Lt. José Azueta - Acapulco, Mexico - Statues of Historic Figures on Waymarking.com

A monument honoring Lt. José Azueta contains a stone bust of the Mexican naval hero placed on the top left side of a 6' by 12' rectangular stone base with a bronze plaque that identifies the Plaza de la Heroica Escuela Naval Militar. Lt. José Azueta is depicted from the neck up, looking straight ahead. He has wavy hair which is parted on his left. Below the bust is a stone plaque which is inscribed:

José Azueta was born into a military family in Acapulco, Mexico on May 2, 1895. He was the son of Commodore Manuel Azueta Perillos and Josefa Abad. He attended the Veracruz Naval Academy and obtained a commission in the Mexican Navy.

Lt. José Azueta became a national hero in Mexico for his heroism in actions during the U.S. occupation of Vera Cruz in April 1914. The U.S. occupied Vera Cruz following the Tampico Affair when nine American sailors were arrested by the Mexican government.

José Azueta was armed with a machine gun protecting a building from incoming American troops and causing many casualties. He was wounded by U.S. Navy marksman, rescued from the battlefield, taken home. He refused treatment from the American occupiers, opting for a local physician. The care was ineffective due to lack of appropriate medical supplies and José Azueta later died of his wounds, on May 10, 1914.

Before he died, Lt. Azueta was promoted to captain by the President of Mexico, was awarded a gold medal with the Decoration of the Second U.S. Invasion and awarded the 3rd Class Military Merit medal.