Pedro Rodríguez (soldier)
Master Sergeant Pedro Rodríguez (January 3, 1912 – October 19, 1999) was a U.S. Army soldier from Puerto Rico who earned two Silver Stars within a seven-day period during the Korean War.[1] He is one of the few U.S. Army soldiers and perhaps the only Puerto Rican soldier other than Brigadier General Antonio Rodríguez Balinas, Second Lieutenant Vidal Rodriguez-Amaro, and Sergeant First Class Felix G. Nieves to receive more than one Silver Star during the Korean War. Rodríguez served in the 65th Infantry Regiment during both World War II and the Korean War; the 65th Infantry was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014.
Pedro Rodríguez | |
|---|---|
 Master Sergeant Pedro Rodríguez c. 1979 Earned two Silver Star Medals in one week | |
| Born | January 3, 1912 Lajas, Puerto Rico |
| Died | October 19, 1999 (aged 87) Washington D.C., U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Army Army National Guard |
| Years of service | 1937–1979 |
| Rank |  Master Sergeant |
| Unit |  65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards |  Silver Star (2) Purple Heart |
Early years
Rodríguez was born Lajas, Puerto Rico, on January 3, 1912, into a poor family. Rodríguez did not have a formal education. His father owned an ox cart and earned a living by delivering goods to the town's merchants. Rodríguez rose early in the morning to help his father. Together they went to the railroad station, where they loaded the goods onto their ox cart and then delivered them. When he was 14 years old, his father died and he had to take over the ox cart and the financial responsibility of his family. The economic situation became so bad that in 1937, when he was 25 years old, he joined the Puerto Rico National Guard.
World War II
Rodríguez was assigned to the 65th Infantry Regiment, the all Puerto Rican regiment and was stationed in Panama. When World War II broke out, the 65th Infantry was sent to North Africa. In September 1944, his company landed in Marseilles, France, and marched north into Germany without any major incident.[2][3]
Korean War
After the war, the 65th Infantry was stationed in Puerto Rico. The 65th was activated to the U.S. Army was deployed to Korea attached to the 3rd Infantry Division, upon the outbreak of the Korean War on August 26, 1950. By the time the "Borinqueneers", as the 65th was known, reached Korea, Rodríguez had been promoted to the rank of sergeant.[2][3]
- First Silver Star
Sgt. Rodríguez was a member of Company F and on March 24, 1951, he led his unit to secure Hill 476. When a camouflaged enemy machine gun opened fire on them, Rodríguez led a squad with fixed bayonets in an assault on the area from which the gunfire came from. The enemy fled leaving their supplies behind. For his actions, Rodríguez was awarded his first Silver Star Medal.[3]
- 2nd Silver Star Medal
A week later on March 31, his company was attacking Hill 398, near Choksong-Myon, when they came under an enemy mortar barrage. After, the enemy pinned down and inflicted heavy casualties on the lead platoon, Rodríguez was ordered to assist the stalled unit and led his platoon in an assault that routed the enemy. For his actions, he was awarded a second Silver Star Medal.[4][3]
Silver Star citations
Other U.S. Army soldiers and officers to receive more than one Silver Star for actions during the Korean War include First Lieutenant Romeo H. Bucknell Jr., First Lieutenant Smith B. Chamberlain, Second Lieutenant Robert H. Coldren, First Lieutenant Charles H. Fleming, Colonel David Haskell Hackworth, First Lieutenant Jerimiah V. Hayhurst, First Lieutenant Raymond W. King, Captain Edward A. Konek, Sergeant First Class Felix G. Nieves, Second Lieutenant Hans G. Olsen, Second Lieutenant Vidal Rodriguez-Amaro, Brigadier General Antonio Rodríguez Balinas, and Lieutenant Colonel Howard B. Sinclair.[5]
Rodríguez, Pedro
Citation:
Organization:HEADQUARTERS 3D INFANTRY DIVISION
G.O. # 196 – 17 June 1951MASTER SERGEANT PEDRO RODRIGUEZ, RA6674697, Infantry, Company "F", 65th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On 24 March 1951, near Kopi-Dong, Korea, Sergeant RODRIGUEZ, acting as platoon leader in the absence of a commissioned officer, was leading his unit to secure Hill 476, when the enemy opened fire from a well camouflaged machine gun nest. Although he did not know the exact location of the gun, Sergeant RODRIGUEZ ordered one squad to fix bayonets and assault the general area from which the fire was coming. After the enemy weapon fired again, Sergeant RODRIGUEZ charged the position, yelling and shooting his rifle demoralizing the enemy and causing him to flee in haste, taking his gun with him, but leaving ammunition and rations behind. The gallantry and extreme devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant RODRIGUEZ reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the military service from Puerto Rico.[6]
