Juan E. Negrón

Master Sergeant Juan E. Negrón Martínez was a highly decorated United States Army soldier who served with distinction in the 65th Infantry Regiment, a unit known as the "Borinqueneers," during the Korean War. On April 28, 1951, during the Chinese Spring Offensive at Kalma-Eri, North Korea, Negrón engaged in heroic combat actions that initially earned him the Distinguished Service Cross. This decoration was later posthumously upgraded to the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor, in 2014.

Negrón's military service spanned multiple major conflicts, including the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Over his dedicated career, he was wounded in action, earning the Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster, and accumulated numerous awards demonstrating his continuous service and operational deployments across Asia and the Pacific.

His legacy remains an enduring symbol of the bravery and sacrifice of Puerto Rican soldiers in the United States military. Negrón retired at the rank of Master Sergeant, leaving behind a legacy of valor that is officially recognized through high-level U.S. and foreign unit and individual decorations.