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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, Sp4 Santiago-Colón has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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Santiago-Colón's name is also inscribed in "El
Monumento de la Recordación" (Monument of Remembrance), dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On November 11, 2008, the Government of Puerto Rico unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda
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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
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was able to crawl, undetected, to their position. Suddenly, the enemy soldier lobbed a hand grenade into Sp4 Santiago-Colón's foxhole. Realizing that there was no time to throw the grenade out of his position, Sp4 Santiago-Colón retrieved the grenade, tucked it in to his stomach and, turning away
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for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty. The award was presented to his family in a ceremony at the
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from enemy weapons indicated their position. Sp4 Santiago-Colón and the other members of his position immediately began to repel the attackers, utilizing hand grenades,
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In July 1975, the Puerto Rico
National Guard renamed their training base "Camp Salinas", which is located close to Santiago-Colón's birth town, with the name
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fire suddenly broke out, but extreme darkness rendered difficult the precise location and identification of the hostile force. Only the
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The
President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to:
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of the blast. Sp4 Santiago-Colón distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a gunner in the
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224:(December 20, 1942 – June 28, 1968) is one of nine Puerto Ricans who have been posthumously presented with the
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Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not
Completely Their Own
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252:. After living in the city for a short time, Santiago-Colón decided that he wanted to be part of the NYPD (
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Specialist Four, U.S. Army, Company B, 5th
Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).
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244:. There he received his primary and secondary education. In 1960 his family moved to the mainland
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In 2017 Héctor
Santiago-Colón was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.
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and small-arms fire. Due to the heavy volume of enemy fire and exploding grenades around them, a
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Santiago-Colón was one of twelve siblings born to Pablo
Santiago and Petronila Colón in
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was named
Santiago Fitness Center on Sand Hill in honor of Specialist Santiago Colón.
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On June 28, 1968, members of
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on April 7, 1970. His remains are buried in the city of
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Quang Tri
Province, Republic of Vietnam, June 28, 1968.
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United States Army personnel killed in the Vietnam War
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List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
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383:platoon of Company B. While serving as a perimeter
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42: and the second or maternal family name is
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962:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor
957:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
27:United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
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623:List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
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369:December 20, 1942, Salinas, Puerto Rico.
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613:List of Puerto Rican military personnel
284:. A North Vietnamese soldier threw a
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787:"Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients"
435:the oil portrait of Santiago-Colón.
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628:List of Medal of Honor recipients
431:is located at Panel 54W Line 013.
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767:"Sp4c. Hector Santiago-Colón"
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450:Military decorations awarded
114:Salinas Municipal Cemetery,
34:, the first or paternal
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309:President Richard M. Nixon
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679:"Medal of Honor citation"
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528:Combat Infantryman Badge
405:North Vietnamese soldier
282:Operation Jeb Stuart III
127:United States of America
705:"Hector Santiago-Colon"
323:Medal of Honor citation
967:Deaths by hand grenade
564:Vietnam Campaign Medal
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349:Rank and organization:
343:SANTIAGO-COLON, HECTOR
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288:into Santiago-Colón's
183:, Co. B, 5th Battalion
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901:Héctor Santiago-Colón
608:List of Puerto Ricans
552:Vietnam Service Medal
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222:Héctor Santiago-Colón
151:Years of service
53:Héctor Santiago-Colón
18:Hector Santiago-Colon
653:"Puerto Rico Herald"
274:7th Cavalry Regiment
242:Salinas, Puerto Rico
178:1st Cavalry Division
116:Salinas, Puerto Rico
84:Salinas, Puerto Rico
401:antipersonnel mines
361:Entered service at:
262:Republic of Vietnam
104:Republic of Vietnam
896:Félix Conde Falcón
729:"Salón de la Fama"
600:Puerto Rico portal
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278:Quang Tri Province
258:United States Army
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438:In 1977 a gym at
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268:Action in Vietnam
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81:December 20, 1942
16:(Redirected from
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188:Battles/wars
95:(1968-06-28)
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32:Spanish name
932:1968 deaths
927:1942 births
878:Vietnam War
868:Miguel Vera
317:Puerto Rico
305:White House
236:Early years
230:Vietnam War
192:Vietnam War
181:7th Cavalry
921:Categories
845:Korean War
714:2006-10-21
689:October 5,
663:October 5,
639:References
440:Fort Moore
393:small arms
123:Allegiance
77:1942-12-20
373:Citation:
154:1967–1968
572:See also
133:Service/
40:Santiago
30:In this
313:Salinas
290:foxhole
280:during
198:†
36:surname
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415:Honors
385:sentry
381:mortar
206:Awards
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135:branch
367:Born:
44:Colón
799:2010
779:2010
750:ISBN
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391:and
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159:Rank
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