# Jay R. Vargas

Jay R. Vargas (born July 29, 1938) is a retired United States Marine Corps colonel who served in the Vietnam War. He received the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" in 1968.
Vargas is one of four brothers who has served in combat in the United States Armed Forces in time of war – World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

## Education

Vargas attended high school in Winslow, Arizona, where he was born. He graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1962 with a B.S. Degree in education and completed a Master of Arts degree with "Honors" at U.S International University in San Diego, California.

## Marine Corps career

After completing The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in June 1963, Vargas was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. For his actions in the Battle of Dai Do, Republic of Vietnam in 1968 as a captain, Vargas was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard M. Nixon in a May 1970 ceremony at the White House. He is also a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, the Command and Staff College, Quantico, Virginia, and the National War College, Washington, D.C.
Vargas served as a weapons and rifle platoon commander; rifle company executive officer; three times as a rifle company commander (two of which were in combat); S-3 operations officer; recruit depot series commander; instructor, Staff Planning School, LFTCPAC; headquarters company commander, 3rd Marine Division; commanding officer and executive officer, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division; commanding officer of the 7th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton from 10 August 1984 to 29 May 1986; aide-de-camp to the deputy commanding general, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Marine officer instructor, NROTC Unit, University of New Mexico; head, Operations Branch, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.; and as the assistant chief of staff, G-4, 1st Marine Amphibious Force.
After almost thirty years of service, Vargas retired from the Marine Corps in 1992 as a colonel.

## Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor citation:
   The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
   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 Commanding Officer, Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam from 30 April to 2 May 1968. On 1 May 1968, though suffering from wounds he had incurred while relocating his unit under heavy enemy fire the preceding day, Major (then Captain) Vargas combined Company G with two other companies and led his men in an attack on the fortified village of Dai Do. Exercising expert leadership, he maneuvered his Marines across 700 meters of open rice paddy while under intense enemy mortar, rocket and artillery fire and obtained a foothold in two hedgerows on the enemy perimeter, only to have elements of his company become pinned down by the intense enemy fire. Leading his reserve platoon to the aid of his beleaguered men, Major Vargas inspired his men to renew their relentless advance, while destroying a number of enemy bunkers. Again wounded by grenade fragments, he refused aid as he moved about the hazardous area reorganizing his unit into a strong defense perimeter at the edge of the village. Shortly after the objective was secured, the enemy commenced a series of counterattacks and probes which lasted throughout the night but were unsuccessful as the gallant defenders of Company G stood firm in their hard-won enclave. Reinforced the following morning, the Marines launched a renewed assault through Dai Do on the village of Dinh To, to which the enemy retaliated with a massive counterattack resulting in hand-to-hand combat. Major Vargas remained in the open, encouraging and rendering assistance to his Marines when he was hit for the third time in the three-day battle. Observing his battalion commander sustain a serious wound, he disregarded his excruciating pain, crossed the fire-swept area and carried his commander to a covered position, then resumed supervising and encouraging his men simultaneously assisting in organizing the battalion's perimeter defense. His gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marines Corps and the United States Naval Service.
   /S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

## Later years

After leaving the military, Vargas, a Republican, served as the Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs from 1993 to 1998. On July 9, 2001, he was appointed to the position of Regional Veterans Liaison for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony J. Principi. He served in this position until January 2009.

## Family

Jay Vargas--the son of an Italian mother and Hispanic father who came to the United States in 1917--is one of four brothers who has served in the United States Armed Forces in time of war. Like Vargas, each of his brothers are decorated veterans — Angelo served at Iwo Jima in World War II; Frank fought on Okinawa in World War II; and Joseph served in the Korean War. In honor of his mother, Vargas had her name engraved on his Medal of Honor. She died before he received his Medal of Honor; he requested that her name be engraved on the medal and be added to the rolls. As such, the actual recorded recipient of this Medal of Honor is "VARGAS, M. Sando."

## Military awards

Vargas' military decorations and awards include:
| 1st Row | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor | Medal of Honor |
| 2nd Row | Silver Star | Silver Star | Silver Star | Silver Star | Purple Heart w/ four 5⁄16" gold stars | Purple Heart w/ four 5⁄16" gold stars | Purple Heart w/ four 5⁄16" gold stars | Purple Heart w/ four 5⁄16" gold stars | Meritorious Service Medal | Meritorious Service Medal | Meritorious Service Medal | Meritorious Service Medal |
| 3rd Row | Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation | National Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star | National Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star | National Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star | National Defense Service Medal w/ one 3⁄16" bronze star |
| 4th Row | Vietnam Service Medal w/ four 3⁄16" bronze stars | Vietnam Service Medal w/ four 3⁄16" bronze stars | Vietnam Service Medal w/ four 3⁄16" bronze stars | Vietnam Service Medal w/ four 3⁄16" bronze stars | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Silver Star and Palm | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Silver Star and Palm | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Silver Star and Palm | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Silver Star and Palm | Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 1960- device | Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 1960- device | Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 1960- device | Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 1960- device |