EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Friday that Saturday's 7 p.m. women's basketball game against Chicago State at the UTPA Fieldhouse is Freddy Gonzalez Night.
 
All active and retired military personnel can purchase tickets for $2 each.
 
Dolia Gonzalez, Freddy's mother and the Broncs' grandmother, will be honored on his behalf at halftime. The UTPA ROTC color guard will also present the colors before the game.
 
Sargent Freddy Gonzalez was born on May 23, 1946 in Edinburg. He graduated from Edinburg High School in 1965 and then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He went on to serve in two tours of duty in Vietnam.
 
Sargent Gonzalez died at the age of 21 when he received shrapnel wounds while carrying an injured man to safety. He also helped protect his unit by destroying heavily fortified positions and a rocket emplacement with anti-tank weapons before being mortally wounded by a rocket.
 
The United States Navy commissioned a guided missile destroyer in 1996 known as the USS Gonzalez, named in his honor. Sargent Gonzalez was honored with the Medal of Honor and a Purple Heart for his duty at Vietnam. The city of Edinburg has a street, an elementary school and a park named after him.

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