Asturians under American flag
Historical page about of those young people of Asturian origin who participated with the US in World War II.
The Bronze Star Medal is a decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone
Vincent Rodríguez was born in Tampa (Florida) on May 16, 1919, the second child of five born to Regino Rodríguez (Los Cabos, Pravia, Asturias - 01/18/1891) and Carola Caranante (Naples, Italy -26/ 09/1899).
​
After spending two years at Hillsborough High School, he began working as a clerk in a local business until June 18, 1941, the date on which he enlisted in the army, being assigned to Camp Blanding, Florida, the same center where his father enlisted. brother Regino Rodríguez Jr in February 1943 and that he would end the war in a German prison camp as a gunner in a B-17 bomber of the 96th Bomb Squadron (15th Air Force).
​
Vincent Rodríguez will receive military training in the 5th Armored Division, which is activated on October 10, 1941 at Fort Knox (Kentucky) and Camp Cooke (California) to be later sent to Europe in February 1944. This Division will land at Utah Beach on July 24, 1944 and will fight in the main armored operations in Normandy. It will continue as the spearhead of General Patton's Third Army reaching the Belgian border on September 2, liberating Luxembourg on the 10th and being the first Allied unit to cross the German border.
​
At the end of November, he will enter into combat in the Hurtgen Forest, where Vincent Rodríguez, as leader of his Sherman platoon, is awarded the Bronze Star for crossing a minefield on foot to save the crew of one of the armored vehicles.
​
Once the war was over, he returned to the United States where he graduated with honors in November 1945, married Mrs. Santa Lero in Luzerne, Pennsylvania and raised a family with his son and daughter, residing in Tampa (Florida) until his death. on November 27, 1971. His remains rest in the Memorial Park Cemetery of the Asturian Center of Tampa.
Vincent Rodríguez nace en Tampa (Florida) el 16 de mayo de 1919, siendo el segundo hijo de los cinco del matrimonio Regino Rodríguez (Los Cabos, Pravia, Asturias - 18/01/1891) y Carola Caranante (Nápoles, Italia -26/09/1899).
​
Después de cursar dos años en el Hillsborough High School comienza a trabajar como dependiente en un negocio local hasta el 18 de junio de 1941, fecha en la que se alista al ejército siendo destinado a Camp Blanding, Florida, el mismo centro donde se alistara su hermano Regino Rodríguez Jr en febrero de 1943 y que terminaría la guerra en un campo de prisioneros alemán siendo artillero en un bombardero B-17 del 96th Bomb Squadron (15th Air Force).
​
Vincent Rodríguez recibirá formación militar en la 5ª Division Blindada que es activada el día 10 de octubre de 1941 en Fort Knox (Kentucky) y Camp Cooke (California) para posteriormente ser enviada a Europa en febrero de 1944. Esta Division desembarcará en Utah Beach el 24 de Julio de 1944 y combatirá en las principales operaciones blindadas de Normandia. Continuará como punta de lanza del Tercer Ejercito del General Patton llegando a la frontera con Bélgica el 2 de septiembre, liberando Luxemburgo el día 10 y siendo la primera unidad aliada en cruzar la frontera alemana.
​
A finales de noviembre entrará en combate en el Bosque de Hurtgen, donde Vincent Rodríguez, como jefe de su pelotón de Shermans, es condecorado con la Estrella de Bronce por atravesar a pie un campo minado para salvar a la tripulación de uno de los blindados.
​
Una vez finalizada la guerra, regresa a EEUU donde se licenciará con honores en noviembre de 1945, contraerá matrimonio con Mrs. Santa Lero en Luzerne, Pennsylvania y formará una familia con u hijo y una hija, residiendo en Tampa (Florida) hasta su fallecimiento el 27 de noviembre de 1971.
Sus restos descansan en el Memorial Park Cemetery del Centro Asturiano de Tampa.