Joseph C . Rodriguez Colonel Joseph Charles Rodriguez ( November 14 , 1928 – November 1 , 2005 ) , born in San Bernardino , California , was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor - the United States ' highest military decoration for his actions near Munye - ri , Korea during the Korean War . Biography . Early years . Rodriguez , a Mexican - American , was raised in the town of San Bernardino where he also received his primary and secondary education . In October 1950 , Rodriguez was drafted into the United States Army and ordered to report for induction in his hometown . He received his basic training at Camp Carson in Colorado . There he was assigned to Company H , 2nd Battalion of the 196th Regimental Combat Team . Private Rodriguez completed his basic training in February 1951 and volunteered for duty in Korea . He was promoted to Private First Class and sent overseas and assigned to Company F , 2nd Battalion , 17th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Infantry Division . Korean War . In June 1950 , General Douglas MacArthur decided on an amphibious invasion of North Korea ' s west coast , entrusting the 1st Marine Division and the 7th Infantry Division for the mission . The division landed in Pusan and continued to drive toward the southeast to seize key terrain , and also to cut off possible enemy escape routes . On November 27 , the terrain gained by the division came under heavy attack from the Chinese Communist Forces ( CCF ) that had intervened in the war . The enemy attack caught the 7th scattered out , with some elements as far as 250 miles apart . On May 21 , 1951 , Company F was assigned the mission of occupying some high ground near the Korean village of Munye - ri . The high ground was firmly entrenched with Communist Forces , that were unwilling to give up the ground . Three times Company F attacked the ridge and three times they were thrown back . PFC Joseph C . Rodriguez was the assistant squad leader of the 2d Platoon . His squad ' s advance was halted by enemy hostile fire coming from 5 different emplacements . Rodriguez then took the mission upon himself of destroying these emplacements . He charged the emplacements and hurled grenades into each of the foxholes . Rodriguez destroyed the emplacements and annihilated 15 enemy soldiers . As a result , the enemy was routed and the strategic strongpoint secured . PFC . Rodriguez was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and nominated for the Medal of Honor . On February 5 , 1952 , President Harry S . Truman bestowed upon Sgt . Rodriguez the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held in the Rose Garden in the White House . Later years . After the Korean War , Rodriguez decided to make the military his career . He was assigned to the administrative staff at the ORC headquarters in San Bernardino . On April 24 , 1952 , Rodriguez and his fiancée Miss Rose Aranda were the invited guests on “ You Bet Your Life , ” a 1950s television gameshow hosted by Groucho Marx . The following is part of the conversation between Rodriguez and Marx in the show : In 1953 , Rodriguez married Rose and together they had three children . He subsequently became a commissioned officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers , serving more than 30 years in the U . S . , through four Latin America n assignments , and unaccompanied tours in Korea and Vietnam . In 1980 , Rodriguez retired from the Army with the rank of Colonel . Rodriguez was residing with his wife , Rose , in El Paso , Texas , at the time of his retirement . He spent the next ten years as Facilities Director at the University of Texas . He dedicated much of his time of his last fifteen years to national speech engagements addressing young people and soldiers , encouraging them to pursue their education . Colonel Joseph C . Rodriguez died on November 1 , 2005 , in El Paso and was buried with full military honors at Mountain View Cemetery in San Bernardino , California . Rodriguez is survived by his wife Rose ; his sons , Lt . Gen . Charles G . Rodriguez and Lawrence R . Rodriguez ; daughter , Karen Sharp ; 11 grandchildren ; 10 sisters and 2 brothers . Medal of Honor citation . JOSEPH C . RODRIGUEZ " Rank and organization : " Sergeant ( then Pfc . ) , U . S . Army , Company F , 17th Infantry Regiment , 7th Infantry Division . " Place and date : " Near Munye - ri , Korea , May 21 , 1951 . " Entered service at : " California " Born : " November 14 , 1928 , San Bernardino , Calif . " G . O . No . : 22 , February 5 , 1952 . " Citation : " Sgt . Rodriguez , distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations . Sgt . Rodriguez , an assistant squad leader of the 2d Platoon , was participating in an attack against a fanatical hostile force occupying well - fortified positions on rugged commanding terrain , when his squad ' s advance was halted within approximately 60 yards by a withering barrage of automatic weapons and small - arms fire from 5 emplacements directly to the front and right and left flanks , together with grenades which the enemy rolled down the hill toward the advancing troops . Fully aware of the odds against him , Sgt . Rodriguez leaped to his feet , dashed 60 yards up the fire - swept slope , and , after lobbing grenades into the first foxhole with deadly accuracy , ran around the left flank , silenced an automatic weapon with 2 grenades and continued his whirlwind assault to the top of the peak , wiping out 2 more foxholes and then , reaching the right flank , he tossed grenades into the remaining emplacement , destroying the gun and annihilating its crew . Sgt . Rodriguez ' intrepid actions exacted a toll of 15 enemy dead and , as a result of his incredible display of valor , the defense of the opposition was broken , and the enemy routed , and the strategic strongpoint secured . His unflinching courage under fire and inspirational devotion to duty reflect highest credit on himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service . Awards and recognitions . Among Joseph C . Rodriguez ' s decorations and medals were the following : Badges :