Héctor Santiago-Colón

Absorbed a grenade blast to save comrades inside the foxhole

Héctor Santiago-Colón received the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life during the Vietnam War. Born in Salinas, Puerto Rico, on December 20, 1942, he served as a specialist fourth class in Company B, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.

On June 28, 1968, in Quang Tri Province, Santiago-Colón was a mortar-platoon gunner serving as a perimeter sentry. He warned fellow sentries of movement in the woods before enemy troops attacked. During the fighting, an enemy grenade landed in his foxhole. With no time to throw it away, he held it against his body and turned away from his comrades, absorbing the explosion and saving their lives.

President Richard M. Nixon presented his posthumous Medal of Honor to his family at the White House on April 7, 1970. Santiago-Colón was buried in Salinas Municipal Cemetery. His award commemorates the sacrifice that protected the soldiers beside him.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp 4 c. Santiago-Colon distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a gunner in the mortar platoon of Company B. While serving as a perimeter sentry, Sp 4 c. Santiago-Colon heard distinct movement in the heavily wooded area to his front and flanks. Immediately he alerted his fellow sentries in the area to move to their foxholes and remain alert for any enemy probing forces. From the wooded area around his position heavy enemy automatic-weapons and small-arms fire suddenly broke out, but extreme darkness rendered difficult the precise location and identification of the hostile force. Only the muzzle flashes from the enemy weapons indicated their positions. Sp 4 c. Santiago-Colon and the other members of his platoon immediately began to repel the attackers, utilizing hand grenades, antipersonnel mines and small-arms fire. Due to the heavy volume of enemy fire and exploding grenades around them, a North Vietnamese soldier was able to crawl, undetected, to their position. Suddenly, the enemy soldier lobbed a hand grenade into Sp 4 c. Santiago-Colon's foxhole. Realizing that there was no time to throw the grenade out of his position, Sp 4 c. Santiago-Colon retrieved the grenade, tucked it into his stomach and, turning away from his comrades, absorbed the full impact of the blast. His heroic self-sacrifice saved the lives of those who occupied the foxhole with him, and provided them with the inspiration to continue fighting until they had forced the enemy to retreat from the perimeter. By his gallantry at the cost of his life and in the highest traditions of the military service, Sp 4 c. Santiago-Colon has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.