Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans: Vietnam War hero Sergeant Candelario Garcia
 |
| Sergeant Candelario Garcia |
Sergeant Candelario Garcia
will receive the Medal of Honor for his
courageous actions while serving as an acting Team Leader for Company B,
1st Battalion, 2d Infantry, 1st Brigade,1st Infantry Division during
combat operations against an armed enemy in Lai Khe, Republic of Vietnam
on December 8, 1968.
Candelario Garcia was born in Corsicana, Texas, Feb. 26, 1944
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of
Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure
in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Candelario
Garcia (ASN: RA-54341906), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism
in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed
hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company B,
1st Battalion, 2d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.
Sergeant Garcia distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions
on 8 December 1968 as a team leader during a company-size
reconnaissance-in-force mission west of Lai Khe. Sergeant Garcia’s
platoon discovered communication wire and other signs of an enemy base
camp leading into a densely vegetated area. As they advanced they came
under intense fire, causing several men to be wounded and trapped in the
open. Ignoring a hail of hostile bullets, Sergeant Garcia crawled to
within ten meters of a machine gun bunker, leaped to his feet and ran
directly at the fortification, firing his rifle as he charged. He jammed
two hand grenades into the gun port and then placed the muzzle of his
weapons inside, killing all four occupants. Continuing to expose himself
to intense enemy fire, Sergeant Garcia raced fifteen meters to another
bunker and killed its three defenders with hand grenades and rifle fire.
After again braving the communists’ barrage to rescue two casualties,
he joined his company in an assault which overran the remaining enemy
positions. Sergeant Garcia’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty
were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and
reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
In
addition to the Medal of Honor, Garcia received the Distinguished
Service Cross (this award will be upgraded to the Medal of Honor on Mar. 18), Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal , Purple Heart, Air Medal, Army
Commendation Medal with “V” Device and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Army
Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service
Medal with two Silver Service Stars and one Bronze Service Star,
Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert
Marksmanship Badge with Rifle, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with
Silver Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with “60” Device,
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citations with Palm Device and
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal Unit Citation, First
Class.
![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/medalofhonornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/OlaLeeMizeMemorial-170x95.jpg","width":170},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/medalofhonornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/OlaLeeMizeMemorial-270x152.jpg","width":270},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/medalofhonornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/OlaLeeMizeMemorial-475x267.jpg","width":475}})
![]({"jaw_blog-16_9-small":{"file":"https:\/\/medalofhonornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Hiroshi-170x95.jpg","width":170},"jaw_blog-16_9-middle":{"file":"https:\/\/medalofhonornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Hiroshi-241x152.jpg","width":241},"jaw_blog-16_9":{"file":"https:\/\/medalofhonornews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Hiroshi-241x267.jpg","width":241}})