Remembering a Veteran: Pvt. Marcelino Serna, 89th Division, AEF

Marcelino Serna, Home from the War

Private Marcelino Serna (26 April 1896–29 February 1992) was a Mexican who enlisted as an American soldier and settled from El Paso, Texas. He became one of the most decorated soldiers from Texas in World War I. Serna was the first Hispanic to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. The citation for that award reads:

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Marcelino Serna, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Flirey, France, September 12, 1918. Private Serna displayed exceptional coolness and courage in single handed charging and capturing 24 Germans." General Orders No. 27, W.D., 1919 Home Town: Fort Morgan, CO.

Serna migrated from his home country of Mexico to El Paso, Texas, in 1915, when he was almost 20 years old. After working illegally for two years, Serna was eventually arrested by Federal officials concerning his status as a citizen. While he waited to find out if he was to be deported back to Mexico, Serna decided that he would show his desire to become a U.S. citizen by volunteering for the army. He was deployed to France with the 89th Division, which saw its first major combat on 12 September 1918 in the opening of the St. Mihiel Offensive.  It was on this first day that Serna made his officially honored effort, for which he received the DSC.   

The specifics of his accomplishments, however, have apparently been the subject of conflicting reports and claims over the years. For instance, one account mentions he was wounded during the fighting.  Another claims vaguely that he killed some of the enemy and captured others. A third article I read alleged he "managed to capture 24 soldiers and kill another 26." Also, there seems to be considerable confusion and misinformation about what he accomplished in the St. Mihiel vs the Meuse-Argonne Offensives. All sources I've found, though, seem to agree, in any case, that Pvt. Serna did a remarkable job of fighting for his adopted country during the war. Further, its important to remember that his actions were distinguished enough also to be honored by France with the Croix de Guerre with Palm, and by Italy with the Croce al Merito di Guerra.  My instincts tell me his DSC citation might understate things, but I just can't determine what his actual record was from the sources available to me.

The Old Soldier—Still Proud

Serna was discharged at Camp Bowie, Texas in May 1919. In 1924, Serna became a United States citizen and soon after he married and settled down in El Paso, Texas. He went to work at the Peyton Packing Company. In 1960, he retired as a plumber from William Beaumont Hospital. On 29 February 1992, Marcelino Serna died at the age of 95. He was buried with full military honors at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, of El Paso, Texas.

Sources:  Wikipedia;  World War One Centennial Commission; Various News Articles