FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Alfred V Rascon ~ 05 April 2021

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Alfred V. Rascon

Info from this website.

           

Major Alfred V. Rascon (born 1945) was a medic in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor—the United States' highest military decoration—for his actions near Long Khanh Province during the Vietnam War. On more than one occasion Rascon exposed himself to enemy fire and grenades by covering the bodies of those whom he was aiding with his own.

Rascon, a Mexican national, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico as the only child of Alfredo and Andrea Rascon. The Rascon family, in search of a better way of life, immigrated to the United States. They settled in Oxnard, California, where Rascon received his primary and secondary education. On August 1963, he graduated from High school and enlisted in the United States Army.

Rascon received his Basic training in Fort Ord, California, and after completing he was assigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas for basic and specialist medical training. After he graduated from his medical training, he voluteered for airborne training and attended the Army’s Airborne school in Fort Benning, Georgia.

In February 1964, Rascon was then assigned to Headquarters Company, Medical Platoon, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) of the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) stationed in Okinawa.

On May 1965, Rascon and his unit were deployed to the Republic of Vietnam where he served as a medic for a platoon of paratroopers.

The brigade was the first major ground combat unit of the United States Army to serve there. They were the first to go into War Zone D to destroy enemy base camps and to introduce the use of small long-range patrols.

On March 16, 1966, Rascon was assigned as a medic to a Reconnaissance Platoon of the 173d Airborne Brigade. The Platoons mission was to reinforce a sister battalion which was under intense enemy attack near Long Khanh Province. The Reconnaissance Platoon came under heavy fire from a numerically superior enemy force. Several point squad soldiers were wounded and SP4 Rascon made his way forward to aid his fallen comrades. On more than one occasion Rascon exposed himself to enemy fire and grenades by covering the bodies of those whom he was aiding and absorbing the blast and fragments of the grenades with his own body. Each time he would drag his comrades to safety and crawled back to aid someone else. Rascon was so badly wounded that day that he was given his last rites.

Rascon was transferred to Johnson Army Hospital in Japan where he spent six months recovering from his wounds. For his actions, he was nominated for the Medal of Honor. However, his nomination for some unknown reason did not go through and instead he was awarded a Silver Star.

In May 1966, he was honorably discharged from active duty and placed in the Army Reserves. Rascon attended college after he was discharged and in 1967 he became a Naturalized United States Citizen.

In 1970 he graduated from the Army's Infantry Officers Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He then returned to Vietnam for a second tour, this time as a military adviser. In 1976, Rascon was once again honorably discharged from active duty.

In 1976, Rascon was offered the position of U.S. Army military liaison officer, in the Republic of Panama and he accepted. Rascon has also worked for the Department of Justice’s, Drug Enforcement Administration, INTERPOL (U.S. National Central Bureau), and the Immigration & Naturalization Service.

During a 1985 reunion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Rascon's comrades discovered that he never received the Medal of Honor. His former platoon members Ray Compton, Neil Haffey and Larry Gibson, whose lives he saved, sought to correct the oversight and renewed their efforts in favor of a Medal of Honor for Rascon. The Pentagon would not reconsider Rascon's case because so much time had elapsed. Therefore, Rascon's comrades sought the help of Congressman Lane Evans from Illinois. In 1997, Evans gave President Bill Clinton a packet containing the information about Rascon. The President then convinced the Pentagon to reopen the case.

On February 8, 2000. President Bill Clinton bestowed upon Alfred V. Rascon the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held in the East Room of the White House.

ALFRED V. RASCONRank and organization:  Specialist Four, U.S. Army, Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry,173d Airborne Brigade (Separate)Place and date:  Republic of Vietnam, March 16, 1966Entered service at: ----Born:   1945, Chihuahua, Mexico
Citation:Specialist Four Alfred Rascon, distinguished himself by a series of extraordinarily courageous acts on March 16, 1966, while assigned as a medic to the Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). While moving to reinforce its sister battalion under intense enemy attack, the Reconnaissance Platoon came under heavy fire from a numerically superior enemy force. The intense enemy fire from crew-served weapons and grenades severely wounded several point squad soldiers. Specialist Rascon, ignoring directions to stay behind shelter until covering fire could be provided, made his way forward. He repeatedly tried to reach the severely wounded point machine-gunner laying on an open enemy trail, but was driven back each time by the withering fire. Disregarding his personal safety, he jumped to his feet, ignoring flying bullets and exploding grenades to reach his comrade. To protect him from further wounds, he intentionally placed his body between the soldier and enemy machine guns, sustaining numerous shrapnel injuries and a serious wound to the hip. Disregarding his serious wounds he dragged the larger soldier from the fire-raked trail. Hearing the second machine-gunner yell that he was running out of ammunition, Specialist Rascon, under heavy enemy fire crawled back to the wounded machine-gunner stripping him of his bandoleers of ammunition, giving them to the machine-gunner who continued his suppressive fire. Specialist Rascon fearing the abandoned machine gun, its ammunition and spare barrel could fall into enemy hands made his way to retrieve them. On the way, he was wounded in the face and torso by grenade fragments, but disregarded these wounds to recover the abandoned machine gun, ammunition and spare barrel items, enabling another soldier to provide added suppressive fire to the pinned-down squad. In searching for the wounded, he saw the point grenadier being wounded by small arms fire and grenades being thrown at him. Disregarding his own life and his numerous wounds, Specialist Rascon reached and covered him with his body absorbing the blasts from the exploding grenades, and saving the soldier's life, but sustaining additional wounds to his body. While making his way to the wounded point squad leader, grenades were hurled at the sergeant. Again, in complete disregard for his own life, he reached and covered the sergeant with his body, absorbing the full force of the grenade explosions. Once more Specialist Rascon was critically wounded by shrapnel, but disregarded his own wounds to continue to search and aid the wounded. Severely wounded, he remained on the battlefield, inspiring his fellow soldiers to continue the battle. After the enemy broke contact, he disregarded aid for himself, instead treating the wounded and directing their evacuation. Only after being placed on the evacuation helicopter did he allow aid to be given to him. Specialist Rascon's extraordinary valor in the face of deadly enemy fire, his heroism in rescuing the wounded, and his gallantry by repeatedly risking his own life for his fellow soldiers are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

