Hispanic
Listed Chronologically By War
For Valor
Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
A Hall Of Heroes E-Book
By C. Douglas Sterner
These pages are provided by the Hall Of Heroes, Pueblo Colorado. You may feel free to reproduce and use them in any
quantity for all non-commercial, educational or patriotic programs Non-profit organizations may print these in quantity
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Copyright© 2002, HomeOfHeroes.com, Inc.
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Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Civil War
Joseph H. Decastro
Corporal, U.S. Army
Born: Nov 14, 1844 at Boston, MA
Entered Service At: Boston, MA
Date/Place of Action: Jul 03, 1863 Gettysburg, PA
Unit: Company I, 19th Massachusetts Infantry
Presentation: Dec 01, 1864
Date Of Death: May 08, 1892
Buried At: Fairmount Cemetery - Newark, NJ
John Ortega
Seaman, U.S. Navy
Born: 1840 in Spain
Entered Service At: Pennsylvania
Date/Place of Action: Date Not Given off the coast of Georgia
Unit: USS Saratoga
Presentation: Dec 31, 1864
Date Of Death: Unknown
Buried At: Unknown
Philip Bazar
Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy
Born: Chile (date unknown)
Entered Service At: New Bedford, MA
Date/Place of Action: Jan 15, 1865 Fort Fisher, NC
Unit: USS Santiago de Cuba
Presentation: Jun 22, 1865
Date Of Death: Unknown
Buried At: Unknown
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 1
Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Boxer Rebellion
France Silva
Private, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: May 08, 1876 at Hayward, CA
Entered Service At: San Francisco, CA
Date/Place of Action: Jun 28 - Aug 17, 1900 Peking, China
Unit: USS Newark
Presentation: Jul 19, 1901
Date Of Death: Apr 10, 1951
Buried At: Sunset Hill Cemetery - Corning, CA
World War I
David B. Barkeley
aka: David Bennes Barkley
Private, US Army
Born: Mar 31, 1899 at Laredo, TX
Entered Service At: San Antonio, TX
Date/Place of Action: Nov 09, 1918 Pouilly, France
Unit: Co A, 356th Infantry, 89th Division
Presentation: Presented to his mother
at her home in San Antonio, TX, 1919
Date Of Death: Nov 09, 1918
Buried At: San Antonio National Cemetery - San Antonio , TX
World War II
Joseph Pantillion Martinez
Private, U.S. Army
Born: Jul 27, 1920 at Taos, NM
Entered Service At: Ault, CO
Date/Place of Action: May 26, 1943 Attu Island, Aleutian Is., AK
Unit: Co K, 32d Infantry, 7th Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented to his family at Ault, CO
by BGen Frank Culin, Jr. on Nov 11, 1943
Date Of Death: May 26, 1943 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Ault Cemetery - Ault, CO
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Page 2
Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Rudolph B. Davila
Private, U.S. Army
Born: Apr 27, 1916 at El Paso, TX
Entered Service At: Los Angeles, CA
Date/Place of Action: May 28, 1944 at Artena, Italy
Unit: Co H, 7th Infantry
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President William J. Clinton on June 21, 2000
Date Of Death: Jan 26, 2002
Lucian Adams
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: Oct 26, 1922 at Port Arthur, TX
Entered Service At: Port Arthur, TX
Date/Place of Action: Oct 28, 1944 - St. Die, France
Unit: Co I, 3d Bn, 30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented at Zepman Stadium, Nuremberg, Germany
by LtGen Alexander M. Patch, III on Apr 23, 1945
Currently Living In: Texas
Macario Garcia
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: Jan 02, 1920 at Villa De Castano, Mexico
Entered Service At: Sugar Land, TX
Date/Place of Action: Nov 27, 1944 - Grosshau, Germany
Unit: Co B, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President Harry S Truman on Aug 23, 1945
Date Of Death: Dec 24, 1972
Buried At: Houston National - Houston, TX
Jose Mendoze Lopez
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: Jun 01, 1912 at Mission, TX
Entered Service At: Brownsville, TX
Date/Place of Action: Dec 17, 1944 - Krinkelt, Belgium
Unit: Co M, 3d Bn, 23d Infantry, 2d Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented at Zepman Stadium, Nuremberg, Germany
by MGen James Van Fleet, III on Jun 18, 1945
Currently Living In: Texas
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 3
Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Jose F. Valdez
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: Jan 03, 1925 at Governador, NM
Entered Service At: Pleasant Grove, UT
Date/Place of Action: Jan 25, 1945 - Rosenkrantz, France
Unit: Co B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division
Presentation: Feb 08, 1946
Date Of Death: Feb 17, 1945 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Santa Fe National - Santa Fe, NM
Cleto L. Rodriguez
Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: Apr 26, 1923 at San Marcos, TX
Entered Service At: San Antonio, TX
Date/Place of Action: Feb 09, 1945 - Manila, Philippine Islands
Unit: Co B, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President Harry S Truman on Oct 12, 1945
Date Of Death: Dec 07, 1990
Buried At: Fort Sam Houston National - San Antonio, TX
Manuel Perez, Jr.
