Jose F . Jimenez Jose Francisco Jimenez ( 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 . Biography . Jose Jimenez was born on March 20 , 1946 , in Mexico City , Mexico . He attended Benito Juarez School and Jose Maria 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 . Enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve at Phoenix , Arizona on June 7 , 1968 , Jimenez 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 . Ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in February 1969 , Jimenez 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 , Quang Nam Province , on August 28 , 1969 , he was killed in action . Awards and honors . Jiminez ' s medals include : 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 . JIMENEZ 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 personally 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 weapon s 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 . / S / RICHARD M . NIXON