José F. Jiménez

José Francisco "Jo Jo" Jiménez (March 20, 1946 – August 28, 1969) was a United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism in the Vietnam War in August 1969.

José Francisco Jiménez
Jose F. Jiménez, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
Nickname(s)Jo Jo
Born(1946-03-20)March 20, 1946
Mexico City, Mexico
DiedAugust 28, 1969(1969-08-28) (aged 23)
near Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province, South Vietnam
Original place of burial; re-interment
Morelia, Mexico; Glendale Memorial Park, Glendale, Arizona
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1968–1969
RankLance Corporal Lance Corporal
UnitCompany K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Battles/warsVietnam War  †
AwardsMedal of Honor
Purple Heart

Early years

José Jiménez was born on March 20, 1946, in Mexico City, Mexico. He attended Benito Juárez School and José María Morelos School in Morelia, Michoacán. He graduated from Red Rock Elementary School, Red Rock, Arizona, in June 1964, and from Santa Cruz Valley Union High School, Eloy, Arizona, in June 1968.[1]

Enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve at Phoenix, Arizona on June 7, 1968, Jiménez was discharged to enlist in the regular Marine Corps, August 12, 1968. He completed recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, in October 1968. He was promoted to private first class on October 1, 1968. Transferred to the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, he underwent individual combat training with Company G, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment and with the Rifle Training Company of the 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, completing the latter in December 1968.[1]

Grave of L/Cpl Jimenez

Ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in February 1969, Jiménez was assigned duty as a guide and fire team leader with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to lance corporal on June 16, 1969. While participating in action against the enemy south of Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province, on August 28, 1969, he was killed in action.[1][2]

Jimenez's mother, Basillia Jimenez, was employed by the Mexican government, working in Arizona. On September 6, 1969, she had Jimenez's remains buried in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. His mother died and was buried in Glendale Memorial Park Cemetery. With donations from various organizations his sister, who is his next of kin, was able to recover his remains and have them sent to Arizona. On January 17, 2017, LCpl Jimenez was re-interred and buried next to his mother, in Glendale Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona[3]

Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor citation:

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

LANCE CORPORAL JOSE F. JIMÉNEZ
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 28 August 1969. On that date Lance Corporal Jimenez' unit came under heavy attack by North Vietnamese Army soldiers concealed in well-camouflaged emplacements. Lance Corporal Jimenez reacted by seizing the initiative and plunging forward toward the enemy positions. He himself destroyed several enemy personnel and silenced an antiaircraft weapon. Shouting encouragement to his companions, Lance Corporal Jimenez continued his aggressive forward movement. He slowly maneuvered to within ten feet of hostile soldiers who were firing automatic weapons from a trench and, in the face of vicious enemy fire, destroyed the position. Although he was by now the target of concentrated fire from hostile gunners intent upon halting his assault, Lance Corporal Jimenez continued to press forward. As he moved to attack another enemy soldier, he was mortally wounded. Lance Corporal Jimenez' indomitable courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.[4]

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

Awards and honors

Jiménez's medals include:

A light blue ribbon with five white five pointed stars
Bronze star
Bronze star
Medal of Honor
Purple Heart Combat Action Ribbon National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 service stars Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ palm Vietnam Campaign Medal
Expert marksmanship badge for rifle Expert marksmanship badge for pistol

See also

Notes
  1. "Lance Corporal Jose Francisco Jimenez, USMC, Medal of Honor recipient". Who's who in Marine Corps history. History Division, United States Marine Corps. September 18, 2003. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  2. Smith, Charles (1988). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown 1969. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 367. ISBN 978-1494287627.
  3. Patriot Guard Riders
  4. "Medal of Honor – LCpl Jose F. Jimenez (Medal of Honor citation)". Medal of Honor, 1969, 3/7/1, Vietnam. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
  5. "Jose Jimenez, LCPL, Marine Corps". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 2006-06-16.

Further reading
  • Unit Action involving Lance Corporal Jimenez, His MOH Bravery, and the ferocious battles fought by the Army and Marines in Hiep Duc Valley during August 1969. See Keith William Nolan (1987). "Death Valley" – The Summer Offensive I Corps, August 1969

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