Rodolfo P. Hernandez

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Rodolfo P. Hernandez
Born April 14, 1931 (1931-04-14) (age 77)
Cpl. Rodolfo P. Hernandez, Medal of Honor recipient
Nickname	"Rudy"
Place of birth	Colton, California
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1948–1951
Rank	Corporal
Unit	Company G, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team
Battles/wars	Korean War
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Cpl. Rodolfo P. Hernandez (born April 14, 1931) is a former United States Army soldier who was awarded 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.

1 Early years
2 Korean War
3 Medal of Honor citation
4 Currently
5 Awards and recognitions
6 See also
7 Notes
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Early years

Hernandez, a Mexican-American, is 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 training. Upon the completion of his paratrooper training he was sent to Germany, where he was stationed until the outbreak of the Korean War.^[1]

[edit] 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 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 he was able to fire upon the rushing enemy troops. After 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, Army medic Keith Oates.^[2] The medic 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.^[3]

On April 11, 1952, President Harry S. Truman bestowed upon Rodolfo P. Hernandez the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held in the Rose Garden of the White House.

After many surgeries and physical therapy over a five year period, Rodolfo P. Hernandez regained limited use of his right arm and learned to write with his left hand.

[edit] 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, 31 May 1951. Entered service at:Fowler, California Born: 14 April 1931, Colton, Calif. G.O. No.: 40, 21 April 1962. Citation:

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.^[4]^[5]

[edit] Currently

Rodolfo P. Hernandez is now married and has three children. He is retired from a job at the Veterans Administration and currently lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Carteret County Veterans Council named Hernandez, together with General Kenneth Glueck, commanding general of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point, the grand marshals of its November 11, 2006 annual Veterans Day Parade held in downtown Morehead City.^[6] On November 10, 2007 Hernandez and Glueck were again grand marshals of the Morehead City Veterans Day Parade but "Rudy" 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^[7]