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Colonel Mendez graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in the Class of 1940. Historian Cornelius Ryan profiled Colonel Mendez and his leadership in the Market Garden struggle in his best-selling history book “A Bridge Too Far.” After serving in the Korean War as well, Louis Menendez retired as a U.S. Army Colonel in 1970.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    3d Battalion

    Regiment:

    508th Parachute Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    82d Airborne Division

    Action Date:

    June 6 – July 7, 1944

    Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 79 (August 8, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Louis Gonzaga Mendez, Jr. (ASN: 0-23262), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 3d Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces during the period 6 June 1944 through 7 July 1944, in France. One instance of particular note was on 20 June 1944, near Pretot, France, when Lieutenant Colonel Mendez personally led an assault on the town of Pretot through a withering concentration of observed mortar, timed artillery and machine gun cross-fire. In their first attempt to win their objective, the two assault companies were pinned to the ground by a devastating artillery barrage and suffered heavy casualties. Appreciating the danger of delay, Lieutenant Colonel Mendez crawled to a position in front of his men, leaped to his feet and led the charge which drove the enemy out of the town. By his calm disregard for personal danger and his ability to act quickly and aggressively under fire, he turned imminent catastrophe into a victory. Lieutenant Colonel Mendez’s courage, calmness, judgment and devotion to duty were directly responsible for the achievement of his battalion’s objective, and exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Colonel (Infantry)

    Action Date:

    April 1963 – August 1967

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 46 (October 26, 1967)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel (Infantry) Louis Gonzaga Mendez, Jr. (ASN: 0-23262), United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from April 1963 to August 1967.