Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army as a Specialist 4th Class in Company C, 1st Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. While in the Cu Chi, Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam, on February 18, 1966, his patrol was ambushed by a Viet Cong rifle company and was driven back before it could evacuate an American soldier who had been wounded in the attack. Fernandez, a Sergeant, and two volunteers immediately fought their way through enemy fire to reach the fallen soldier. Upon reaching their fallen comrade, his Sergeant was wounded and Fernandez took charge of the patrol. As he began to assist in the first aid of the fallen men, an enemy grenade landed in the middle of the group. To protect the wounded and other men, he threw himself on the grenade as it exploded, saving the lives of his comrades at the sacrifice of his life. For conspicuous gallantry, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on April 26, 1967. He was the first Mexican-American to receive the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War.
Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army as a Specialist 4th Class in Company C, 1st Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. While in the Cu Chi, Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam, on February 18, 1966, his patrol was ambushed by a Viet Cong rifle company and was driven back before it could evacuate an American soldier who had been wounded in the attack. Fernandez, a Sergeant, and two volunteers immediately fought their way through enemy fire to reach the fallen soldier. Upon reaching their fallen comrade, his Sergeant was wounded and Fernandez took charge of the patrol. As he began to assist in the first aid of the fallen men, an enemy grenade landed in the middle of the group. To protect the wounded and other men, he threw himself on the grenade as it exploded, saving the lives of his comrades at the sacrifice of his life. For conspicuous gallantry, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on April 26, 1967. He was the first Mexican-American to receive the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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MEDAL OF HONOR
SP4
US ARMY
VIETNAM
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