Jay R . Vargas Jay R . Vargas ( born July 29 , 1938 ) , a retired United States Marine Corps colonel , is a Medal of Honor recipient for his " conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty " during the Vietnam War . 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 . Military service . After completing The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico , Virginia , in June 1963 , he was assigned to the 1st Battalion , 5th Marines , 1st Marine Division . 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 ; 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 . For his actions at Dai Do , Republic of Vietnam in 1968 as a major , Vargas was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard M . Nixon in a May 1970 ceremony at the White House . After almost thirty years of service , Vargas retired from the Marine Corps in 1992 as a colonel . Later life . After leaving the military , Vargas 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 U . S . Department of Veterans Affairs ( VA ) by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs , Anthony J . Principi . Family . Jay Vargas 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 , Iwo Jima , World War II ; Frank , Okinawa , World War II ; and Joseph , 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 . " Awards and decorations . Vargas ' military decorations include : the Medal of Honor , the Silver Star , the Purple Heart with four Gold Stars , the Meritorious Service Medal , the Combat Action Ribbon , the Navy Unit Commendation ribbon , the National Defense Service Medal , the Vietnam Service Medal w / four Bronze Stars , the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Star and Palm , and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal . Vargas is one of a few recipients in the United States to be awarded the American Academy of Achievement ’ s " Golden Plate Award " presented to national leaders in all professional fields . He has also received the National Collegiate Athletic Association ' s Commemorative Plaque presented by the United States Collegiate Athletic Directors and Coaches , in Houston , Texas , for excelling in collegiate athletics and having made a significant contribution to his country . 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 MAJOR JAY R . VARGAS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : / S / RICHARD M . NIXON