FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Alejandro R Ruiz ~ May 11, 2015

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Alejandro R. Ruiz

Story from this website.

           

Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz (June 26, 1923 - November 20, 2009) was a former United States Army soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration, for his actions in the Battle of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands during World War II.

Ruiz was born and raised in Loving, New Mexico and enlisted in the United States Army in the town of Carlsbad, New Mexico upon the outbreak of World War II. He was assigned to the U.S. 27th Infantry Division after completing basic training.

During World War II, the conquest of the Japanese island of Okinawa was considered vital for the Allied forces as a step towards an invasion of the Japanese mainland. The invasion (codenamed Operation Iceberg) was the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific war, and involved units of the U.S. Tenth Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. These consisted of III Amphibious Corps (1st and 6th Marine Divisions, with 2nd Marine Division as an afloat reserve), and XXIV Corps (7th, 77th, 96th and 27th Infantry Divisions.)

On April 28, 1945, PFC Ruiz's unit was pinned down by machine gun fire coming from a camouflaged Japanese pillbox and was unable to advance to its assigned objective. Ruiz, on his own initiative, charged the pillbox under a hail of machine gun fire. On his second attempt, he was able to neutralize the pillbox by killing all of its occupants. For his actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor.  On June 26, 1946, President Harry S. Truman presented Ruiz with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held at the White House.

Ruiz resided in Visalia, California and actively participated in activities honoring Medal of Honor recipients. On November 20, 2009, Ruiz passed away. The town of Visalia has honored Ruiz by naming the "Alejandro R. Ruiz Sr. Park" after him, located at North Burke Street and Buena Vista Street.

ALEJANDRO R. RUIZ
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 165th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division
Place and date: Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, April 28, 1945
Entered service at: Carlsbad, New Mexico
Born: June 26, 1923, Loving, New Mexico
G.O. No. 60, June 26, 1946.
Citation:

    When his unit was stopped by a skillfully camouflaged enemy pillbox, he displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. His squad, suddenly brought under a hail of machinegun fire and a vicious grenade attack, was pinned down. Jumping to his feet, Pfc. Ruiz seized an automatic rifle and lunged through the flying grenades and rifle and automatic fire for the top of the emplacement. When an enemy soldier charged him, his rifle jammed. Undaunted, Pfc. Ruiz whirled on his assailant and clubbed him down. Then he ran back through bullets and grenades, seized more ammunition and another automatic rifle, and again made for the pillbox. Enemy fire now was concentrated on him, but he charged on, miraculously reaching the position, and in plain view he climbed to the top. Leaping from one opening to another, he sent burst after burst into the pillbox, killing 12 of the enemy and completely destroying the position. Pfc. Ruiz's heroic conduct, in the face of overwhelming odds, saved the lives of many comrades and eliminated an obstacle that long would have checked his unit's advance.

Thank you sir, for your service and sacrifice for our country!

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[ConorMacNessa]

Le nouveau barbecue au Château MacNessa

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Ms Feather...*hugs*...did you have a celebration of Moms?

[ConorMacNessa]

Mother's Day Dinner at Castle MacNessa

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guard my country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[left that other site]

Very quiet...I went for a ride on my bike, then came home, showered, and now it’s off to bed for me.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sand...((HUGS))...glad you are safely home. How did your shoulder handle the time away from home?

All the Mom’s have a fun day?

[Kathy in Alaska]

WOW! All over the place....good for you.

Customer pick up is good. d:o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Looks like a Brand Spanking New grill...very nice.

How did the newest Grillmaster like it?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and rest well, ML. ((HUGS)) Have a Marvelous Monday.

[SandRat]

Good evening, KATHY...((HUGS))...glad to be safely home. My shoulder handled the time away from home just fine.

Nate had to keep gently stroking it and announcing “it’s brokrn.”

All the Mom’s had a great day.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Gorgeous night, here! And you?

[SandRat]

Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe:

Recipe Type: Quick Bread, Bananas
Yields: 1 loaf
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 50 min

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt (fine salt not coarse)
6 large (about 2 1/4 pounds) very ripe bananas, (preferably overripe)*
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons granulated sugar (to top the unbaked loaf)

* To ripen bananas, allow green or yellow bananas to ripen at room temperature until the skin is covered with brown spots. Don’t even think of make banana bread with anything less than very ripe, heavily speckled fruit - unless you’re fine with a bland loaf.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Adjust oven rack to lower middle position. Spray one (1) 9x5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

Place five (5) peeled bananas in a microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in the plastic wrap with a paring knife. Microwave on high power until the bananas are soft and have released liquid, approximately 5 minutes.

Remove from microwave and transfer the bananas to a fine-mesh strainer placed over a medium-size bowl. Allow to drain, stirring occasionally, for 15 minute. You should have 1/2 to 3/4 cup liquid after straining. NOTE: I had a total 1 cup of banana liquid after straining. Set aside the remaining banana mixture in the strainer.

Transfer the banana liquid to a medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Let simmer until the banana liquid is reduced to 1/4 cup, approximately 5 minutes. NOTE: Since I had 1 cup of banana liquid to reduce, it took me 15 minutes to reduce the liquid to 1/4 cup.

Remove pan from heat and and stir the reduced banana liquid into the set aside banana mixture; mash with a potato masher until fairly smooth. NOTE: I put the banana mixture into my blender for a few seconds. Whisk in the melted butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.

Pour the banana mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. Gently fold in the walnuts or pecans.

Pour the batter into the prepared bread pan. Slice the remaining peeled banana diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Shingle the banana sliced on top of both sides of the loaf, leaving 1 1/2-inc-wide space down the center to ensure even rising. Sprinkle the 2 teaspoon sugar evenly over the top of the loaf.

Bake 50 to to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. NOTE: Be sure and poke the toothpick already to the center of the loaf. A good check is to use an instant digital thermometer to test your bread. The internal temperature of the bread should be at 200 degrees F. when done.

Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely before slicing.

Makes one (1) loaf.

[kalee]

I will have to try that recipe. Thanks for posting it!

[luvie]

Thanks, galz, for another great American hero story!

[luvie]

......till they all come home....

[potlatch]

Yum, good! Thank you for pinging SandRat!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch....mostly sunny today, but now it’s clouding over and getting breezy. I’m gonna have to put socks on.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sounds devine!!!! I wish I had the patience/time to cook/bake.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv....it is amazing what PFC Ruiz did that day. A true hero.

Did you have a special dinner for Mother’s Day?

[luvie]

Well, kind of. We went to Popeye’s Cajun Chicken fast food because we figured that every other “real” restaurant would be long waits and we were hungry. LOL!

Besides I like the food there. How did you and your mom spend the day?

[Kathy in Alaska]

I took her out in front, thru the garage in her traveling wheelchair, tried to hook up a hose for her to water her geraniums, that did survive the night, but couldn’t get the hose tight enough not to get drowned. Then upstairs and out on the deck with Reggie. Then she wanted me to put dirt in pots, add petunias, give them more dirt, then some water. I hate gardening. Oh well, it’s Mother’s Day.

It was an all Mom weekend...I didn’t finish any of my list.

And at dinner time she dropped her applesauce on the floor, thankfully the kitchen floor and not the carpet. So I got that cleaned up and then washed the floor several times. I think I got everything. d:o)