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Oro Grande near Victorville in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
 

Lt. Manuel P. Rodriguez Memorial/El Monumento al Teniente Manuel P. Rodriguez

 
 
Rodriguez Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 29, 2025
1. Rodriguez Marker
Inscription.
Lt. Manuel P. Rodriguez Memorial
Manuel P. Rodriguez was born in Rosenberg, Texas on August 17, 1921, to Juan Rodriguez and Merejilda Perez. On March 7, 1941, he enlisted in the US Army and after basic training was sent out with the 89th Quartermaster Battalion to engage the Japanese in the Philippines, Lt. Manuel P. Rodriguez was declared killed in action in the Philippine Islands on January 26, 1942. He was a distinguished member of the Armed Services and Oro Grande community. Lt. Rodriguez was awarded the Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War Victory Medal, Philippine Defense Ribbon, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Badge, and a Marksmanship Badge.

The Lt. Manuel P. Rodriguez Memorial commemorates all who have served in the armed forces, and signifies the dedication and sacrifice that individuals, families, and communities have made in defense of American democracy.

El Monumento al Teniente Manuel P. Rodriguez
Manuel P. Rodriguez nació en Rosenberg, Texas, el 17 de agosto de 1921, hijo de Juan Rodriguez y Merejilda Pérez. El 7 de marzo de 1941, se alistó en el Ejército de los EE.UU. y, tras la instrucción básica, fue enviado con el 89° Batallón de Intendencia para enfrentarse a los japoneses en Filipinas. El Teniente Manuel P.
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Rodriguez fue declarado muerto en combate en las Islas Filipinas el 26 de enero de 1942. Fue un distinguido miembro de las Fuerzas Armadas y de la comunidad de Oro Grande. El teniente Rodriguez fue condecorado con el Corazón Púrpura, la Medalla al Servicio de Defensa Americana, la Medalla de la Campaña de Asia-Pacifico, la Medalla de la Victoria de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, la Cinta de Defensa de Filipinas, la Insignia de Mención de la Unidad Presidencial de Filipinas y la Insignia de Tirador.

El Monumento al Teniente Manuel P. Rodriguez conmemora a todos los que han servido en las fuerzas armadas, y significa la dedicación y el sacrificio que los individuos, las familias y las comunidades han hecho en defensa de la democracia estadounidense.

photo caption/pie de foto:
The Purple Heart is a prestigious military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those U.S. military who have been wounded or killed by enemy fire. By the end of World War II, over one million Purple Hearts had been awarded. Learn more about Lt. Rodriguez's Purple Heart by visiting Victor Valley Museum's Military in the Mojave exhibit in Apple Valley.

El Corazón Púrpura es una prestigiosa condecoración militar que se concede en nombre del presidente a los militares estadounidenses que han resultado heridos o muertos por fuego enemigo. Al final de la Segunda
Rodriguez Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 29, 2025
2. Rodriguez Marker
Guerra Mundial, se habian concedido más de un millón de Corazones Púrpuras. Obtenga más información sobre el Corazón Púrpura del teniente Rodriguez visitando la exposición Militares en el Mojave del Museo Victor Valley en Apple Valley San Bernardino County Museum.
 
Erected 2025 by San Bernardino County Museum.
 
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is January 26, 1942.
 
Location. 34° 36.033′ N, 117° 19.861′ W. Memorial is near Victorville, California, in San Bernardino County. It is in Oro Grande. It can be reached from Olive Street 0.1 miles east of 4th Street when traveling east. Marker and memorial are in Oro Grande Cemetery. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 15277 Olive St, Oro Grande CA 92368, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Los Angeles, in the Peninsular Ranges, and specifically in the Transverse Ranges. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Oro Grande Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Mojave River Crossing (approx. 2 miles away); Lane's Crossing (approx. 2 miles away); George Air Force Base (approx. 2.6 miles away); F-4C Phantom II (approx. 2.9 miles away); Emma Jean's (approx. 2.9 miles away); California Route 66 Museum, Victorville, California (approx. 4.8 miles away); Mormon Springs (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victorville.
 
Lt. Manuel P. Rodriguez Memorial image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 29, 2025
3. Lt. Manuel P. Rodriguez Memorial
In the middle of the large star in Oro Grande Cemetery is this government-issue marker for Rodriguez, who is buried in the Philippines.
Another marker is no longer nearby.
Oro Grande Cemetery (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
 
Lt. Manuel P. Rodriguez Memorial image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Craig Baker, April 27, 2024
4. Lt. Manuel P. Rodriguez Memorial
“U.S. Army, World War II. Aug 17 1922 - Jan 26 1942”
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 57 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on November 12, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.   4. submitted on April 29, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
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Jul. 2, 2026