FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Rodolfo P Hernandez ~ 30 June 2025

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Rodolfo P. Hernandez
Info from here.

           

Rodolfo Perez "Rudy" Hernandez (April 14, 1931 - December 21, 2013) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor America's highest military decoration for his actions in the Korean War. Despite his wounds, Hernandez's actions during an enemy counterattack near Wonton-ni allowed his platoon to retake their defensive position.

Hernandez, a Mexican-American, was one of eight children born to a farmworker. At a young age his family moved from Colton where Hernandez was born, to Fowler, California, where he received his primary education. In 1948, when he was 17 years old, he joined the United States Army with his parents' consent. After completing his basic training, Hernandez volunteered for paratrooper school. Upon the completion of his paratrooper training he was sent to Germany, where he was stationed until the outbreak of the Korean War.

On August 27, 1950, the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. The unit was quickly sent to Korea. The 187th Airborne performed operations into Munsan-ni Valley, and fought bloody battles at Inje and Wonton-ni. Hernandez was reassigned to Company G of the 2nd Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. His platoon was ordered to defend Hill 420, located near Wonton-ni. On May 31, 1951, his platoon was the object of a numerically superior enemy counterattack. A close-quarters firefight broke out when enemy troops surged up the hill and inflicted numerous casualties on the platoon. Hernandez was wounded during the attack, but was able to fire upon the rushing enemy troops. After a cartridge in his rifle ruptured, he continued attacking the enemy with his bayonet. His attack enabled his comrades to regroup and take back the hill.

A grenade explosion that blew away part of his brain knocked him unconscious. Hernandez, who had received grenade, bayonet, and bullet wounds, appeared dead to the first medic who reached him, Keith Oates. Oates realized, however, that Hernandez was still alive when he saw him move his fingers. Hernandez woke up a month later in a military hospital, unable to move his arms or legs or to talk. On April 12, 1952, President Harry S. Truman bestowed upon Hernandez the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held in the White House Rose Garden. After many surgeries and physical therapy over a five-year period, Hernandez regained limited use of his right arm and learned to write with his left hand.

Hernandez married and had three children. He retired from a job at the Veterans Administration and lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Carteret County Veterans Council named Hernandez one of two grand marshals of its November 11, 2006, annual Veterans Day Parade held in downtown Morehead City. On November 10, 2007, he was again co-grand marshal of the Morehead City Veterans Day Parade. During the event, he was reunited with his rescuer "from a long and far away battlefield," the former Korean War Army medic and current Morehead City resident, Keith Oates. Hernandez was also the Grand Marshal of the 2012 North Carolina Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony held each Memorial Day in Thomasville, NC, and attended as an honored guest in 2013. Hernandez died at Womack Army Medical Center in Fayetteville on December 21, 2013. He had been battling "cancer and several other ailments" in the last month of his life.

Medal of Honor Citation

Rodolfo P. Hernandez

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company G, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team
Place and date: Near Wontong-ni, Korea, May 31, 1951
Entered service at: Fowler, California
Born: April 14, 1931, Colton, California
G.O. No.: 40, April 12, 1952

Cpl. Hernandez, a member of Company G, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His platoon, in defensive positions on Hill 420, came under ruthless attack by a numerically superior and fanatical hostile force, accompanied by heavy artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire which inflicted numerous casualties on the platoon. His comrades were forced to withdraw due to lack of ammunition but Cpl. Hernandez, although wounded in an exchange of grenades, continued to deliver deadly fire into the ranks of the onrushing assailants until a ruptured cartridge rendered his rifle inoperative. Immediately leaving his position, Cpl. Hernandez rushed the enemy armed only with rifle and bayonet. Fearlessly engaging the foe, he killed 6 of the enemy before falling unconscious from grenade, bayonet, and bullet wounds but his heroic action momentarily halted the enemy advance and enabled his unit to counterattack and retake the lost ground. The indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding courage, and tenacious devotion to duty clearly demonstrated by Cpl. Hernandez reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.

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[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[SkyDancer]

~ Evening All! ~

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~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[PROCON]

Hi Kathy, thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero!

[Huskrrrr]

Thanks, Kathy! Truly a hero.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...hope you are high and dry. Has the rain stopped yet? You and Tippy managing?

We had about 6 drops of dampness.

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

THANK YOU
for your service!

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

Did ANY sunshine break out over your way today or was it a repeat of yesterday - - sun at the airports but none on your side of town?

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

Have a good week and weekend? Have you and your son made it back out to the shooting range?

Been hot and wet here all week. We’re ready for a break.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sorry, my ping post disappeared, twice...trying again.

~ Hall of Heroes: Rodolfo P Hernandez ~

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[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! How are you feeling?

[luvie]

Rodolfo Perez "Rudy" Hernandez
April 14, 1931 - December 21, 2013
United States Army soldier
Medal of Honor recipient...
...for his actions in the Korean War.
Despite his wounds, Hernandez's actions
during an enemy counterattack near Wonton-ni
allowed his platoon to retake their defensive position.
What a brave soldier...like they all are!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Janey...((HUGS))...more jumpers today?

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Did you get lucky and get a little more rain today?
None here but it was cloudy most of the day. Kept the temp down, at least.

They guy who bought our woods a couple of years ago was a sweetie today. Brought some goodies from his garden. Corn and two kinds of potatoes. Had an ear of corn with supper and yum!
The downside is I need to blanche and freeze the rest of the ears tonight. Getting ready to hop to it and get that out of the way.

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

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Corazón Serrano - Mix De Amor Y De Miel ( Y Siempre - Tú La Tienes Que Pagar - Noches De Media Luna )

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FLORES SECAS - Jorge Maldonado Y Sonido70 En Vivo

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Piraña - La Banda Chalaca - Rumba Picante - Chorrillos 2025

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Yo Vengo A Ofrecer Mi Corazón - Vanessa Manzano

Los Hacheros Live At SOB's - La Bomba Soy Yo - NYC 11/20/15

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

I’m glad that the clouds kept y’all a bit cooler. I’m sure you’ve had enough of summer.

No rain today. We had storm clouds, and I heard thunder, but nary a drop of wet stuff. I was disappointed. We did get 3/8” last night, though, so guess it’ll have to do till next time. All the flowering plants sure look healthier.

Mmmmmmmm.....those home-grown veggies sound so good! I love fresh corn. Haven’t had it in years, though. Too much aggravation cleaning it out of my teeth. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...been listening to the Idaho fiasco for the firefighters. I hope they get the creep and he is room temperature.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Huskrrrr...a hero indeed! Glad you enjoyed.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...any break in your rainy weather?

Sun has been in and out the last hour or so, with some really dark skies towards the mountains.

Only 6 baby ducks, almost as big as momma. And only a few others; feels like maybe there is a predator close by and everyone is on edge.

[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.

Yesterday at Comanche Lake:

How's everyone doing this morning?