List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients

The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War. It is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal it is commonly presented after the recipient has been killed (posthumously).

Forty-four men of Hispanic heritage have been presented the Medal of Honor. Two were presented to members of the United States Navy. Thirteen to members of the United States Marine Corps. Twenty-nine to members of the United States Army. Twenty-five Medals of Honor were presented posthumously.

The first recipient was Corporal Joseph H. De Castro of the Union Army for his actions at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 3, 1863. He earned his in the American Civil War. The most recent recipient is Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry for his actions in Afghanistan. Corporal De Castro was a member of the Massachusetts Infantry. This militia was not part of the "regular" army. Private David Bennes Barkley was a member of the regular army during World War I and has been recognized as the Army's first Hispanic Medal of Honor recipient.Medal of Honor recipient of Hispanic Heritage , Hispanic America USA, Retrieved December 31, 2012 In 1864, Seaman John Ortega became the first Hispanic member of the U.S. Navy to receive the Medal of Honor and in 1900, Private France Silva became the first person of Hispanic descent in the U.S. Marine Corps to receive the medal.Local hero no longer forgotten, RetrievedDecember 31, 2012 

Ten recipients were born outside the United States mainland. One each in Chile and Spain. Four in Mexico and four in Puerto Rico. Seaman Philip Bazaar from Chile received the medal in January 1865 and Seaman John Ortega from Spain in December 1865. The first native Mexican recipient was Staff Sergeant Marcario Garcia and the first Puerto Rican was PFC Fernando Luis Garcia.Puerto Rican Medal of Honor recipients , Oakland Tribune, Retrieved December 31, 2012 1st Lt. Rudolph B. Davila, of Hispanic-Filipino descent, was the only person of Filipino ancestry to receive the medal for his actions in the war in Europe during World War II. Private Joe P. Martinez was the first Hispanic-American recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for combat heroism on American soil during the same conflict.22 Asian Americans Inducted into Hall of Heroes, El Boricua, Retrieved December 31, 2012 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez, is the only Hispanic graduate of the United States Naval Academy recipient of the Medal of Honor.1st Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, USMC , Association of Naval Services Officers, Retrieved December 31, 2012 Captain Humbert Roque Versace was the first recipient of the Medal of Honor to be given to an Army POW for his actions during captivity in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.Mishalov, Neil; Versace MoH Citation  excerpts from:The Washington Post, July 8, 2002; By Steve Vogel, The Washington Times; July 4, 2002; By Ellen Sorokin; The Washington Post; May 27, 2001; Stars and Stripes; January 18, 2001; By Dave Eberhart, Stars and Stripes Veterans Affairs Editor, Stars and Stripes; July 18, 2000; By Dave Eberhart, Stars and Stripes Veterans Affairs Editor and Stars and Stripes; Oct 7, 2000; By Mike Faber, Stars and Stripes Contributing Writer, Retrieved December 31, 2012

Terminology
Hispanic is an ethnic term employed to categorize any citizen or resident of the United States. They can be of any racial background, of any country, and of any religion, who has at least one ancestor from the people of Spain. They can also be of non-Hispanic origin but has an ancestor from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central or South America, or other Hispanic origin. The three largest Hispanic groups in the United States are the Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans.Hispanic Population of the United States: Current Population - Survey Definition and Background, United States Census Bureau, November 2, 2000, Retrieved December 31, 2012

American Civil War
Three Hispanic Americans earned the Medal of Honor during the American Civil War. Two were sailors of the Union Navy and one was a soldier of the 19th Massachusetts Infantry.

