Emilio A . De La Garza Emilio Albert De La Garza , Jr . ( June 23 , 1949 - April 11 , 1970 ) was a United States Marine Corps lance corporal who was posthumous ly presented the nation ' s highest honor — the Medal of Honor — for his heroism in April 1970 in Vietnam . Early years . Emilio Albert De La Garza , Jr . was born on June 23 , 1949 , in East Chicago , Indiana . He graduated from E . C . Washington High School in 1968 . He was married and employed by Inland Steel Company in East Chicago ( Indiana Harbor ) , Indiana , before enlisting in the Marine Corps . Marine Corps career . De La Garza enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on February 4 , 1969 , in Chicago , Illinois . He received recruit training with the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion , Recruit Training Regiment at the MCRD San Diego , California . Upon completion of recruit training , he was ordered to the Marine Corps Base , Camp Pendleton , California , where he joined the 2nd Infantry Training Regiment ( ITR ) and underwent individual combat training with the 1st and 2nd Battalions , and weapons training with the Basic Infantry Training Battalion . Promoted to Private First Class on July 1 , 1969 , he arrived in the Republic of Vietnam on the July 25 , 1969 for duty as a machinegun team ammo carrier with Company H , 2nd Battalion , 3rd Marine Regiment , 3rd Marine Division . On September 29 , 1969 , he was reassigned to the 1st Marine Division and served as a Marine Corps exchange man with Headquarters and Service Company , 2nd Battalion , 1st Marines , until the following December . He was promoted to Lance Corporal on February 1 , 1970 . LCpl . De La Garza joined Company E , 2nd Battalion , 1st Marine Regiment , 1st Marine Division . On April 11 , 1970 , LCpl . De La Garza was serving as a machine gunner on a squad night patrol with Company E , 3rd platoon , approximately four miles south of Da Nang . The Marine rifle squad took hit and run fire in the morning and pursued the enemy . De La Garza spotted one of the VC hidden in a deep pond and went into the water with his knife taking the VC prisoner . As the VC was being brought to shore the VC pulled a hidden grenade . De La Garza yelled " Grenade " and was killed by the blast . Military Awards and Honors . Medal of Honor , Purple Heart , Combat Action Ribbon , National Defense Service Medal , Vietnam Service Medal , RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citation , RVN Campaign Medal 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 EMILIO A . DE LA GARZA , JR . 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 machine gunner with Company E , Second Battalion , First Marines , First Marine Division , in the Republic of Vietnam on April 11 , 1970 . Returning with his squad from a night ambush operation , Lance Corporal De La Garza joined his Platoon commander and another Marine in searching for two enemy soldiers who had been observed fleeing for cover toward a small pond . Moments later , he located one of the enemy soldiers hiding among the reeds and brush . As the three Marines attempted to remove the resisting soldier from the pond , Lance Corporal De La Garza observed him pull the pin on a grenade . Shouting a warning , Lance Corporal De La Garza placed himself between the other two Marines and the ensuing blast from the grenade , thereby saving the lives of his comrades at the sacrifice of his own . By his prompt and decisive action , and his great personal valor in the face of almost certain death , Lance Corporal De La Garza upheld and further enhanced the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service . / S / RICHARD M . NIXON