RODOLFO P. HERNANDEZ

'Cpl. Rodolfo P. Hernandez' (born April 14, 1931) is a former United States Army soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor — America's highest military decoration — for his actions in the Korean War. Despite his wounds, Hernandez's actions during an enemy counterattack near Wonton-ni allowed his platoon to retake their defensive position.

Contents

Early years

Korean War

Medal of Honor citation

Currently

Awards and recognitions

See also

Notes

External links

Early years

Hernandez, a Mexican-American, is one of eight children born to a farmworker. At a young age his family moved from Colton where Hernandez was born, to Fowler, California, where he received his primary education. In 1948, when he was 17 years old, he joined the United States Army with his parents' consent.
After completing his basic training, Hernandez volunteered for paratrooper training. Upon the completion of his paratrooper training he was sent to Germany, where he was stationed until the outbreak of the Korean War.^[1]

Korean War

On August 27, 1950, the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. The unit was quickly sent to Korea. The 187th Airborne performed operations into Munsan-ni Valley, and fought bloody battles at Inje and Wonton-ni.
Hernandez was reassigned to Company G of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. His platoon was ordered to defend Hill 420, located near Wonton-ni. On May 31, 1951, his platoon was the object of a numerically superior enemy counterattack. A close-quarters firefight broke out when enemy troops surged up the hill and inflicted numerous casualties on the platoon. Hernandez was wounded during the attack, but he was able to fire upon the rushing enemy troops. After his rifle ruptured, he continued attacking the enemy with his bayonet. His attack enabled his comrades to regroup and take back the Hill.
A grenade explosion that blew away part of his brain knocked him unconscious. Hernandez, who had received grenade, bayonet, and bullet wounds, appeared dead to the first medic who reached him. The medic realized, however, that Hernandez was still alive when he saw him move his fingers. Hernandez woke up a month later in a military hospital, unable to move his arms or legs or to talk.^[2]
On April 11, 1952, President Harry S. Truman bestowed upon Rodolfo P. Hernandez the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held in the Rose Garden of the White House.
After many surgeries and physical therapy over a five year period, Rodolfo P. Hernandez regained limited use of his right arm and learned to write with his left hand.

Medal of Honor citation

'Rodolfo P. Hernandez'
''Rank and organization:'' Corporal, U.S. Army, Company G, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team.
''Place and date:''Near Wontong-ni, Korea, 31 May 1951.
''Entered service at:''Fowler, California
''Born:'' 14 April 1931, Colton, Calif.
''G.O. No.: 40, 21 April 1962.
''Citation:''
^[3]

Currently

Rodolfo P. Hernandez is now married and has three children. He is retired from a job at the Veterans Administration and currently lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Carteret County Veterans Council named Hernandez, together with General Kenneth Glueck, commanding general of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point, the grand marshals of its November 11, 2006 annual Veterans Day Parade held in downtown Morehead City.^[4]

Awards and recognitions

Among Rodolfo P. Hernandez's decorations and medals are the following:

★   Medal of Honor

★   Purple Heart Medal

★   Army of Occupation Medal

★   National Defense Service Medal

★   Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars

★   United Nations Service Medal

See also

★ Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients

Notes

1. Readers’ Digest — Medal of Honor Profiles of Courage.
2. Korean Medal of Honor recipients
3. Medal of Honor citation
4. Daily News

External links

★ Our living Medal of Honor recipients

★ Korean Medal of Honor recipients