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: Mar 03, 1923 at Oklahoma City, OK
Entered Service At: Chicago, IL
Date/Place of Action: Feb 13, 1945 - Luzon, Philippine Islands
Unit: Co A, 511th Parachute Inf., 11th Airborne Division
Presentation: Dec 27, 1945
Date Of Death: Mar 14, 1945 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Fairlawn Cemetery - Oklahoma City, OK
Silvestre Santana Herrera
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: Jul 17, 1917 at El Paso, TX*
Entered Service At: Phoenix, AZ
Date/Place of Action: Mar 15, 1945 - Merzwiller, France
Unit: Co E, 2d Bn, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President Harry S Truman on Aug 23, 1945
Currently Living In: Arizona
*Mr. Herrera was born in Mexico and entered the U.S. at El Paso as an infant after the death of his parents.
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
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Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Ysmael R. Villegas
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: Mar 21, 1924 at Casa Blanca, CA
Entered Service At: Casa Blanca, CA
Date/Place of Action: Mar 20, 1945 - Luzon, Philippine Islands
Unit: Co F, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division
Presentation: Oct 19, 1945
Date Of Death: Mar 20, 1945 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Riverside National - Riverside, CA
Harold Gonsalves
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserves
Born: Jan 28, 1926 at Alameda, CA
Entered Service At: California
Date/Place of Action: Apr 15, 1945 - Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands
Unit: Battery L, 4th Bn, 15th Marines, 6th Marine Division
Date Of Death: Apr 15, 1945 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Golden Gate National - San Bruno, CA
David M. Gonzales
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: Jun 09, 1923 at Pacoima, CA
Entered Service At: Pacoima, CA
Date/Place of Action: Apr 25, 1945 - Luzon, Philippine Islands
Unit: Co A, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division
Presentation: Dec 08, 1945
Date Of Death: Apr 25, 1945 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Calvary Cemetery - Los Angeles, CA
Alejandro Renteria Ruiz
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: Jun 26, 1924 at Loving, NM
Entered Service At: Carlsbad, NM
Date/Place of Action: Apr 28, 1945 - Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands
Unit: Co A, 1st Bn, 165th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President Harry S Truman on Jun 14, 1946
Currently Living In: California
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Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Korea
Baldomero Lopez
First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: Aug 23, 1925 - Tampa, FL
Entered Service At: Tampa, FL
Date/Place of Action: Sep 15, 1950 - Inchon, Korea
Unit: Co A, 1st Bn, 5th Marines - 1st Marine Division
Presentation: Presented to his parents at the Pentagon
by Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball on Aug 30, 1951
Date Of Death: Sep 15, 1950 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Centre Adorim Memorial Park - Tampa, FL
Eugene Arnold Obregon
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: Nov 12, 1930 - Los Angeles, CA
Entered Service At: Los Angeles, CA
Date/Place of Action: Sep 26, 1950 - Seoul, Korea
Unit: Co G, 3d Bn, 5th Marines - 1st Marine Division
Presentation: Presented to his parents at the Pentagon
by Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball on Aug 30, 1951
Date Of Death: Sep 26, 1950 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Calvary Cemetery - East Los Angeles, CA
Joseph Charles Rodriguez
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: Nov 14, 1928 - San Bernardino, CA
Entered Service At: San Bernardino, CA
Date/Place of Action: May 21, 1951 - Munye-ri, Korea
Unit: Co F, 2d Bn, 17th Inf. Reg. - 7th Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President Harry S Truman on Jan 29, 1952
Currently Living In: Texas
Rodolfo Perez Hernandez
Corporal, U.S. Army
Born: Apr 14, 1931 - Colton, CA
Entered Service At: Fowler, CA
Date/Place of Action: May 31, 1951 - Wontong-ni, Korea
Unit: Co G, 2d Bn.. - 187th Airborne Combat Team
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President Harry S Truman on Apr 12, 1952
Currently Living In: North Carolina
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Page 6
Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Edward Gomez
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: Aug 10, 1932 at Omaha, NE
Entered Service At: Omaha, NE
Date/Place of Action: Sep 14, 1951 - Hill 749, Korea
Unit: Co E, 2d Bn, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.)
