The City of Mission held a street dedication in honor of U.S. Army Specialist Alex D. Gonzalez on November 9, 2018.
“It was such a tragedy to learn that another young man from Mission was lost defending his country. Although, it’s already been ten years, Alex will always be remembered as a Hero in our community,” said Mission Mayor Dr. Armando O’Caña.
In honor of the upcoming Veterans Day, the City of Mission paid tribute to local fallen soldier U.S. Army Specialist Alex D. Gonzalez with a street dedication ceremony on Friday, November 9th. The public gathered at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Alfredo & Idalia Gonzalez at 2200 Barbara Street.
This past May, the City of Mission also held a re-dedication ceremony for the improvements made at the Alex Gonzalez Park which is located at the corner of West Business Hwy 83 and Moorefield Rd.
Specialist Alex D. Gonzalez was born January 27, 1987 in McAllen, TX. Alex dreamed of being a soldier since childhood, wanting to follow in the footsteps of his dad who had once been an Army Paratrooper. “He told me he just wanted to be just like me, or even better,” his father said. “He just wanted to wear the uniform, join the Army, ever since he was small. That’s what he was.”
Alex graduated from Mission Texas High School in 2005 where he was a football and baseball player and then joined the Army. He was assigned to Fort Hood, TX in the 43rd Combat Engineer Company, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. In April 2008 he was injured in Iraq and spent two weeks in the hospital with a hairline fracture on one of his ribs and an injury to a leg, which earned him award of the Purple Heart.
Alex was very proud to be serving and protecting his country. He frequently volunteered for dangerous missions, saying that if he did not, one of his fellows would have to. Communicating frequently with his family back home via emails, he shared his dreams and stories. After his four years in the military, Alex wanted to become a Mission police officer.
Alex died serving his country on May 6, 2008 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered small arms fire and a rocket-propelled grenade attack.