War Stories with Preston and Sayre
Society & Culture
02-03DEC1944: PVT Pedro Cano was fighting with the 4th Infantry Division when they found themselves leading an assault against German forces in the Hurtgen Forest. Before long, his unit was pinned down by enemy machine gunners set in behind a defensive perimeter covered with mines.
Without regard for his own safety, PVT Cano crawled forward through a minefield to within ten yards of the first machine gun nest and destroyed it with his bazooka, killing an estimated seven enemy fighters. He then fired into the second position, killing two and forcing five to flee.
Noticing that the company to their flank was experiencing the same issues, PVT Cano took off in their direction. He crawled through another minefield to again destroy two enemy machine gun emplacements with his bazooka.
The following day seemed to match the previous. PVT Cano's unit was pinned down, he again crawled through a minefield and from close range, went on to destroy three additional enemy machine gun nests in short order.
For his incredible bravery in knocking out seven German positions, PVT Pedro Cano would be awarded the Medal of Honor.
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