fedora
hats and shiny shoes, and his love
of all the foods he couldn't have.
Mr. Pena is survived by his wife,
Corina Pena; and four children;
Mario and wife Sylvia, Irma and
husband Richard, Alfred and wife
Patsy, Ruben and wife Alma; and
numerous grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. Mr. Pena is
also survived by his sister, Ofelia
Pena of Boling, Texas; brother,
Jesse Pena and wife Janie of
Wharton, Texas; and many nieces,
nephews, and friends. 
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Copyright 2007 -
Present by the
Peña family and source newspapers |
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| Created Jan. 14, 2007 |
Updated Mar. 22, 2016 |