'This is old-fashioned racism': Rep. Gonzalez rebukes Trump's removal of RGV war hero from U.S. history website
The removal of Sgt. Gonzalez from a U.S. history website has become a political flashpoint in the Rio Grande Valley, where some residents view the deletion as an insult and others as a betrayal of their support for Trump.
Texas-based U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez delivered a scathing condemnation of the Trump administration's removal of a beloved South Texas figure of military valor from the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command website.
Sergeant Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez, a decorated Vietnam War hero from Edinburg, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, was deleted as part of Trump's initiative to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across federal government websites some time in early March.
"This administration's appalling efforts to erase history under the disguise of eliminating DEI has seen no boundaries," said Rep. Gonzalez, speaking from the House floor during Monday's morning hour debate.
Gonzalez said the Trump policy has led to “indiscriminate removals of Latinos, women, and other minorities from our Nation's archives.”
Trump’s “Restoring America’s Fighting Force” executive order, signed a week after taking office, forbids U.S. armed forces from “providing special benefits” based on race, color, sex or ethnicity.
Sean Parnell, assigned by Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth as chief spokesman for The Pentagon, is serving as “approval authority for public affairs interactive Internet activities” through a DOD directive and “in response” to Trump’s executive order.
“Content requiring removal also includes that which is counter to merit-based or color-blind policies or promotes cultural awareness months,” said Parnell in a February letter to senior Pentagon officials, demanding a “digital refresh” of all public DOD content.
Sgt. Gonzalez, a Mexican-American, posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam. Once having returned from a first tour of duty, Sgt. Gonzalez voluntarily requested to be sent back for a second deployment when he learned that a platoon of men that had served under him had been killed in an ambush.
During the Battle of Hue, Sgt. Gonzalez displayed extraordinary heroism that would ultimately cost him his life.
As his convoy came under enemy fire, Sgt. Gonzalez led his men in clearing the area, later suffering shrapnel wounds while rescuing an injured Marine. Despite his injuries, he pressed on—leading an assault that destroyed a machine gun bunker with hand grenades.
Upon reaching Hue, Gonzalez continued to fight through intense urban combat, refusing medical evacuation after being seriously wounded. The next day, facing a major North Vietnamese assault that inflicted heavy casualties, he took up anti-tank weapons and directly engaged fortified enemy positions.
His actions helped stop the enemy advance and silence a rocket emplacement. Gonzalez was mortally wounded in the effort and died after taking cover in the Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church.
His valor and leadership during one of the Vietnam War’s fiercest battles earned him the Medal of Honor and cemented his legacy as a symbol of sacrifice—both nationally and in the Rio Grande Valley, where an elementary school and a major roadway in Edinburg bear his name.
The guided missile destroyer, the USS Gonzalez (DDG-66), was named in honor of Sgt. Gonzalez in in 1995.
The removal of Sgt. Gonzalez from the U.S. history website has become a political flashpoint in the Rio Grande Valley, where some residents view the deletion as an insult and others as a betrayal of their support from Trump.
Tejano singer Bobby Pulido, who announced his retirement from music in November 2024 to pursue a political career, issued a statement condemning the decision to remove Sgt. Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez from the Naval History website.
"Attempts have been made to diminish his legacy," Pulido said. "His courage, sacrifice, and dedication to our country are forever etched into the heart of Edinburg and the entire Rio Grande Valley."
"We will never forget the profound impact he made. His story continues to inspire and unite our community for generations to come," Pulido added.
U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, who ran for congress on a Republican platform and was elected in the Rio Grande Valley with public support from the Trump administration, posted a statement on Tuesday, on the platform X, saying “While the specific page recognizing Hispanic Americans in the Navy, including Sgt. Gonzalez, was taken down, his story lives on.”
Rep. De La Cruz pointed out that an about page on the website dedicated to the USS Gonzalez still contained information about Sgt. Gonzalez, affirming that “Sgt. Gonzalez will always be an American hero and an inspiration to South Texans.”
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez finished his speech on Monday with a call to action from U.S. veterans.
“This is not about eliminating DEI. This is straight-up, old-fashioned racism against some of the most deserving Americans in our history,” said Rep. Gonzalez.
“I ask my friends on the other side of the aisle who have worn our uniform and some who have fought for our freedom to stand with me," said Rep. Gonzalez. "Stand on the right side of history with the American people and oppose these un-American, unpatriotic policies coming from this administration, from folks who never had the gall to serve themselves.”
