FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Alejandro R Ruiz ~ 11 April 2022

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

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~ 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!

[Kathy in Alaska]

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top three....The Mayor bags the bronze!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[The Mayor]

Yes to all if I could just stay healthy.
I sick of being sick every other week

[radu]

Thank you!

[luvie]

My summer clothes and spring clothes are basically the same. :) I don’t wear anything sleeveless or don’t wear shorts, so......LOL!

Ok. going to read #8. :)

[radu]

Spring clothes for me are short-sleeves and jeans. Summer, we’re talkin’ sleeveless and maybe pedal pushers. I’ve never had pretty legs so wear nothing that stops above the knees. LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie, and thanks for helping honor Alejandro Ruiz, another true hero.

[luvie]

He was so brave!

[luvie]

I wear capris or petal pushers, too, and mostly elbow or 3/4 length sleeves. I have horrible upper arms. Inherited from my mom and grandmother. Thanks galz. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...did you and son have a fun filled weekend?

[PROCON]

Hi Kathy, son worked all weekend but we did find time to have dinner and hang out together, good times.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Too bad about the veggies...a bunny problem?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sending prayers that the sickness stays away.

[radu]

I got my maternal grandfather’s long skinny legs with horse knees. LOL They came in handy when I was in school and ran track. I left everyone eating my dust. But in the looks department - - ugh.

Today was a good day for t-shirt but no way I was going to spend time outside. I stepped out once with a bag of litter box scoopings to be hauled off and that was MORE than enough.

[luvie]

Aaaaaaaaack! No wonder you stayed in. That PICTURE made my eyes burn. LOL!

That should drive off the yankees who might want that house. ROFL!

[radu]

They had just started when I woke up and I didn’t realize they were out there. I thought the noise I heard was Hubby mowing. I almost got sick when I stepped out the door with the bag of scoopings. LOL

The smell is in here though not too strong. It’s still here though. Yuck.

Scattered showers are coming through overnight into tomorrow, then a rain/storm system comes through tomorrow night. That should give us enough rain to tamp down the stink.

That house was auctioned this week but I don’t know who bought it. I hope they aren’t city slickers who’ll end up being a PITA about country life.

[luvie]

Oh, lordy. I hope they’re normal southern folks.

[radu]

That’s our hope, too, but we just have to wait and see.

[luvie]

I’m curious what kind of folks want 1 bathroom and no closets. LOL! But the house is lovely nonetheless.