Date Of Death: Sep 14, 1951 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: St. Mary's Cemetery - Omaha, NE
Fernando Luis Garcia
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: Oct 14, 1929 at Utuado, Puerto Rico
Entered Service At: San Jaun, Puerto Rico
Date/Place of Action: Sep 05, 1952 - Korea
Unit: Co I, 3d Bn, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.)
Presentation: Presented to his parents at the City Hall in Utuado,
Puerto Rico on Oct 25, 1953
Date Of Death: Sep 05, 1952 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: National Memorial of the Pacific - Honolulu, HI
(In Memory Marker) Puerto Rico National - Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Benito Martinez
Corporal, U.S. Army
Born: Apr 21, 1932 at Fort Hancock, TX
Entered Service At: Fort Hancock, TX
Date/Place of Action: Sep 06, 1952 - Satae-ri, Korea
Unit: Co A, 1st Bn, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division
Presentation: Dec 16, 1953
Date Of Death: Sep 06, 1952 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Fort Bliss National - Fort Bliss, TX
Ambrosio Guillen
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: Dec 07, 1929 at La Junta, CO
Entered Service At: El Paso, TX
Date/Place of Action: Jul 25, 1953 - Songuch-on, Korea
Unit: Co F, 2d Bn, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.)
Date Of Death: Jul 25, 1953 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Fort Bliss National - Fort Bliss, TX
This booklet courtesy of www.HomeOfHeroes.com
Page 7
Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Vietnam War
Humbert Roque Versace
Captain, U.S. Army (Special Forces)
Born: Jul 2, 1937 at Honolulu, HI
Entered Service At: Norfolk, VA
Date/Place of Action: Oct 29, 1963 to Sep 26, 1965 – An Xuyen Province, Vietnam
Unit: Detachment A-23, 5th Special Forces Group
Presentation: Presented to his family at the White House by
President George W. Bush on July 8, 2002
Date Of Death: Sep 26, 1965 (Killed In Action as a POW)
Buried At:
Daniel Fernandez
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Born: Jun 30, 1944 at Albuquerque, NM
Entered Service At: Albuquerque, NM
Date/Place of Action: Feb 18, 1966 - Hau Nghia Province, Vietnam
Unit: Co C, 1st Bn, 5th Inf (Mech), 25th Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented to his family at the White House by
President Lyndon B. Johnson on Apr 6, 1967
Date Of Death: Feb 18, 1966 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Santa Fe National - Santa Fe, NM
Alfred Rascon
Medic, U.S. Army
Born: 1945 in Mexico
Entered Service At: Oxnard, CA
Date/Place of Action: Mar 16, 1966 - Long Khan Province, Vietnam
Unit: HHQ, 1st Bn, 503d Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President William Clinton on Feb 8, 2000
Currently Living In: Maryland
Euripides Rubio
Captain, U.S. Army
Born: Mar 01, 1938 at Ponce, Puerto Rico
Entered Service At: Ft Buchanan, Puerto Rico
Date/Place of Action: Nov 08, 1966 - Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam
Unit: HHQ, 1st Bn, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented to his family at the Pentagon by Secretary of the Army
Stanley R. Resor on Jul 11, 1968
Date Of Death: Nov 08, 1966 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Puerto Rico National - Bayamon, Puerto Rico
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Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Maximo Yabes
First Sergeant, U.S. Army
Born: Jan 29, 1932 at Lodi, CA
Entered Service At: Eugene, OR
Date/Place of Action: Feb 26, 1967 - Phu Hoa Dong, Vietnam
Unit: Co A, 4th Bn, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division
Presentation: Presented to his family at the Pentagon by Secretary of the Army
Stanley R. Resor on Oct 31, 1968
Date Of Death: Feb 26, 1967
Buried At: Fort Logan National - Denver, CO
Carlos James Lozada
Private First Class, U.S. Army
Born: Sep 06, 1946 at Caguas, Puerto Rico
Entered Service At: New York, NY
Date/Place of Action: Nov 20, 1967 - Hill 875, Dak To, Kontum Prov., Vietnam
Unit: Co A, 2d Bn, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade
Presentation: Presented to his family at the White House
by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew on Nov 18, 1969
Date Of Death: Nov 20, 1967 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Long Island National - Farmingdale, NY
Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez
Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: May 23, 1946 at Edinburg, TX
Entered Service At: San Antonio, TX
Date/Place of Action: Feb 04, 1968 - Thua Thien, Vietnam
Unit: Co A, 1st Bn, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF
Presentation: Presented to his family at the White House
