FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Leroy A Mendonca ~ 16 February 2026

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Leroy A. Mendonca

Info from here.

           

 

 

 

Leroy A. Mendonca was born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, on 2 August 1932, and is of Portuguese ancestry.

While attending President William McKinley High School, he was a AJROTC cadet, and graduated in 1950 as a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War.  He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 4, 1951.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Chich-on, Korea, July 4, 1951

Entered service at: Honolulu, T.H. Birth: Honolulu, T.H.

G.O. No.: 83, September 3, 1952

Citation:

Sgt. LeRoy A. Mendonca, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. After his platoon, in an exhaustive fight, had captured Hill 586, the newly won positions were assaulted during the night by a numerically superior enemy force. When the 1st Platoon positions were outflanked and under great pressure and the platoon was ordered to withdraw to a secondary line of defense, Sgt. Mendonca voluntarily remained in an exposed position and covered the platoon's withdrawal. Although under murderous enemy fire, he fired his weapon and hurled grenades at the onrushing enemy until his supply of ammunition was exhausted. He fought on, clubbing with his rifle and using his bayonet until he was mortally wounded. After the action it was estimated that Sgt. Mendonca had accounted for 37 enemy casualties. His daring actions stalled the crushing assault, protecting the platoon's withdrawal to secondary positions, and enabling the entire unit to repel the enemy attack and retain possession of the vital hilltop position. Sgt. Mendonca's extraordinary gallantry and exemplary valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

 

In 2001, the Bob Hope-class roll on roll off vehicle cargo ship USNS Mendonca was commissioned in the Military Sealift Command, and named in honor of Sergeant Mendonca.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

---

TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport

[PROCON]

Good evening, Kathy and thanks for honoring tonight’s incredible Hero!

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Leroy A Mendonca ~

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies' military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREADS

CLICK FOR Current local times around the world

CLICK FOR local times in Seoul, Baghdad, Kabul,
New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Anchorage

To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open.

The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running daily thread
specifically designed to provide entertainment and moral support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

NOTE: CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily and on the Music Thread
for the enjoyment of our troops and visitors.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...and he was very young. What a soldier!!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

What a splendid day you have today! Makes up for the last few days. Going to be a beautiful sunset shortly.
Hope you’ve gotten some good rest this weekend.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu. Did rain ever make it to the ground?

AK Mill and Feed was closed today...no corn. And the delivery van isn’t fixed yet. *sigh*

[Kathy in Alaska]

It sure was pretty out today...

Yesterday was snow and rest. But I should have gone for corn. LOL!

[radu]

Howdy, PRO!

Have a good week? Still enjoying decent weather?
We have a taste of spring ahead this week and really look forward to it. Gonna hurt when the next cold front comes through, and that’ll happen at some point soon. Spring is still pretty far off.

[luvie]

Leroy A. Mendonca
born August 2, 1932
Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii,
Of Portuguese ancestry.
Was an AJROTC cadet at
President William McKinley High School
Graduated in 1950 as a soldier
....in the US Army during the Korean War.
Posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
....for his actions on July 4, 1951 in Korea.
What a brave hero!

[radu]

I haven’t checked the rain gauge yet but a little something fell overnight, and again this afternoon. I’ll check as soon as I finish supper but I expect to be disappointed. The heavy rain was staying to the north. boohiss

Darn the luck, the store being closed. That was a bit of a drive for nothing. Not exactly convenient for making a run during your lunch break this week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie...and thanks for helping honor our brave hero. He was so young.

[radu]

It didn’t start out very nice, and it was foggy most of the night, but when the clouds broke up, they did it in a hurry.
I’ll bet the plow crews at Stevens are glad for the break in snow. It’s kept them busy trying to keep the runways clear.

Yeah, you could have gotten the corn yesterday had you known. It would have been an adventure getting there and back, though, with the fresh snow on the streets. Yuck.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I just cast a serious eye on the barrel. I think I can make it til after my massage on Thursday if I am “judicious”.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Hope your day was good and your alarm survived.
Quiet here and too nasty to go anywhere.

[radu]

Fingers crossed the corn will hold out until Thursday. That’ll make life easier this week.

[luvie]

it’s an honor to pay tribute to such a hero. He was young, but brave beyond his years.

Hope you had a restful weekend!

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

It was a very nice day here, and the alarm survived. Barely. LOL! It got up to 70 and tomorrow is promised to be even warmer.

I hope by “nasty” you mean that you got a lot of rain. How much did you get? Or is it not a good time to check the gauge?

[radu]

Sounds niiiiice. We still have another day of 60 before we get three days in the 70s.

It was dark and dreary today, with one last gasp of rain this afternoon. We got screwed again. *sigh* Just shy of .4 is all we got. The heavy rain passed to the north and we just got very light rain when we got it. The rain is gone but the clouds still linger.