Central Catholic High School: Cadets represent Medal of Honor recipient at World War II reenactment

Central Catholic Cadets pose with Battle of Tarawa reenactors. (Photo by Alex Chavez, Army Instructor)

Written by Edward Hernandez, Senior Army Instructor

On Nov. 15, Central Catholic High School’s Army JROTC air rifle team, the Bordelon Rifles, represented the school and the entire Corps of Cadets, the Button Brigade, at the National Museum of the Pacific War’s Pacific Valor event, in Fredericksburg, Texas.

“I thought it was very cool…It showed the real situation they were in and the quick thinking Bordelon had to do while he was concussed,” said Cadet Brody Lodde.

The Pacific Valor event was an educational reenactment of Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. William J. Bordelon’s actions on the island of Tarawa on Nov. 20, 1943. He was the first Marine from Texas to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in World War II. Bordelon is an alumnus of Central Catholic High School, class of 1938, where he served as the Corps of Cadets’ battalion commander from 1937-1938. The Army JROTC air rifle team and range are named in his honor. His Medal of Honor was donated by his family to the National Museum of the Pacific War, where it remains on display.

“The Battle of Tarawa reenactment was an incredible demonstration of volunteer work and effort put into bringing the heroic story of Staff Sgt. Bordelon to life,” said Cadet Joseph McMorrough, commander of the sporter rifle team.

Cadet Nathan Zimmer said the following, regarding the significance of the rifle team being named after SSgt. Bordelon, “Our rifle team is privileged to be able to have the namesake of Staff Sgt. Bordelon. It shows Central Catholic’s heritage and history. Our rifle team can look to fulfill the values of Staff Sgt. Bordelon both during events and in everyday life.”

Central Catholic High School is a college preparatory school in San Antonio, TX, which was founded in 1852. The school has maintained an Army JROTC program since 1933. The school is the oldest all-boys Catholic school in Texas and remains one of the largest all-male private schools in the state. The Army JROTC program also includes girls from two all-female private Catholic schools, Providence Catholic School and Incarnate Word High School. For more information, visit https://www.cchs-satx.org/ or https://www.youtube.com/@cchs-satx-jrotc