MODESTO CARTAGENA

'Staff Sgt. Modesto Cartagena' (born 1920 in Cayey, Puerto Rico) is the most decorated Puerto Rican soldier in history.

Contents

Early years

Korean War

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

Later years

Military awards and decorations

References

See also

External links

Early years

Cartagena was raised in the mountains of Cayey in a poor family during the Great Depression. Cartagena enlisted in the U. S. Army in San Juan, during World War II and served in units guarding military installations in the Caribbean. Cartagena was assigned to the 65th Infantry, which was also known as the Borinqueneers, because it was made up entirely of Puerto Rican enlisted men and served in the occupation of Germany. Cartagena was discharged after the 65th returned to Puerto Rico.

Korean War

Upon the outbreak of the Korean War in 1951, Cartagena reenlisted and entered the rmy with the rank of Buck Sergeant. He was assigned to Company C, 65 Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Divisio. 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", North Korea. After taking out the emplacements, he was knocked to the ground twice by exploding enemy grenades, nevertheless, he got up and attacked three more times, each time destroying an enemy emplacement until he was wounded. On October 19, 2002, during a ceremony honoring the 65th Infantry, when he was asked about the battle, Modesto responded that he just hurled back at the Chinese 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. According to 1st Lt. Reinaldo Deliz-Santiago:

"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"

^[1]
Cartagena was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) 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.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

'CARTAGENA, MODESTO'''
''Citation:''
^[2]

Later years

Modesto Cartagena spent 20 years in the Army before retiring as a Staff Sergeant, in 1971. As of 2004, he lives in his native Cayey. Although long retired, he continues to be an active figure around the 65th Infantry Headquarters in Puerto Rico. He also has family in El Paso, Texas. His family, upon learning of Modesto's actions, have taken it upon themselves to make a request to Congress, that he be awarded the Medal of Honor. They have received support on this quest from the Republican Veterans Committee. His supporters argue that the segregation policy of the army, at the time, and the limited English capacity of his company members when filling out the forms for the application, resulted in the awarding of the nations' second highest decoration, "The Distinguished Service Cross".^[3]
January 4, 2007, was officially declared as "SFC Modesto Cartagena Day"
in the City of Hartford, Connecticut.^[4] The proclamation by Mayor Eddie A. Perez used this article written by for Wikipedia as a reference.^[5]

Military awards and decorations

Among Cartagena's numerous decorations are the following:

★   Distinguished Service Cross

★   Silver Star Medal

★   Legion of Merit

★   Bronze Star Medal

★   Purple Heart Medal

★   Army Good Conduct Medal

★   American Defense Service Medal

★    American Campaign Medal

★    World War II Victory Medal

★   Army of Occupation Medal

★   National Defense Service Medal

★   Korean Service Medal

★   United Nations Service Medal

★   Army Service Ribbon

★   Army Overseas Service Ribbon

★   Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

★   Meritorious Unit Commendation

★   Presidential Unit Citation

★    Military Medal of Honor of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico
'Foreign decoration'

★ The Greek Gold Medal of Bravery
(Bravery Gold Medal of Greece)
'Badges:'

★   Combat Infantryman Badge

★   Rifle Marksmanship Badge

References

1. Medal of Honor
2. Cartagena's Distinguished Service Cross Citation
3. Cartegna's family's Medal of Honor campaign site
4. "SFC Modesto Cartagena Day"
5. "SFC Modesto Cartagena Day" Proclamation

See also

★ List of notable Puerto Ricans

★ Puerto Rican recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross

★ List of Korean War veterans who are recipients of the Bronze Star

External links

★ Cartegna's family's Medal of Honor campaign site - contains a copy of the citations for his current medals.