Marcelino Serna

Marcelino Serna’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Marcelino Serna (ASN: 2195593), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 355th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, A.E.F., near Flirey, France, 12 September 1918. Private Serna displayed exceptional coolness and courage in single handed charging and capturing 24 Germans.

Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm

Italian War Merit Cross

Purple Heart

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 26 April 1896, Chihuahua, Mexico
  • Place of Residence: El Paso, TX, United States
  • Race/Ethnicity: Hispanic American
  • Death: 29 February 1992 El Paso, TX, United States
  • Branch: IV Army
  • Military Rank: Private
  • Company: [B]
  • Infantry Regiment: 355th
  • Division: 89th

Personal Narrative

Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

Marcelino Serna was born to Porferro (?-?) Serna on 26 April, 1896 in Chihuahua, Mexico; at 20 years old, he crossed the Mexican American border into El Paso, Texas. He worked for Santa Fe Railway Systems in Topeka, Kansas and various farms in Denver, Colorado between 1916-1917.

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Serna enlisted as a Private into Co. B, 355th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, located at Camp Funston, Kansas. Serna and his Company sailed on the U.S. Army Transport Ship, Adriatic, on 4 June, 1918 from New York, NY arriving in Brest, France on June 10. Serna received the Distinguished Service Cross, two Purple Hearts, two French Croix de Guerre with Palms, the French Medaille Militarie, and the Italian Croce al Merito di Guerra for his actions near Flirey, France, on 12 September, 1918.

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private Marcelino Serna (ASN: 2195593), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company B, 355th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, A.E.F., near Flirey, France, 12 September 1918. Private Serna displayed exceptional coolness and courage in single handed charging and capturing 24 Germans”.

“Private Marcelino Serna, No. 2195593, Company “B”, 355th Regiment of American Infantry. Soldier with an admirable courage. During a furious charge he has succeeded to take all by himself twenty-four prisoners (Order 16528, April 19, 1919)”.

Serna and his Company sailed on the U.S. Army Transport Ship, Leviathan, on 15 May, 1919 from Brest, France arriving in Hoboken, New Jersey, on May 22. Serna was Honorably Discharged on 3 June, 1919.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Serna married Simona (Jimenez) (1906-1996) on 1 July, 1922 in El Paso, Texas; they had six children, Juliette (?-?), Carolina (1930-1931), Gilberto (1935-1936), Ester (1937-1937), Margarita (1943-2004), and Gloria (1926- ). Serna worked for the Peyton Packing Company in El Paso, Texas, and for the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, until his retirement in 1960. Serna died on 29 February, 1992 of natural causes.

From the Files of Marcelino Serna

Letter, Brigadier General Louis J. Prost, USA to Representative Patricia Schroeder Toggle Accordion

Distinguished Service Cross Citation Toggle Accordion

Italian War Merit Cross Citation Toggle Accordion

Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palm Citation Toggle Accordion

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