Rodríguez, Pedro
Citation:
Organization:HEADQUARTERS 3D INFANTRY DIVISION
G.O. # 261 – 8 July 1951MASTER SERGEANT PEDRO RODRIGUEZ, RA6674697, Infantry, Company "F", 65th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On 31 March 1951, near Choksong-myon, Korea, Company "F" was attacking Hill 398, defended by a firmly entrenched enemy supported by mortars. At some distance from the top of the hill, the lead platoon was halted by intense machine gun fire and fragmentation grenades, suffering several casualties. When Sergeant RODRIGUEZ received the order to move his platoon to assist the stalled unit, he ran forward and led his troops in a furious assault, causing the enemy to retreat hastily, thereby relieving the besieged lead platoon. Continuing his charge, Sergeant Rodriguez pursued the fleeing enemy and covered by friendly machine gun fire, he personally searched the area to rout any enemy troops which might have been left behind. The aggressive leadership and personal gallantry exhibited by Sergeant Rodriguez reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the military service from Puerto Rico.[7]
Later years
Rodríguez retired from the Army with the rank of Master Sergeant and went to work as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Puerto Rico. In 1979, Rodríguez went to live at the Soldier's and Airmen's Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. In 1977, he had a stroke and other medical complications including the loss of his left leg.[3][8] Rodríguez died on October 19, 1999, at the age of 88, from a heart attack. He was buried with full military honors at the Arlington National Cemetery. He was married to Asuncion Toro with whom he had five children.[3][8]
Military awards and decorations
Among Rodríguez's decorations were the following:
 | ||
 | ||
 |
 |
  |
 |
 |
  |
 |
 |
 |
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Row | Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster | ||
| 2nd Row | Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster |
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal | Army Good Conduct Medal with three Good conduct loops |
| 3rd Row | American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars |
| 4th Row | World War II Victory Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star |
| 5th Row | Korean Service Medal with silver star |
United Nations Korea Medal | Korean War Service Medal |
| 6th Row | Army Presidential Unit Citation | Army Meritorious Unit Citation | Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation |
Foreign Medal The Bravery Gold Medal of Greece was given by the Government of Greece to the 65th Infantry Regiment and to the members of the regiment who fought in the Korean War.
Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece)
Congressional Gold Medal
| External video | |
|---|---|
 You can see a video of President Barack Obama awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Borinqueneers on YouTube |
On June 10, 2014, President Barack Obama, signed the legislation known as "The Borinqueneers CGM Bill" at an official ceremony. The Bill honors the 65th Infantry Regiment with the Congressional Gold Medal.[9][10][11][12]
See also
Notes
- Puerto Rico Herald
- Korean War Double Hero Reflects on Life
- Williams, Rudi (2004-03-25). "Home for Heros – Profiles". United States Department of Defense (defense.gov). Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
- Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry
- "Silver Star – Korean War – Army, A-L". Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- Rodríguez's 1st Silver Star medal citation
- Rodríguez's 2nd Silver Star medal citation
- Arlington National Cemetery
- Obama honors Puerto Rican Infantry Regiment with Congressional Gold Medal, Washington Post, June 10, 2014.
- Dan Friedman, "Puerto Rico's Borinqueneers recognized with Congressional Gold Medal," New York Daily News, June 11, 2014.
- Obama awards Borinqueneers Congressional Medal of Honor, NBC News, June 10, 2014.
- Richard Payerchin, "President Obama to honor Army's Puerto Rican regiment the Borinqueneers," The Morning Journal, June 9, 2014.