Héctor Santiago - Colón Specialist Four Héctor Santiago - Colón ( December 20 , 1942 – June 28 , 1968 ) is one of five Puerto Ricans who have been posthumously presented with the Medal of Honor , the highest military decoration awarded by the United States . His actions on June 28 , 1968 during the Vietnam War saved the lives of his comrades . Early years . Santiago - Colón was one of twelve siblings born to Pablo Santiago and Petronila Colón in Salinas , Puerto Rico . There he received his primary and secondary education . In 1960 his family moved to the United States and lived in New York City . After living in the city for a short time , Santiago - Colón decided that he wanted to be part of the NYPD ( New York City Police Department ) , however , at the time , in order to become a member of the NYPD you had to be a veteran . Santiago - Colon then volunteered to join the United States Army . He was engaged to be married to his elementary school sweatheart at the time . After completing his basic training , he was assigned to a unit stationed in the Republic of Vietnam . Action in Vietnam . On June 28 , 1968 , members of Santiago - Colón ' s Company B of the 5th Battalion , 7th Cavalry , 1st Cavalry Division were engaged in combat at Quang Tri Province . An enemy ( North Vietnamese ) soldier lobbed a hand grenade into Santiago - Colón ' s foxhole . Realizing that there was no time to throw out the grenade , he tucked it in to his stomach and turning away from his comrades , absorbed the full impact of the blast , sacrificing his life to save his fellow soldiers from certain death . Santiago - Colón posthumously received the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty . The award was presented to his family in a ceremony at the White House by President Richard M . Nixon on April 7 , 1970 . His remains are buried in the city of Salinas , Puerto Rico . 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 SANTIAGO - COLON , HECTOR " Rank and organization : " Specialist Four , U . S . Army , Company B , 5th Battalion , 7th Cavalry , 1st Cavalry Division ( Airmobile ) . " Place and date : " Quang Tri Province , Republic of Vietnam , June 28 , 1968 . " Entered service at : " New York , N . Y . " Born : " December 20 , 1942 , Salinas , Puerto Rico . " Citation : " In memory . On July 1975 , The Puerto Rico National Guard renamed their training base " Camp Salinas " , which is located close to Santiago - Colón ' s birth town , with the name Camp Santiago in his honor . He was the second Puerto Rican to be so honored . The first Puerto Rican who has a base named after him is Marine PFC Fernando Luis García , who was the first Puerto Rican Medal of Honor recipient . The base is " Camp Garcia " located in the island municipality of Vieques . Santiago - Colón ' s name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located at Panel 54W Line 013 . Santiago - Colón ' s name is also inscribed in " El Monumento de la Recordación " ( Monument of Remembrance ) , dedicated to Puerto Rico ' s fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan , Puerto Rico . On November 11 , 2008 , the Government of Puerto Rico unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda the oil portrait of Santiago - Colón . Military decorations awarded . Badges :