FReeper Canteen ~ Alejandro R Ruiz ~ 24 February 2025

Serving the Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[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!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Alejandro R Ruiz ~

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[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

I see they’re putting snow on the streets downtown for the start of the Iditarod. I guess it’s been snowing somewhere n AK. LOL It sure hasn’t at Anchorage.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...are you finally starting to warm up?

Still warm here...*sigh*...I can’t believe that winter might be over. I don’t believe it for one minute!

[Kathy in Alaska]

I can’t believe there are any in-town stockpiles still left.

They will have the ceremonial start downtown and then load up their dogs and head to Willow (if they have any snow) for the restart.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))... are you getting some melting going on yet?

You and Tippy able to get out after snow and ice? You have spikies...how does Tippy manage on ice?

[SkyDancer]

~ Evening All! ~

~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[radu]

It was a little warmer today - got up to 50 and that’s pretty much normal for this time of year. The next 10 days have a lot of 60s and 70s and though I love it, it’s a little early for that. The next cold hit - and there’ll be more - will hurt!

It’s been a crazy winter, especially up there. I sent a screen cap from the LH cam to a friend here who lived in Anchorage several years ago. He couldn’t believe the lack of snow.

[radu]

Is that where they get the snow? I always wondered.
There are a few piles at the edges of parking lots still at Stevens and Lake Hood they could get, if need be. They aren’t real big but they’re snow.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Janey...((HUGS))...still storming? Studying coming along?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Every year part of snow removal is stockpiling for Rondy. And I just realized what I told you are the restart in Willow is for Iditarod. But they always stockpile for any races because any place the dogs run downtown needs snow. I think part of it the need for “good” snow.

[luvie]

PFC Alejandro R. Ruiz
June 26, 1923 - November 20, 2009
Former US Army soldier
Medal of Honor Recipient
For actions in the Battle of Okinawa
...in the Ryukyu Islands during World War II.
RIP Brave Soldier!

[radu]

That makes sense. Make use of all the snow they scoop off the streets throughout winter. Usually do anyway. That stockpile wasn’t nearly as big this year. If there isn’t enough “good” to suit them, they have to go up into the mountains. Or get the snow machine from the Hilltop Ski Area. LOL They’ve kept that busy this year so folks can ski.

[SkyDancer]

Good Evening Kathy! ((HUGS)) Oh yeah, very windy and rain at times, more on Mon/Tues ... and reading tech manuals, boring but necessary, written and oral exams coming up.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie. Hope the day has gone well.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I suspected that exams were coming up. Happy studying.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie...we must always remember!! Thanks!