- SURNAME
Rodriguez
- FORENAME
John E.
- UNIT
6 SF Group (Company C)
- RANK
Staff Sergeant
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
North Vietnam 1970 (Son Tay)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
home town Chandler, Arizona
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant John E. Rodriguez, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 21 November 1970 as a member of an all-volunteer joint U.S. Army and Air Force raiding force in the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed heliborne assault mission to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at Son Tay prison in North Vietnam. This valiant effort was motivated by deep compassion for his imprisoned fellow men-at-arms, and by a strong sense of military duty and national pride. Sergeant Rodriguez fought valiantly, with complete disregard for his life, while neutralizing an armed enemy within a trench line. He again exposed himself to small arms fire to distract the enemy and protect fellow members of his element. He then secured the north-south road, thereby insuring a route of withdrawal for other elements. He then secured the east side of the landing zone that was used by the ground force for extraction. Sergeant Rodriguez's conscious disregard for his personal safety, extraordinary heroism against an armed hostile force, and extreme devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/24694
Last edited by a moderator:
