Jorge Otero Barreto

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Jorge Otero Barreto

Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto
Place of birth	Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Sergeant First Class
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Silver Star (3) Bronze Star (5) Purple Heart (5) Air Medal (5)

Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto (Ret.) a.k.a. "The Puerto Rican Rambo", was a member of the United States Army who was the most decorated soldier in the Vietnam War

1 Vietnam War
2 Recognitions
3 Military decorations
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Vietnam War

Otero Barreto was born in the town of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico where he received his primary and secondary education.

Otero Barreto joined the U.S. Army and from 1961 to 1970 served five tours in Southeast Asia, starting as an advisor who helped train Vietnamese troops.^[1] Otero-Barreto participated in 200 combat missions^[2] and was awarded 38 military decorations making him the most decorated American soldier of the Vietnam War. Among his many decorations are 3 Silver Star Medals, 5 Bronze Star Medals with Valor, 5 Purple Heart Medals and 5 Air Medals (one each for every 5th mission which involved a helicopter).^[3]^[4]

[edit] Recognitions

Otero Barreto was the keynote speaker at a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dinner in Lorain, Ohio.^[5] In 2006, the Coalición Nacional Puertoriqueña (National Puerto Rican Collation) honored Otero Barreto in a Conference held at the Hotel Hilton of Chicago with a "Lifetime Achievement Award".^[6]

The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #866 in Springfield, Massachusetts was named the "Jorge Otero Barreto Homeless Veterans Transitional Program" in his honor. The Program houses twelve (12) veterans offering counseling, DVA services from the Western Massachuetts Bi-Lingual Veterans Outreach Center, assistance in obtaining Chapter 115 financial assistance, AA/NA meetings and Christian Rehabilitation Substance Abuse meetings.^[7]

The town of Vega Baja dedicated their Military Museum to Otero Barreto and named it the "Jorge Otero Barreto Museum".^[8]