Hector Santiago-Colon
Specialist Four
B CO, 5TH BN, 7TH CAVALRY, 1ST CAV DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
New York, New York
December 20, 1942 to June 28, 1968
HECTOR SANTIAGO-COLON is on the Wall at Panel W54, Line 13

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 Hector Santiago-Colon
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Hector Santiago-Colon

SP4 HECTOR SANTIAGO-COLON

 
The President of the United States of America,
authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863,
has awarded in the name of the Congress the

Medal of Honor

posthumously to

Specialist Four Hector Santiago-Colon
United States Army

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
SP4 Santiago-Colon distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a gunner in the mortar platoon of Company B. While serving as a perimeter sentry, SP4 Santiago-Colon heard distinct movement in the heavily wooded area to his front and flanks. Immediately he alerted his fellow sentries in the area to move to their foxholes and remain alert for any enemy probing forces. From the wooded area around his position heavy enemy automatic weapons and small-arms fire suddenly broke out, but extreme darkness rendered difficult the precise location and identification of the hostile force. Only the muzzle flashes from enemy weapons indicated their position. SP4 Santiago-Colon and the other members of his position immediately began to repel the attackers, utilizing hand grenades, antipersonnel mines and small-arms fire. Due to the heavy volume of enemy fire and exploding grenades around them, a North Vietnamese soldier was able to crawl, undetected, to their position. Suddenly, the enemy soldier lobbed a hand grenade into SP4 Santiago-Colon's foxhole. Realizing that there was no time to throw the grenade out of his position, SP4 Santiago-Colon retrieved the grenade, tucked it in to his stomach and, turning away from his comrades, absorbed the full impact of the blast. His 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-Colon has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

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