Héctor Santiago-Colón

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Hector Santiago-Colon
December 20, 1942(1942-12-20) – June 28, 1968 (aged 25)
Sp4c Hector Santiago-Colon Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth	Salinas, Puerto Rico
Place of death	Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Specialist Fourth Class
Unit	Co.B, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Specialist Fourth Class Hector Santiago-Colon (December 20, 1942 – June 28, 1968) is one of five Puerto Ricans who have been posthumously presented with the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. His actions on 28 June 1968 during the Vietnam War saved the lives of his fellow comrades.

1 Early years
2 Action in Vietnam
3 Medal of Honor citation
4 In memory
5 Military decorations awarded
6 Notes
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Early years

Santiago-Colon was born and raised in Salinas, Puerto Rico where he received his primary and secondary education. In the 1960's his family moved to the United States and lived in New York City. After living in the city for a short time, Santiago-Colon decided to join the United States Army. After completing his basic training, he was assigned to a unit stationed in in the Republic of Vietnam.^[1]

[edit] Action in Vietnam

On June 28, 1968, members of Santiago-Colon's Company B of the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division were engaged in combat at Quang Tri Province. An enemy (North Vietnamese) soldier lobbed a hand grenade into Santiago-Colon's foxhole. Realizing that there was no time to throw out the grenade, he tucked it in to his stomach and turning away from his comrades, absorbed the full impact of the blast, sacrificing his life to save his fellow soldiers from certain death.

Santiago-Colon was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty. The award was present to his family in a ceremony at the White House by President Richard M. Nixon on April 7, 1970. His remains are buried in the city of Salinas, Puerto Rico.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to

SANTIAGO-COLON, HECTOR Rank and organization:Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place and date:Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 28 June 1968. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Born:20 December 1942, Salinas, Puerto Rico. Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Realizing that there was no time to throw the grenade out of his position, he retrieved the grenade, tucked it in to his stomach and, turning away from his comrades, absorbed the full impact of the blast. Sp4c. Santiago-Colón distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a gunner in the mortar platoon of Company B. While serving as a perimeter sentry, Sp4c. Santiago-Colón heard distinct movement in the heavily wooded area to his front and flanks. He alerted his fellow sentries in the area to move to their foxholes and remain alert for any enemy probing forces. From the wooded area around his position heavy enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire suddenly broke out, but extreme darkness rendered difficult the precise location and identification of the hostile force. Only the muzzle flashes from enemy weapons indicated their position. Sp4c. Santiago-Colón and the other members of his position immediately began to repel the attackers, utilizing hand grenades, antipersonnel mines and small-arms fire. Due to the heavy volume of enemy fire and exploding grenades around them, a North Vietnamese soldier was able to crawl, undetected, to their position. Suddenly, the enemy soldier lobbed a hand grenade into Sp4c. Santiago-Colón's foxhole. Realizing that there was no time to throw the grenade out of his position, Sp4c. Santiago-Colón retrieved the grenade, tucked it in to his stomach and, turning away from his comrades, absorbed the full impact of the blast. Heroic self-sacrifice saved the lives of those who occupied the foxhole with him, and provided them with the inspiration to continue fighting until they had forced the enemy to retreat from the perimeter. By his gallantry at the cost of his life and in the highest traditions of the military service, Sp4c. Santiago-Colón has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.^[2]

[edit] In memory

On July 1975, The Puerto Rican National Guard renamed their base "Camp Salinas", which is located close to Santiago-Colon's birth town, with the name "Camp Santiago" in his honor. He was the second Puerto Rican to be so honored. The first Puerto Rican who has a base named after him is Marine PFC Fernando Luis Garcia, who was the first Puerto Rican Medal of Honor recipient. The base is "Camp Garcia" located in the island municipality of Vieques. Santiago-Colon's name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located at Panel 54W Line 013.^[3] Santiago-Colon's name is also inscribed in "El Monumento de la Recordacion" (Monument of Remembrance), dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico.