FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Rodolfo P. Hernandez ~ January 13, 2014

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Rodolfo P. Hernandez
Info from here.

           

Rodolfo Perez "Rudy" Hernandez (April 14, 1931 – December 21, 2013) was a United States Army soldier who received 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.

Hernandez, a Mexican-American, was 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 school. Upon the completion of his paratrooper training he was sent to Germany, where he was stationed until the outbreak of the 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 2nd Battalion, 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 was able to fire upon the rushing enemy troops. After a cartridge in 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, Keith Oates. Oates 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. On April 12, 1952, President Harry S. Truman bestowed upon Hernandez the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held in the White House Rose Garden. After many surgeries and physical therapy over a five-year period, Hernandez regained limited use of his right arm and learned to write with his left hand.

Hernandez married and had three children. He retired from a job at the Veterans Administration and lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Carteret County Veterans Council named Hernandez one of two grand marshals of its November 11, 2006, annual Veterans Day Parade held in downtown Morehead City. On November 10, 2007, he was again co-grand marshal of the Morehead City Veterans Day Parade. During the event, he was reunited with his rescuer "from a long and far away battlefield," the former Korean War Army medic and current Morehead City resident, Keith Oates. Hernandez was also the Grand Marshal of the 2012 North Carolina Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony held each Memorial Day in Thomasville, NC, and attended as an honored guest in 2013. Hernandez died at Womack Army Medical Center in Fayetteville on December 21, 2013. He had been battling "cancer and several other ailments" in the last month of his life.

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, May 31, 1951
Entered service at: Fowler, California
Born: April 14, 1931, Colton, California
G.O. No.: 40, April 12, 1952

Cpl. Hernandez, a member of Company G, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His platoon, in defensive positions on Hill 420, came under ruthless attack by a numerically superior and fanatical hostile force, accompanied by heavy artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire which inflicted numerous casualties on the platoon. His comrades were forced to withdraw due to lack of ammunition but Cpl. Hernandez, although wounded in an exchange of grenades, continued to deliver deadly fire into the ranks of the onrushing assailants until a ruptured cartridge rendered his rifle inoperative. Immediately leaving his position, Cpl. Hernandez rushed the enemy armed only with rifle and bayonet. Fearlessly engaging the foe, he killed 6 of the enemy before falling unconscious from grenade, bayonet, and bullet wounds but his heroic action momentarily halted the enemy advance and enabled his unit to counterattack and retake the lost ground. The indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding courage, and tenacious devotion to duty clearly demonstrated by Cpl. Hernandez reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.

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[E.G.C.]

It's going OK here in Oklahoma.

We had some really nice weather yesterday. However we also had some winds which caused a number of grass fires around Oklahoma City and Tulsa. There were a number of evacuations. Also some power was knocked out in spots due to the winds.

We are looking at some dry weather throughout this week so the fire danger will continue to be high. Everyone here in Oklahoma take it easy with fires the next few days until we get some rain.

My Uncle Jack who I've been visiting every Sunday is back in the hospital. He took a couple of nasty falls last night. He was in the hospital for a couple of weeks back in December. They've been having problems with trying to get his blood sugar back down. Everyone please pray for Uncle Jack he's in his 80's BTW.

Not much else is going on. I may take Bo back out to the lake later today.

[luvie]

Howdy, EGC! (((hugs))) Prayers for your uncle’s health to improve.s

Hope y’all get some rain soon so the fire hazard will be lessened! We have fire warnings every day, too, but so far I think we haven’t had any...at least around here.

Taking Bo to the lake sounds like a really good plan! :)

[luvie]

Howdy dooooo, Early Birds!
I hope everyone had a fine weekend!
...and that Monday isn't too bad!
My weekend was good...
...and was an actual weekend off for a change!
Hope y'all have a GREAT week!
((((hugs))))

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning ladies and (((HUGS))).

Looks like another allergy alert day here.

[Arrowhead1952]

[E.G.C.]

Thanks, very much. My Uncle’s family is well know for not giving up without a fight so we’ll see how this all works out.

[beachn4fun]

EG, does your Uncle Jack live alone?

[beachn4fun]

WOW, I’ll say!

I don’t know if they record things like cedar around out area...they just list “trees, weeds, grass” and I have to hunt up mold.

Mold is what bothers me most around our area.

[E.G.C.]

Yes, he does. His wife passed away in November of 2012. He does have a Life Alert he can use if he needs to.

[Arrowhead1952]

I took the pup walking and the cedar is already blowing in the air.

It usually doesn’t start until around 10:30 or 11:00 when the air warms.

[HiJinx]

The only problem with that is, it brings my next birthday closer :(

Hey, remember, we're only as old as we feel, right?!?!?!? I don't feel like that number, and you shouldn't either!

[beachn4fun]

Hey, remember, we're only as old as we feel, right?!?!?!? I don't feel like that number, and you shouldn't either!

Yeah, I try telling myself that when my back or hips groan when I get up. Or when I walk from one room to another (sometimes not even that far) and forget what I was doing. LOL

[SandRat]

Just came from Pioneer Title Co.

The house is sold!!!!!!

Get the check tomorrow.

[luvie]

My allergies are hanging on too but probably not as bad as yours!

[HiJinx]

Oh, I know exactly what you mean! It’s all those other times when I don’t feel like...um...what were we talking about?

[HiJinx]

Congrats! Now don’t spend it all in one place.
But, do spend a good chunk of it on yourselves. You deserve it, buddy.

[Arrowhead1952]

Today the cedar is probably just as bad. KVUE hasn’t updated the readings yet. I saw the pollen blowing earlier. Even our pup is sneezing.

[SandRat]

1/2 of it will go to my brother and my wife, I know, will tell me how the rest will be spent/saved.

[HiJinx]

I know. It’s our job to keep ‘em happy.
Keep up the good work, Bro.

[luvie]

You’re moving? Where to? Congrats on selling the house!