Euripides Rubio, Jr

The database page for Euripides Rubio, Jr

The President of the United States in the name of the Congress of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to EURIPIDES RUBIO, JUNIOR Captain United States Army for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: On 8 November 1966, Captain Rubio, Infantry, was serving as Communications Officer, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry in Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, when a numerically superior enemy force launched a massive attack against the battalion defense position. Intense enemy machine gun fire raked the area while mortar rounds and rifle grenades exploded within the perimeter. Leaving the relative safety of his post, Captain Rubio received two serious wounds as he braved the withering fire to go to the area of most intense action where he distributed ammunition, re-established positions and rendered aid to the wounded. Disregarding the painful wounds, he unhesitatingly assumed command when a rifle company commander was medically evacuated. Captain Rubio was wounded a third time as he selflessly exposed himself to the devastating enemy fire to move among his men to encourage them to fight with renewed effort. While aiding the evacuation of wounded personnel, he noted that a smoke grenade which was intended to mark the Viet Cong position for air strikes had fallen dangerously close to the friendly lines. Captain Rubio ran to reposition the grenade but was immediately struck to his knees by enemy fire. Despite his several wounds, Captain Rubio scooped up the grenade, ran through the deadly hail of fire to within 20 meters of the enemy position and hurled the already smoking grenade into the midst of the enemy before he fell for the final time. Using the repositioned grenade as a marker, friendly air strikes were directed to destroy the hostile positions. Captain Rubio's singularly heroic act turned the tide of battle, and his extraordinary leadership and valor were a magnificent inspiration to his men. His remarkable bravery and selfless concern for his men are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on Captain Rubio and the United States Army. Placed by a friend, Jose Taboas-Baco, Lt Col, USAF (Ret) jtaboas@caribe.net 13 Nov 2002

04 Dec 2004 No te conoci, pero lo que hicistes por tus soldados vale mucho. From an active-duty soldier, Dennis superdennis32@hotmail.com

12 Feb 2006 Me huviese gustado conocertey saber si formabas parte de mi familia. Para mi seria un Homor. From Jose R. Morales Rubio San Juan, Puerto Rico alpha_omega74@hotmail.com

09 Mar 2007 My name is SSG Edwin Ramos from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and I a squad leader with the 65th Military Police Company (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC. During my time I have served in Desert Storm with the Puerto Rico National Guard and as an active duty soldier in Kosovo, Bosnia, Panama, and Iraq (OIF 1 and 2). Every time I visit Puerto Rico I put flowers on my father's grave (SSG Edwin Ramos Cortes, Korean War Vet), SGT Richard Orengo's grave (KIA IRAQ), and CPT Euripides Rubio's grave. They are my heroes and inspiration. I will keep their memory alive by telling others how they lived and what they did. It was not how they died that makes them great but how they lived their lives. Love you guys SSG Edwin Ramos "AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY" "Only the dead have seen the end of WAR" - Plato - edwin.ramos1@us.army.mil

A Note from The Virtual Wall During the night of 04/05 November 1966 the 1st Infantry Division moved the division HQ and several combat units by air and land into the area around Dau Tieng. Contact was made as the battalions moved into multiple landing zones, and the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 28th Infantry, were moved in behind the enemy's offensive thrusts. On the night of 07/08 November the 1/28th's night defensive position at Ap Cha Do was attacked by elements of the 272nd VC and the 101st NVA Regiments. The battle continued until 11 AM, when the VC/NVA withdrew. When the 2/28th swept the area they found the reason for the VC/NVA's aggressive defense of the area - a base camp that stretched for over a mile through the thick jungle and contained one of the largest caches of ammo and supplies taken to date. The base camp contained 19,000 grenades, a Claymore mine factory, 1135 pounds of explosives, 400 bangalore torpedoes, a command radio system and other items. In addition to the base camp, the US soldiers found 399 VC/NVA dead. The 1/28th received the Presidential Unit Citation for the Battle of Ap Cha Do - but at the cost of 19 dead and dozens more wounded. The dead were A Co, 1st Bn, 28th Infantry CPT Ronald V. Putnam, Huntland, TN B Co, 1st Bn, 28th Infantry 1LT Bernard F. Kistler, Franklin, PA SGT Calvert J. Johnson, Lynchburg, VA SP4 Walter J. Schmidt, Laurence Harbor, NJ SP4 Caspar M. Walsh, Chicago, IL SP4 Nathaniel Wyley, Olive Branch, MS PFC Howard L. Bowen, Albion, NY PFC Jackie B. Hall, Abilene, TX PFC Jerry L. Happel, St Louis, MO PFC Charles M. Todd, Mansfield, OH PFC Rafael Vega-Maysonet, Barceloneta, PR C Co, 1st Bn, 28th Infantry 1LT David B. Dann, Milwaukee, WI MSG Vertis J. Hill, Ridgeville, SC SP4 Arthur R. Erschoen, Los Angeles, CA HHC, 1st Bn, 28th Infantry CPT Euripides Rubio, Ponce, PR (Medal of Honor) SP4 James M. Kelly, Atmore, AL PFC Henry A. Garza, San Antonio, TX A Co, 2nd Bn, 28th Infantry SFC Lewis E. Bonnie, Evansville, IN SGT Edward G. Blackmon, Austin, TX Captain Rubio is buried in Site 5, Section HSA, of the Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a friend, Jose Taboas-Baco, Lt Col, USAF (Ret) jtaboas@caribe.net

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 13 Nov 2002
Last updated 08/03/2007