Marcelino Serna emigrated from Mexico into the U.S. in 1916, when he was just 20 years old.

He settled in Texas where he worked while undocumented for several years until federal authorities detained him to verify his war draft status. Despite being a Mexican citizen, and to show his dedication to becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, Serna begged the officials to allow him to enlist in the U.S. Army, rather than deport him. At the time, the horrific conditions of the trenches of World War I were common knowledge. Consequently, volunteers to enlist were not always easy to come by. Impressed by Serna’s offer, the federal officials allowed him to join the Army.

After basic training, Serna was shipped off to Europe, but once he arrived, Army officials realized Serna was Mexican, not American, and offered to discharge him. Serna refused and insisted on serving. During the war, Serna fought in the Lucey Sector, the Saint-Mihiel offensive, the Euvezin Sector, and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. 

During the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Serna volunteered to scout ahead alone. While scouting he spotting a German sniper in the distance.  He followed the sniper to a German trench. Armed with an Enfield rifle, pistol, and grenades, Serna laid down fire and tossed grenades while continually changing positions around the trench. The enemy came to believe that they were under attack by a much larger force and surrendered. Serna single-handedly killed twenty-six enemy soldiers and took another twenty-four German soldiers prisoner. Later, Gen. John J. Pershing awarded him with the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest U.S. military decoration. He was the most decorated Texan of World War I and the first first Mexican-American to receive the Distinguished Service Cross. Ferdinand Foch, Supreme Commander of the Allied Troops, also awarded Serna with the French Croix de Guerre for bravery. 

Serna also received two French Croix de Guerre with palms. The first was given to him personally by French Marshal Ferdinand Foch, supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe. The second Croix de Guerre, along with a French Médaille Militaire and an Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra, was awarded in a ceremony at Fort Bliss attended by Governor William P. Hobby. In addition, Serna received, a French Commemorative Medal, a French St. Mihiel Medal, a French Verdun Medal, a Victory Medal with five stars, a Victory Medal with three campaign bars, and two Purple Hearts, making him one of the most highly decorated soldiers in Texas history.


Serna returned home to the U.S. as the most decorated soldier from Texas. In 1924, he became a U.S. citizen and settled in El Paso. 

This is a photo of Marcelino Serna, full length, in his World War I uniform, with medals

A poster heralding Marcelino Serna as Mexican US Army Hero

Marcelino Serna in his World War I uniform with medals awarded.

Fort Bliss National Cemetery

Newspaper clippings from "La Prensa", and "El Paso Herald", published in 1919, describe Marcelino Serna's military service. Featured on pages 49-50 of "America’s Unseen Soldiers", a lesson plan from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Newspaper Clippings detailing Marcelino Serna's Military Service

 I salute you sir. ... You have certainly presented as evidence by your deeds and actions a proud example of what makes an American. ... Not your country of birth but rather your country of choice and your unselfish and unwavering dedication to your country of choice. ... Thank you for serving and being a proud American of Mexican decent. ... May your God/Spirit continue to cradle you in his arms as you rest in peace knowing your task was well done. ...Micheal Mazor US Army 1-66 x 1-69 Vietnam 1-68 x 1-69

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.

Born in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico to a poor family, Serna entered the US by via the Rio Grande, going to El Paso, Texas, and at age 20, moved to Denver, Colorado searching for work. 
The US declared war on Germany, April 6, 1917. Serna was picked up by federal officials and faced with being deported, he volunteered to serve in the Army. 
After basic training, he was assigned to Company B, 355th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division. When the Army realized that he was a Mexican national, he was offered a discharge to which he declined choosing to serve the United States.

Serna's unit was ordered to advance towards the Meuse River and Argonne Forest in France. His actions on Sept. 12, 1918, included throwing three grenades into a trench, resulting in the death of 26 enemy soldiers and 24 being captured.
Serna was wounded in both of his legs by sniper fire, four days before the Armistice. During his recovery, he was awarded Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military decoration to the Medal of Honor. 
Serna earned more awards to include the French Croix de Guerre; the Purple Heart, and the WWI Victory Medal. 
Cong. Ronald D'Emory Coleman introduced legislation, Jan. 17, 1995, requesting Serna be awarded the #MOH posthumously, to no avail.
However, the US designated the Customs and Border Protection Port of Entry located in Tornillo, Texas, as the "Marcelino Serna Port of Entry, Sept. 29, 2016, he was awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor for his actions, March 2, 2022.
Serna returned to the U.S. as the most decorated soldier from Texas. He became a #American citizen in 1924, married and settled down in El Paso, Texas.

Working on 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month remarks, learned about this incredible man, Marcelino Serna. Some excerpts from various reliable sources:

“During the war, Serna fought in the Lucey Sector, the Saint-Mihiel offensive, the Euvezin Sector, and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. On September 12, 1918, during the battle of Saint-Mihiel, Private Serna’s unit came under heavy machine gun fire. Following the deaths of twelve members of his unit, he volunteered to scout ahead. Serna advanced alone until he was close enough to the machine gun emplacement to toss four grenades inside. The blast killed six, and Serna captured the remaining eight German soldiers."

“Two weeks later, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Serna again volunteered to scout ahead— alone — after spotting a German sniper in the distance. He followed the sniper to a German trench. Armed with an Enfield rifle, pistol, and grenades, Serna laid down fire and tossed grenades while continually changing positions around the trench. The enemy came to believe that they were under attack by a much larger force and surrendered."

“Serna single-handedly killed twenty-six enemy soldiers and took another twenty-four German soldiers prisoner. When reinforcements arrived, Serna defended his prisoners from American soldiers, who wished to execute them on the spot, and argued that such executions went against the rules of war. On November 7, 1918, four days before the armistice agreement, Serna was hit by sniper fire in both legs and was sent to an army hospital in France.”

"Serna was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest U.S. military honor behind only the Medal of Honor. None other than Gen. John 'Black Jack' Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, pinned the medal on Serna.

"Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch, the supreme commander of the Allied forces in World War I, had awarded Serna the French Croix de Guerre for bravery."

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