by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew on Oct 31, 1969
Date Of Death: Feb 04, 1968 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Hillcrest Cemetery - Edenburg, TX
Jay R. Vargas
Major, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: Jul 29, 1937 at Winslow, AZ
Entered Service At: Winslow, AZ
Date/Place of Action: Apr 30-May 2, 1968 - Dai Do, Quang Tri Prov., Vietnam
Unit: Co G, 2d Bn, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Bde
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President Richard M. Nixon on May 14, 1970
Currently Living In: California
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Page 9
Recipients of the Medal of Honor
Roy Perez Benavidez
Master Sergeant, U.S. Army (Special Forces)
Born: Aug 05, 1935 at Cuero, TX
Entered Service At: Houston, TX
Date/Place of Action: May 02, 1968 - Loc Ninh, Cambodia
Unit: Det B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces
Presentation: Presented at the Pentagon
by President Ronald Reagan on Feb 21, 1981
Date Of Death: Nov 29, 1998
Buried At: Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery - San Antonio, TX
Hector Santiago-Colon
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Born: Dec 20, 1942 at Salinas, Puerto Rico
Entered Service At: New York, NY
Date/Place of Action: Jun 28, 1968 - Quang Tri Province, Vietnam
Unit: Co B, 5th Bn, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Presentation: Presented to his family at the White House
by President Richard M. Nixon on Apr 7, 1970
Date Of Death: Jun 28, 1968 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Salinas Municipal - Salinas, Puerto Rico
Jose Francisco Jimenez
Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: Mar 20, 1946 at Mexico City, Mexico
Entered Service At: Phoenix, AZ
Date/Place of Action: Aug 28, 1969 - Da Nang, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
Unit: Co K, 3d Bn, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF
Presentation: Presented to his family at the White House
by President Richard M. Nixon on Aug 06, 1970
Date Of Death: Aug 28, 1969 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Panteon Municipal - Morelia, Mexico
Ralph Ellis Dias
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: Jul 15, 1950 at Shelocta, PA
Entered Service At: Pittsburgh, PA
Date/Place of Action: Nov 12, 1969 - Que Son Mountains, Vietnam
Unit: Co D, 1st Bn, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF
Presentation: Presented to his family at Blair House, Washington DC
by Vice President Gerald R. Ford on Jul 17, 1974
Date Of Death: Nov 12, 1969 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Oakdale Cemetery - Leetonia, OH
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Page 10
Recipients of the Medal of Honor
John Philip Baca
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Born: Jan 10, 1949 at Providence, RI
Entered Service: Fort Ord, CA
Date/Place of Action: Feb 10, 1970 - Quan Loi, Phuoc Long Province, Vietnam
Unit: Co D, 1st Bn, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President Richard M. Nixon on Jun 15, 1971
Currently Living In: California
Emilio Albert DeLaGarza, Jr.
Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: Jun 23, 1949 at East Chicago, IL
Entered Service At: Chicago, IL
Date/Place of Action: Apr 11, 1970 - Da Nang, Vietnam
Unit: Co E, 2d Bn, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF
Presentation: Presented to his family at the White House
by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew on Sep 09, 1971
Date Of Death: Apr 11, 1970 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Saint Johns Cemetery - Hammond, IN
Miguel Keith
Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps
Born: Jun 02, 1951 at San Antonio, TX
Entered Service At: Omaha, NE
Date/Place of Action: May 08, 1970 - Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam
Unit: Combined Action Plt 1-3-2, III Marine Amphibious Force
Presentation: Presented to his family at the White House
by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew on Sep 15, 1971
Date Of Death: May 08, 1970 (Killed In Action)
Buried At: Forrest Lawn Cemetery - Omaha, NE
Louis Richard Rocco
Warrant Officer, U.S. Army
Born: Nov 19, 1938 at Albuquerque, NM
Entered Service At: Los Angeles, CA
Date/Place of Action: May 24, 1970 - Katum, Vietnam
Unit: Advisory Team 162, US Military Assistance Command
Presentation: Presented at the White House
by President Gerald R. Ford on Dec 12, 1974
Date Of Death: Oct 31, 2002
Buried At: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery – San Antonio, TX
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Page 11
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