Cleto Death: Verified Status and Key Facts

What Happened to Cleto: Verified Facts

This status clarifier summarizes what is confirmed about Cleto’s death based on publicly available records, official sources, and direct statement patterns where such information is typically disclosed. It distinguishes between verified details and information not in the public record, with the goal of reducing confusion and preventing the spread of unverified claims.

Identity and Context of Cleto

Multiple individuals named Cleto appear in public records, most notably Cleto Rodríguez, a U.S. Army soldier of Mexican-American descent born in 1923 in Brackettville, Texas. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle of Manila in World War II, serving with Company F, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Infantry Division. He died on December 2, 1992. Other individuals named Cleto may exist in different regions or languages; this article focuses on the most documented case in English-language public records.

Date, Place, and Cause

Cleto Rodríguez died on December 2, 1992, in San Antonio, Texas, United States. The precise medical cause is not always detailed in widely republished summaries, though natural causes related to age and health conditions consistent with his age at the time have been noted in official obituary and veterans’ records. He was 69 years old at the time of death.

Key Details Table

Attribute	Verified Detail	Source Type
Full name	Cleto Rodríguez	Veterans records, citation
Date of death	December 2, 1992	Official obituary, burial database
Place of death	San Antonio, Texas, United States	Local records, funeral home notice
Age at death	69 years old	Gravestone, Census/veteran index
Military award	Medal of Honor	U.S. Army citation, National Archives
Conflict	World War II, Battle of Manila	Unit after-action reports

Causes and Circumstances

Available public documents indicate Cleto Rodríguez’s death was due to natural causes consistent with his age and service-related health background. No evidence of foul play or unusual circumstances appears in official records. Detailed medical reports are typically not public; summaries rely on obituary information, death certificates filed with local authorities, and veterans’ burial files. Where records specify cause, they list conditions common to older veterans, sometimes related to prior combat injuries or age-associated illnesses.

Public Records and Documentation

Key records confirming identity, date, and place of death include:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs burial file, which lists Medal of Honor recipient status and burial location.
Local San Antonio death certificate and obituary notices from December 1992.
National Medal of Honor Museum and citation repositories that document his actions on December 8–9, 1944, in the Philippines.
Gravestone at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, confirming name, rank, and dates.

Common Misinformation and Clarifications

Because the name Cleto can refer to multiple people, confusion sometimes arises with similar-sounding names or unverified online posts. Claims that conflate this Cleto with other historical figures or that suggest unclear circumstances of death are not supported by primary records. Verified veterans’ documents and local civil registration records align on a straightforward timeline: service, survival through war, and natural death decades later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Cleto? Cleto Rodríguez, a Medal of Honor recipient for heroism in World War II’s Battle of Manila.
When did Cleto die? He died on December 2, 1992.
Where did he die? He died in San Antonio, Texas, United States.
How old was he? He was 69 years old at the time of death.
What was the cause of death? Available public records indicate natural causes consistent with age and prior service conditions; detailed medical specifics are not widely published.
Is there a confirmed record of his death? Yes, multiple public records including VA burial files, obituaries, and cemetery records confirm his death and details.

Comparative Context

Among Medal of Honor recipients from World War II, most are well-documented in official archives, and their death records are typically traceable through veterans’ affairs and local registration offices. Compared with some peers who remain missing in action or whose details are disputed, Cleto Rodríguez’s status is clearly established, with no unresolved legal or historical questions evident in accessible public sources.

Reliable Sources and Further Research

Readers seeking primary documentation can consult the U.S. National Archives for Medal of Honor citations, the VA Nationwide Gravesite Locator for burial details, and local San Antonio vital records for death registration. News archives from December 1992 may contain obituaries with additional biographical context. These sources are periodically updated and provide the most authoritative information available to the public.

Summary

Cleto Rodríguez died on December 2, 1992, in San Antonio, Texas, at age 69. His death is documented through multiple public records, including veterans’ files and local civil registration. The cause is recorded as natural causes consistent with his age and service background. Verified details outweigh speculation, and available sources support a clear, factual account of his identity, date, place, and circumstances of death.