ImageName RankBranchUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes/ReferenceNavyMassachusetts, Assault on Fort Fisher"As one of a boat crew detailed to one of the generals on shore, O.S. Bazaar bravely entered the fort in the assault and accompanied his party in carrying dispatches at the height of the battle. He was 1 of 6 men who entered the fort in the assault from the fleet"ArmyCompany I, 19th Massachusetts InfantryGettysburg, PennsylvaniaAttacked a confederate flag bearer from the 19th Virginia Infantry regiment and captured their flag.NavyWas a member of a landing party who made several raids in August and September 1864 which resulted in the capture of many confederate prisoners and the taking or destruction of substantial quantities of ordnance, ammunition, and supplies. A number of buildings, bridges, and salt works were also destroyed during the expedition

Boxer rebellion
During the Boxer rebellion only one Hispanic American received the Medal of Honor and that was France Silva who earned it for "distinguishing himself for meritorious conduct".

ImageName RankBranchUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes/Reference Marine CorpsPeking, China–For distinguishing himself by meritorlous conduct

World War I
ImageName RankBranchUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes/ReferenceArmyCompany A, 356th Infantry,89th DivisionNear Pouilly, FranceVolunteered to swim a river to gather information on an enemy force. When he was swimming back across the river he got cramps and drowned.

World War II

ImageNameBranchRank UnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes/ReferenceStaff SergeantArmy30th Infantry, 3d Infantry DivisionSt. Die, France"[P]ersonally killed 9 Germans, eliminated 3 enemy machineguns, vanquished a specialized force which was armed with automatic weapons and grenade launchers, cleared the woods of hostile elements, and reopened the severed supply lines to the assault companies of his battalion."Staff SergeantArmyCompany H, 7th InfantryArtena, ItalyRisked his life to defeat an attacking force of enemy soldiers.  Staff SergeantArmyCompany B, 22d Infantry, 4th Infantry DivisionNear Grosshau, Germany"While an acting squad leader, he single-handedly assaulted two enemy machine gun emplacements" Private First ClassMarine Corps4th Battalion, 15th Marines6th Marine DivisionRyūkyū Chain, OkinawaSacrificed his life to smother a grenade with his bodyPrivate First Class ArmyCompany A, 127th Infantry, 32 Infantry DivisionVilla Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine IslandsWas killed in action in the Philippines while digging out fellow soldiers who had been buried in a bomb explosionPrivate First ClassArmyCompany E, 142d Infantry, 36th Infantry DivisionNear Mertzwiller, FranceInjured in action while charging an enemy stronghold resulting in the capture of eight enemy soldiersSergeantArmy2d Infantry DivisionNear Krinkelt, BelgiumSingle-handedly repulsed a German infantry attack, killing at least 100 enemy troopsPrivateArmyCompany K, 32d Infantry, 7th Infantry DivisionAttu, AleutiansKilled in action while participating in the defeat of enemy forces in a snow covered mountain.Private First ClassArmyCompany A 511th Parachute Infantry, 11th Airborne DivisionFort William McKinley, Luzon, Philippine IslandsKilled 18 enemy soldiers and that they were in so his company could advancePrivateArmyCompany B, 148th Infantry, 37th DivisionPaco Railroad Station, Manila, Philippine IslandsWith another soldier, who was killed in the action, killed more than 82 Japanese, completely disorganized their defense, and allowed for the enemy to be defeatedePrivate First ClassArmy165th Infantry, 27th Infantry DivisionOkinawaRisked his life to eliminate an enemy pillbox and kill the 12 enemy soldiers who were occupying itPrivate First ClassArmyCompany B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry DivisionRosenkrantz, FranceStaff SergeantArmyCompany F, 127th Infantry, 32d Infantry DivisionVilla Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands

Korean War

ImageName RankBranchUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes/ReferencePrivate First ClassMarine CorpsCompany I3rd Battalion, 5th Marines1st Marine DivisionKoreaPrivate First ClassMarine CorpsCompany E2nd Battalion, 1st Marines1st Marine DivisionKajon-ni, Korea Staff SergeantMarine CorpsCompany F2nd Battalion, 7th Marines1st Marine DivisionSonguch-on, Korea CorporalArmyCompany G, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat TeamNear Wontong-ni, KoreaFirst LieutenantMarine CorpsCompany A1st Battalion, 5th Marines1st Marine DivisionInchon Landing, Korea CorporalArmyCompany A, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry DivisionSatacri, Korea Private First ClassMarine CorpsCompany G3rd Battalion, 5th Marines1st Marine DivisionBattle of Seoul Private First ClassArmyCompany F, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry DivisionNear Munye-ri, Korea

