Medal of Honor to 24 Army veterans: Vietnam War hero Master Sergeant Jose Rodela
 |
| Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela |
Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela
will receive the Medal of Honor for
his courageous actions while serving as the company commander,
Detachment B-36, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st
Special Forces during combat operations against an armed enemy in Phuoc
Long Province, Republic of Vietnam on September 1, 1969.
Jose Rodela was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, June 15, 1937.
He entered the U.S. Army in September 1955, at the age of 17.
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 First Class
Jose Rodela, 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 Detachment B-36, Company
A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant
First Class Rodela distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous
actions on 1 September 1969 while serving as the company commander of a
mobile strike force unit on an operation in Phuoc Long Province. When
the battalion came under an intense barrage of mortar, rocket, and
machine gun fire, Sergeant Rodela, ignoring the withering enemy fire,
immediately began placing his men into defensive positions to prevent an
enemy assault which might overrun the entire battalion. Repeatedly
exposing himself to enemy fire, he began to move from position to
position, suppressing fire and assisting wounded men, and was himself
wounded in the back and head by rocket shrapnel while recovering a
wounded comrade. Alone, Sergeant Rodela assaulted and knocked out the
rocket position. Successfully returning to the battalion’s perimeter,
Sergeant Rodela continued in command of his company, despite his painful
wounds, throughout eighteen hours of continuous contact until he was
evacuated. Sergeant First Class Rodela’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, Rodela received the Distinguished
Service Cross (this award will be upgraded to the Medal of Honor on Mar. 18), Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal with “V” Device, Army Commendation Medal with one Bronze Oak
Leaf Cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal with Silver Clasp and one Loop,
National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one Silver
Service Star, Korea Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation
with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master
Parachutist Badge, Expert Marksmanship Badge with Rifle Bar, Special
Forces Tab, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with “60” Device,
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Device,
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal Unit Citation First Class,
Republic of Vietnam Special Forces Honorary Jump Wings, Columbian Army
Parachutist Badge.
![]({"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}})