A Reedley woman will travel to Washington, D.C. to accept the Medal of Honor on behalf of her father, Pedro Cano-- a decorated WWII veteran who died in 1952.
In 2002, Congress, ordered a review of records for Jewish American and Hispanic veterans who served in WWII and other wars to make sure deserving veterans weren't denied the Medal of Honor because of prejudice.
Cano was part of this group. He previously received the Distinguished Service Cross award--the country's second highest award. Now, that award has been upgraded, and he'll receive the recognition he deserves.
Dominga Perez is Cano's oldest daughter. She says, when she received a call saying the president wanted to speak with her, she was in shock.
"I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. I was really happy, excited. I kept saying, 'Am I dreaming?'"
"It's a feeling that--it's, I don't know how to explain it, really. It's overwhelming," says Armando Perez, Dominga's son.
In 1944, Cano fought alongside his infantry platoon in Germany. According to military records, the troops were met with intense enemy fire. Cano crawled through a heavily mined area under a hail of fire and fired back at the enemy, protecting his own troops.
"Sometimes I get a little emotional just to picture what he went through when he see all his troops that were down," Dominga says.
Cano received injuries during war, and he recovered in a Texas hospital. But at age 32, he died in a car accident, his daughter says.
Now, 62 years after his death, he's finally receiving the country's highest honor--one that's long overdue.
"It's a true honor to be his grandson," Armando says.
A group of 10 family members will travel to D.C. next week for the ceremony.
"He's not here with us, but we'll be there to receive his medal for him," Dominga says through tears.