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

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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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!

[radu]

That’s what worries me. The kind of person who’d buy it can’t have much common sense. There’s nowhere to put in another bathroom and the bedrooms are so tiny, building closets in them with leave VERY little room for much more than a bed. Even sticking wardrobes in the rooms would take up a lot of space but that’s really all they can do.

I was there all the time during the restoration to take pics, which I gave copies of to the contractor for his portfolio. That was our deal. LOL I know that house inside out. It’s rock-solid, and it is beautiful. I love the kitchen and living room and the view from up on that hill is to die for.

[The Mayor]

Thank you, hopefully when this mixer is done next week, soon after we are heading to Myrtle Beach.

They are actually enjoying Spring and sunshine. I need fresh air, sun loaded with vitamin D

Then finding an RV/camp site where I can bring our RV down and park it year round. A second home, I hope and Pray. Lord knows at 66 I need it.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

I hope you had a good day for your outing with Gizmo yesterday.
Ready for this week’s rounds of weather “fun”? Can’t say we are. *sigh*

[luvie]

I wonder if they’re going to bulldoze the old house and build a McMansion on the property. Lots of folks are doing that especially if they got a decent price on the lot. You’d REALLY hate that. I hope they don’t.

Maybe they want to play farmer for a couple of weeks a year? Got to be some nutty folks!

[E.G.C.]

Well, there were quite a few people out there yesterday. When we first arrived a couple of fishermen on one of the docks and a family on another but we did get to do some of our usual stuff.

[radu]

They don’t seem inclined to bulldoze in these parts, fortunately. They’d certainly hack off locals if they do and they’ll find that they won’t have many, if any, friends around here. They certainly won’t want to come over here.

[radu]

It looks like y’all were able to roam enough to leave Gizmo tuckered out, despite the crowd. :-)

[luvie]

Well, it’s hard to outguess people who buy country homes. Maybe they’re wonderful and fell in love with it. And don’t need closets. LOL!

Meanwhile, I guess I’d better go. I’m sleepy. And just looked at the time. See ya tomorrow!

[luvie]

?

[radu]

The owner told me a little while back that the majority of folks who have looked at the house have been retirees who moved here from out of state. It’s almost sold at least twice. One couple backed out at the last minute because they stopped by right after the mountain of poop for the field over there was delivered. At the time of our conversation, another couple was finalizing things but then he spread the poop. I have a feeling they must have stopped by at that time because the for sale sign stayed up. Then it was changed to the auction sign.
It’s not a done deal yet. If those folks happened to stop by today, it being such a pretty day, they might back out. It was certainly a rough “welcome to the neighborhood” out there. LOL I stuck my head out a little while ago and it’s still rank. I’m praying for rain today!!

[left that other site]

Bunny Pwobwem? They bweed wike wabbits!

[luvie]

Hey Hey, Early Birds!
Aren't our military heroes amazing!?
We need to honor them every day!
Thanks, Kathy, for the latest one!
Hope all y'all have a Mahv'lus Monday...
...and a Wonderful Week!
Gonna be a hot one for us.
(((hugs)))

[luvie]

Oh, how I wish they’d show up today! LOL!