Question: What date was the first action that resulted in a Hispanic member of the Marine Corps receiving the Medal of Honor ?

text: List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
Korean War

The Medal of Honor was introduced during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously. Sixty men of Hispanic heritage have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Of the sixty Medals of Honor presented to Hispanics, two were presented to members of the United States Navy, thirteen to members of the United States Marine Corps and forty-six to members of the United States Army. Forty-two Medals of Honor were presented posthumously. The first recipient was Corporal Joseph H. De Castro of the Union Army for his actions at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 3, 1863, during the American Civil War and the most recent recipient is Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry for his actions in Afghanistan. Corporal De Castro was a member of the Massachusetts Infantry, a militia that was not part of the regular army; however, Private David Bennes Barkley was a member of the regular army during World War I and has been recognized as the Army's first Hispanic Medal of Honor recipient. In 1864, Seaman John Ortega became the first Hispanic member of the U.S. Navy to receive the Medal of Honor and in 1900, Private France Silva became the first person of Hispanic descent in the U.S. Marine Corps to receive the medal. President Barack Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to 17 Hispanics on a March 18, 2014 in a ceremony in the White House. The award comes through the National Defense Authorization Act which called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans from WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor. Fifteen recipients were born outside the United States mainland, one each in Chile and Spain, five in Mexico and eight in Puerto Rico.
Name Rank Branch Unit Place of action Date of action
Joe R. Baldonado Corporal Army Company B , 1st Battalion , 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team , 11th Airborne Division Kangdong , North Korea Nov. 25 , 1950
Victor H. Espinoza Corporal Army Company A , 1st Battalion , 23d Infantry Regiment , 2d Infantry Division Chorwon , North Korea Aug. 1 , 1952
Fernando Luis García * Private first class Marine Corps Company I 3rd Battalion , 5th Marines 1st Marine Division Korea September 5 , 1952
Edward Gomez * Private first class Marine Corps Company E 2nd Battalion , 1st Marines 1st Marine Division Kajon-ni , Korea September 14 , 1951
Eduardo C. Gomez Sergeant Army Company I , 3d Battalion , 8th Cavalry Regiment ( Infantry ) , 1st Cavalry Division Tabu-dong , South Korea Sept. 3 , 1950
Ambrosio Guillen * Staff sergeant Marine Corps Company F 2nd Battalion , 7th Marines 1st Marine Division Songuch-on , Korea July 25 , 1953
Rodolfo P. Hernandez Corporal Army Company G , 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team Near Wontong-ni , Korea May 31 , 1951
Baldomero Lopez * First lieutenant Marine Corps Company A 1st Battalion , 5th Marines 1st Marine Division Inchon Landing , Korea September 15 , 1950
Benito Martinez * Corporal Army Company A , 27th Infantry Regiment , 25th Infantry Division Satacri , Korea September 6 , 1952
Juan E. Negrón Master sergeant Army 65th Infantry Regiment , 3rd Infantry Division Kalma-Eri , North Korea April 28 , 1951
Eugene Arnold Obregon * Private first class Marine Corps Company G 3rd Battalion , 5th Marines 1st Marine Division Second Battle of Seoul September 26 , 1950
Mike C. Pena Master sergeant Army Company F , 2d Battalion , 5th Cavalry Regiment ( Infantry ) , 1st Cavalry Division Waegwan , South Korea Sept. 4 , 1950
Demensio Rivera Private Army Company G , 2d Battalion , 7th Infantry Regiment , 3d Infantry Division Changyong-ni , South Korea May 23 , 1951
Joseph C. Rodriguez Private first class Army Company F , 17th Infantry Regiment , 7th Infantry Division Near Munye-ri , Korea May 21 , 1951
Miguel A. Vera Private Army Company F , 2d Battalion , 38th Infantry Regiment , 2d Infantry Division Chorwon , South Korea Sept. 21 , 1952