On May 22, 2002, Rascon was confirmed by the United States Senate as the 10th Director of the Selective Service System, he served in this position until 2003.

On September 1, 2002, Rascon returned to the Army as an Army Reserve Major in the Army Medical Service Corps. His position was Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Surgeon General’s Office. Rascon served in Afghanistan and Iraq for the Medical Service Corps.

Major Rascon received the degree of Doctor of Medical Jurisprudence, Honoris Causa on May 17, 2003, from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences' (USUHS) F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine and Graduate School of Nursing.  The Army has honored Rascon by renaming their medical school at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the Alfred V. Rascon School of Combat Medicine.

Rascon has been honored by the American Immigration Lawyers Association and Foundation in Washington, D.C., for his past contributions in the military. The Washington-based CATO Institute also honored him in its annual honors of past and present military contributors of Hispanic Americans.

Rascon resides in Laurel, Maryland and is married and has a daughter and a son.

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!

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

April 5

Anchored in Truth

Bible in a Year:

• 1 Samuel 1–3
• Luke 8:26–56

I will drive him like a peg into a firm place.

Isaiah 22:23

My family lives in a nearly century-old house with a lot of character, including wonderfully textured plaster walls. A builder cautioned me that with these walls, to hang a picture I’d have to either drill the nail into a wood support or use a plaster anchor for support. Otherwise, I’d risk the picture crashing to the ground, leaving an ugly hole behind.

The prophet Isaiah used the imagery of a nail driven firmly into a wall to describe a minor biblical character named Eliakim. Unlike the corrupt official Shebna (Isaiah 22:15–19), as well as the people of Israel—who looked to themselves for strength (vv. 8–11)—Eliakim trusted in God. Prophesying Eliakim’s promotion to palace administrator for King Hezekiah, Isaiah wrote that Eliakim would be driven like a “peg into a firm place” (v. 23). Being securely anchored in God’s truth and grace would also allow Eliakim to be a support for his family and his people (vv. 22–24).

Yet Isaiah concluded this prophecy with a sobering reminder that no person can be the ultimate security for friends or family—we all fail (v. 25). The only completely trustworthy anchor for our lives is Jesus (Psalm 62:5–6; Matthew 7:24). As we care for others and share their burdens, may we also point them to Him, the anchor who will never fail.

Reflect & Pray

How can you stay firmly anchored in God’s truth and grace? In what ways can you support those feeling weighed down by life’s burdens?

Dear Jesus, thank You for being my anchor. As Your child, I know that I’m firmly planted in You.

Read Navigating the Storms of Life at DiscoverySeries.org/HP061.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[PROCON]

WOO-HOO, thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero, Kathy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Did you have a family get-together today?

All rested and ready to take on the new week? Hope spring is inching forward.

We had high winds all night and they continue today, but it’s in the low 40s so some melting is going on. Then 20s and below, with nights in single digits for the next week. Sure am glad to be working from home.

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Alfred V Rascon ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...good Blue weather today? Penny guarding her porch from all intruders?

We’ve had high winds all night and all day. At least the temps are in the 40s, so some melting is going on. But we are headed for 20s in the day and single digits at night for the next week. I’m ready for winter to be over.

[left that other site]

Three Hours of Church this morning, and then Easter Dinner at my sister’s house, so Blue sat, unridden, in the sunshine.

Oh Well, the Springtime is still early.

[left that other site]

But it’s all good.

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...he certainly “earned” the Medal of Honor. And we honor him for his service.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Even tho Blue had to sit, it sounds like a good day.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...are you recovering from your busy day yesterday? Hope you had some nice weather for just enjoying the day.

We have had high winds all night and still all day. The sun has finally come out to help the 40 degree melting, so I think I’ll go spend a few minutes chipping ice.

[luvie]

Major Alfred V. Rascon, 1945 -
United States Army medic
Medal of Honor Recipient
For actions near Long Khanh Province
Vietnam War.
What a hero he was/is!

[Kathy in Alaska]

In first....The Mayor grabs the gold!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in second....ML snags the silver!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top three....Pro bags the bronze!!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Almost recovered but still don’t have my steam back fully. One more good night’s sleep and I’ll be back up to snuff.

You aren’t kidding about the wind! I can’t have the volume up on the speakers when the Lake Hood cam is up. The wind has been crankin’ and it’s noisy on the mic.

Were you able to chip ice more easily this evening after the day’s warmer temps? I hope you got a lot out of the way since it’s going to be cold again all week. brrrrrr!

[radu]

Howdy, luvie. What a hero he was, indeed!

Did you have a nice Easter? Pretty weather, not too hot?