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Sergeant
Cartagena distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Yonch'on, Korea, on 19 April 1951. On that date, Company C was assigned the mission of capturing Hill 206, a terrain feature dominating a critical road junction. When the company assaulted the summit, it encountered stubborn resistance from a well-entrenched and fanatically determined hostile force. Sergeant Cartagena, directed to move his squad forward in order to approach the enemy positions from another ridgeline, led his men toward the objective, but, almost immediately, the group was forced to seek cover from an intense and accurate volume of small-arms and automatic-weapons fire. Locating the hostile emplacements that posed the greatest obstacle to the advance of the friendly forces, Sergeant Cartagena left his position and, charging directly into the devastating enemy fire he hurled a grenade at the first emplacement, totally destroying it. Ordering his squad to remain under cover, he successfully and single-handedly assaulted the second enemy position. Although knocked to the ground by exploding enemy grenades, Sergeant Cartagena repeated this daring action three more times. Finally, an increased volume of fire from the remaining hostile emplacements was concentrated on him and he was wounded. The extraordinary heroism and completely selfless devotion, to duty displayed by Sergeant Cartagena throughout this action enabled the company to secure its objective successfully with a minimum of casualties, reflect great credit on himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 698 (September 16, 1951) Home Town: Puerto Rico
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The
Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Modesto Cartagena (RA10404100), Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division.
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the grenades thrown at him. He thought that the rest of the squad was behind him, and didn't realize most of them had been wounded and forced to take cover. Later they found 33 dead
Chinese in the machine gun and automatic emplacements and they found 15 more dead in the positions he had destroyed on
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He earned the nickname "One Man Army". On April 19, 1951, Cartagena, "with no regard for his own safety," as the official record states, left his position and charged directly into devastating enemy fire, single-handedly destroying two enemy emplacements on Hill 206 near "Yonch'on,"
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after the
Chinese entered the war on the North Korean side. One of the hardships suffered by the Puerto Ricans was the lack of warm clothing during the cold and harsh winters. Among the battles and operations in which the 65th participated was
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his way up the hill. Cartagena, who had lost a lot of blood, was sent to Taibu in a helicopter and then to Japan to the 128th
Station Hospital where he was hospitalized for 62 days. According to 1st Lt. Reinaldo Deliz Santiago:
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Cartagena spent 20 years in the army before retiring as a sergeant first class in 1971. He continued to be an active figure around the 65th
Infantry headquarters in Puerto Rico long after his retirement. He also had family in
350:"Sgt. Cartagena's actions prevented much heavier casualties within my platoon and I feel that his courage and superior leadership and own initiative were decisive factors for the accomplishment of the mission of the unit"
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The men of the 65th, now attached to the army's 3d
Infantry Division, were among the first infantrymen to meet the enemy on the battlefields of Korea. After November, 1950, they fought daily against units of the Chinese
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and stated that while
Cartagena was actually being buried with a Distinguished Service Cross, "in our hearts we're sending him off with the Medal of Honor he deserves" and made a commitment to seek it posthumously.
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Upon the outbreak of the Korean War, Cartagena reenlisted and entered the army with the rank of sergeant. He was assigned to
Company C, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division and sent to Korea.
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which is the second-highest military decoration of the United States Army (second to the Medal of Honor), awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force.
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447:. While no Federal government representative attended the interment ceremony for this highly decorated veteran, Puerto Rico's second-highest official, Secretary of State
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The
Bravery Gold Medal of Greece was given by the Government of Greece to the 65th Infantry Regiment and to the members of the regiment who fought in the Korean War.
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capacity of his company members when filling out the forms for the application, resulted in the awarding of the nations' second-highest decoration, the
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On March 2, 2010, the day that Puerto Rico commemorated the 93rd anniversary of American citizenship, Cartagena died in his home in the town of
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in South Korea during the operation. In April 1951, the Regiment participated in the Uijonbu Corridor drives.
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1310:"Alcalde de Cayey lamenta fallecimiento del soldado puertorriqueño más condecorado en la historia de EE.UU"
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According to a photo published by the New York Times, Cartagena's numerous decorations are the following:
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because, with the exception of the officer staff, it was made up of Puerto Rican enlisted men. During
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Richard Payerchin, "President Obama to honor Army's Puerto Rican regiment the Borinqueneers,"
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In 2019 Modesto Cartagena was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.
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Modesto Cartagena, the most decorated Hispanic soldier of the Korean War: National Archives
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video of President Barack Obama awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Borinqueneers
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January 4, 2007, was officially declared as "SFC Modesto Cartagena Day" in the city of
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Dan Friedman, "Puerto Rico's Borinqueneers recognized with Congressional Gold Medal,"
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dedicated the base Visitor Control Center building in honor of SFC Modesto Cartagena.