Vietnam War

ImageNameRankBranchUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes/Reference Specialist FourArmyCompany D, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry DivisionPhuoc Long Province90pxMaster SergeantArmyDetachment B-56, 5th Special ForcesLoc Ninh, VietnamLance CorporalMarine CorpsCompany E2nd Battalion, 1st MarinesDa NangPrivate First ClassMarine Corps1st Battalion, 7th MarinesQuang Nam ProvinceSpecialist FourArmyCompany C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry (Mechanized) 25th Infantry DivisionHau Nghia ProvinceSergeantMarine CorpsCompany A1st Battalion, 1st MarinesHue City90px|alt=A head and shoulders portrait of a young, cleanshaven man, wearing a formal military uniform and a hat.Lance CorporalMarine CorpsCompany K3rd Battalion, 7th Marines1st Marine DivisionQuang Nam Province90px|alt=alt=A head and shoulders portrait of a young, cleanshaven man with dark hair, wearing a formal military uniform and a hat.Lance CorporalMarine CorpsIII Marine Amphibious ForceQuang Ngai ProvincePrivate First ClassArmyCompany A, 2nd Battalion, 502d Infantry, 173d Airborne BrigadeDak To90px|alt=A head and upper body portrait of a middle-aged, cleanshaven man with dark hair, wearing a formal military uniform with many medals on the front. A five-pointed gold star hangs from a blue ribbon around his neck.Specialist FourArmyReconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne),503rd Infantry,173d Airborne BrigadeRepublic of Vietnam90px|alt=A head and shoulders portrait of a cleanshaven man with dark hair, wearing a military uniform.Sergeant First ClassArmyAdvisory Team 162, United States Military Assistance CommandNortheast of Katum, Republic of VietnamCaptainArmyHeadquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry DivisionTay Ninh Province90px|alt=A head and torso portrait of a man wearing a helmet and military uniform.Specialist FourArmyCompany B, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (airmobile)Quang Tri ProvinceSergeant First ClassArmyCompany C, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry DivisionRepublic of VietnamCaptainMarine CorpsCompany G2nd Battalion, 4th Marines9th Marine Amphibious BrigadeDai Do–90px|alt=A head and shoulders portrait of a young, cleanshaven man with dark hair, wearing a military uniform. He is smiling broadly.CaptainArmyDetachment A-23, 5th Special Forces GroupAn Xuyen Province–First SergeantArmyCompany A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry DivisionNear Phu Hoa Dong
War in Afghanistan
ImageName RankBranchUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes/Reference100pxArmy75th Ranger RegimentAfghanistan An enemy threw a grenade at their position which landed 10 meters from them; it detonated, knocked them to the ground, wounded Higgins, and Robinson was further wounded. Shortly thereafter the three were joined by SSG James Roberts and SPC Christopher Gathercole. Another grenade was thrown by an enemy which landed a few feet from Higgins and Robinson. Petry, knowing the risk to his life, moved toward the grenade, picked it up, and attempted to throw it in the direction of the enemy.

By military branch
+ Awards by branch of service MilitarybranchPosthumouslyIn person Number ofawards Army141529Marines11213Navy022Total251944
Note: The information in "Awards by branch of service Table" is based on the sourced information on the "List of Recipients Table".

References

Other websites
Hispanic Medal of Honor Society Listing of Hispanics who received the Medal of Honor and those who are listed as nominees. 

 Eugene A. Obregon Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial Foundation , dedicated to financing and constructing a monument to honor the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients of Latino descent.

. (Original air date: September 20, 2005)

Category:Lists of Medal of Honor recipients