Over the summer, I was tasked with finding proof of Texanhood among those who received the Medal of Honor. An essential part of my research revolved around a central question: what makes someone a “Texan”? Some, specifically those born and raised in Texas, easily fit into that category. Others, like those whose stay in Texas was short and temporary, were harder to label. Most fell somewhere in between. Louis R. Rocco fell into that third category, and his fascinating story began just to the left of the Lone Star State.
Although Rocco was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, his family’s move to California would change the trajectory of his life. He had always been a troublemaker, but a street gang in Los Angeles introduced him to more serious crimes. He traded stealing crops to feed his family for participating in armed robberies, contributing to tumultuous teenage years.
At age 16, Rocco’s actions put him at a crossroads. After being arrested for armed robbery, he visited an army recruitment office. One of the recruiters listened to him vent and, seeing his potential, went with him to court. After the recruiter argued that Rocco deserved a second chance, the judge relented. If Rocco could turn his life around and his parents consented, he could join the army at 17. If not, he would go to jail until he was 21. Wanting to avoid five years behind bars, he agreed.
His initial years in the US Army took him from California to North Carolina to Germany. California gave him basic training. North Carolina provided access to medical schooling. Germany allowed him to sharpen his medical knowledge while earning his GED. Soon, he was deployed to Vietnam.
Rocco’s Medal of Honor action occurred during his second tour in Vietnam as part of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV). According to an interview conducted by the U.S. Army Medical Department in 1987, Rocco was just a week from R&R. On May 24, 1970, he was northeast of Katum in Vietnam. He was assisting a helicopter medevac crew when they flew into an area under heavy enemy fire. After receiving devastating damage, the helicopter was forced to crash-land. The machinery caught fire as it collided with the ground. Rocco sprang into action, taking multiple trips to drag the injured from the flames to a distant tree. Later, he gave credit to one of the pilots for returning fire on the enemy, giving him enough cover to complete these recoveries. Once he rescued everyone he could, Rocco provided first aid to his comrades. Eventually, he lost consciousness due to his own wounds.
The future appeared uncertain. Enemy fire kept them pinned to the spot. Two helicopters attempted to save them but were shot down. After 2 days, salvation arrived in the form of 2 Cobras escorting a medevac. Rocco left the battlefield with injuries to his back, hip, and wrist, and burns on his face and hands.
The idea that Rocco could receive the Medal of Honor for this action was floated around while he recovered in the hospital, but nothing would happen immediately. According to an article for the American Forces Press Service, then First Lieutenant Lee Caubarreaux credited Rocco with saving his and the others’ lives on that fateful day. His gratitude prompted him to campaign for Rocco to receive the Medal of Honor, even when bureaucracy appeared to obstruct the process. When Caubarreux’s efforts paid off after four years, Rocco received the official notification in shock. On December 12, 1974, Rocco received the Medal of Honor at the White House.
As time progressed, Rocco remained dedicated to others in the service. He retired from the military in 1978 before returning to New Mexico. Back in his birthplace, he saw, in his own words from the 1987 interview, that “a lot of Vietnam veterans were hurting.” He dedicated the next few years of his life to helping veterans at the state level. His activism ranged from opening facilities designed to care for veterans to campaigning for their free tuition at state colleges.
Rocco was so devoted to the service that changed his life that during the Gulf War, he volunteered for active duty. He told an interviewer in 1991 that he “kind of missed the military” and wanted to train new medics. His tour only lasted six months. Once over, he returned to assisting veterans. He moved to Mexico in 1992 and lived there for six years.
In 1998, he moved back to the United States and settled in San Antonio, Texas. He never stopped advocating for ways to improve veterans’ lives. Alongside that work, he took inspiration from his earlier sponsorship surrounding children’s programs. He started “Veterans Against Violence and Drugs” to aid in youth development. Rocco’s efforts continued until the end of his life. On October 31, 2002, he passed away in San Antonio from lung cancer. He was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, resting in the same city that he called home for the past four years.
Is Louis R. Rocco a Texan? He spent only 4 of his 63 years of life in the state. Yet, his impact cannot be denied. Many things are named in his honor, like the Rocco Dining Facility at Fort Sam Houston. Outside of the titles and achievements, he touched many individual lives. Looking at his digital obituary and online memorial posts, one can see comments left by many people whom he positively impacted. Many of them were San Antonio residents who, without him, would not have gotten recognition or help. By assisting everyone he came across, Rocco emblemized the core values that a Medal of Honor recipient should hold. Whether a New Mexican, a Californian, a Texan, or a hybrid of all the places he lived before, Louis R. Rocco had a dedication to helping others that cannot be easily forgotten.