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1346:"Marco Rubio Requests Medal of Honor for Puerto Rican Soldier | Fox News Latino"
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An avenue in his native town of Cayey is named after him. On April 14, 2021, USAG
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attended. He delivered to Cartagena's family a personal letter from Governor
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Obama honors Puerto Rican Infantry Regiment with Congressional Gold Medal,
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The 65th Infantry at Jackson Heights-Why?, by Lt. Col. Baltazer Soto
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Cartagena was born in a poor family, and raised in the mountains of
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Villahermosa, G.N.; Assoc, B.; Center of Military History (2009).
1113:"Modesto Cartagena, Hero of Korea, Is Dead at 87 (Published 2010)"
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Military Medal of Honor of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico
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1140:. Center of Military History, United States Army. p. 37.
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Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
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Puerto Rican recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross
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in January 1951, becoming the first regiment to cross the
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he served in units guarding military installations in the
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Obama awards Borinqueneers Congressional Medal of Honor,
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Honor and Fidelity: The 65th Infantry in Korea, 1950-1953
229:(July 21, 1921 – March 2, 2010) was a member of the
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Cartagena in a Korean War memorial service in 2000.
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1069:Voices of the Puerto Rican Middle Class in America
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1290:Cartagena's family's Medal of Honor campaign site
1279:Cartagena's Distinguished Service Cross citation
1334:Modesto Cartagena, Hero of Korea, Is Dead at 87
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31: and the second or maternal family name is
1524:United States Army personnel of the Korean War
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1519:United States Army personnel of World War II
1514:United States Army non-commissioned officers
840:Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
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477:"SFC Modesto Cartagena Day" Proclamation.
1504:Burials at Puerto Rico National Cemetery
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1021:List of Puerto Rican military personnel
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54:Sergeant First Class Modesto Cartagena
431:following a long battle with stomach
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363:Distinguished Service Cross citation
1409:Goldstein, Richard (5 March 2010).
1111:Goldstein, Richard (5 March 2010).
16:Recipient of the Purple Heart medal
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1539:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
1123:from the original on 2018-11-14.
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490:Military awards and decorations
1549:People from Cayey, Puerto Rico
1072:. ROSEDOG BOOKS. p. 152.
891:(Bravery Gold Medal of Greece)
858:Puerto Rican Legislative Award
796:National Defense Service Medal
772:American Defense Service Medal
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1534:Recipients of the Silver Star
1257:3d Infantry Division in Korea
1170:, retrieved September 8, 2007
845:Meritorious Unit Commendation
441:Puerto Rico National Cemetery
265:. Cartagena enlisted in the
100:Puerto Rico National Cemetery
968:On June 10, 2014, President
823:Army Overseas Service Ribbon
471:. The proclamation by Mayor
23:, the first or paternal
1529:Puerto Rican Army personnel
1509:United States Army soldiers
1376:"SFC Modesto Cartagena Day"
724:Distinguished Service Cross
418:Distinguished Service Cross
357:Distinguished Service Cross
199:Distinguished Service Cross
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889:Chryssoun Aristion Andrias
828:United Nations Korea Medal
784:World War II Victory Medal
355:Cartagena was awarded the
227:Modesto Cartagena de JesĂşs
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974:Congressional Gold Medal
936:Congressional Gold Medal
908:Rifle Marksmanship Badge
833:Korean War Service Medal
789:Army of Occupation Medal
716:Combat Infantryman Badge
319:People's Liberation Army
273:and was assigned to the
122:United States of America
1254:Dolcater, M.W. (1953).
779:American Campaign Medal
762:Army Good Conduct Medal
443:located in the city of
408:that he be awarded the
1296:June 17, 2004, at the
1260:. 3d Infantry Division
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235:65th Infantry Regiment
1016:List of Puerto Ricans
919:Overseas Service Bars
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469:Hartford, Connecticut
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309:Company "C" on patrol
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271:San Juan, Puerto Rico
146:Years of service
1066:Roman, J.R. (2016).
806:Korean Service Medal
475:can be viewed here:
224:Sergeant First Class
165:sergeant first class
104:BayamĂłn, Puerto Rico
89:Guayama, Puerto Rico
1475:The Morning Journal
1445:New York Daily News
816:Army Service Ribbon
1415:The New York Times
1396:"SalĂłn de la Fama"
1381:2007-10-08 at the
1117:The New York Times
1055:Caribbean Business
1008:Puerto Rico portal
876:Foreign decoration
767:Good Conduct Loops
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449:Kenneth McClintock
378:Cartagena, Modesto
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259:Cayey, Puerto Rico
233:who served in the
231:United States Army
140:United States Army
73:Cayey, Puerto Rico
1209:Pieces of History
1147:978-0-16-083324-3
1079:978-1-4809-6719-9
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289:and later in the
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239:The Borinqueneers
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42:Modesto Cartagena
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1230:"About Us"
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