Alejandro R. Ruiz | |
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PFC Alejandro R. Ruiz, Medal of Honor recipient |
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Born | June 26, 1923 Loving, New Mexico |
Died | November 20, 2009 Yountville, California |
(aged 86)
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Years of service | 1944 - 1964 |
Rank | Sergeant |
Unit | 165th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division |
Battles/wars | World War II *Battle of Okinawa |
Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Sergeant Alejandro R. Ruiz (June 26, 1923 – November 20, 2009) was a former United States Army soldier who received 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.
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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.[1] 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 died.[3] The town of Visalia has honored Ruiz by naming the "Alejandro R. Ruiz Sr. Park"[4] after him, located at North Burke Street and Buena Vista Street.
Among PFC Alejandro R. Ruiz' decorations and medals were the following:
Combat Infantry Badge | ||||||||||||
Medal of Honor | Purple Heart | |||||||||||
American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal |