Arcadio Santiago-Rodriguez

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Arcadio Santiago-Rodriguez (ER30432991), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On 27 April 1951, near Hongbok, Korea, while approaching through a pass, a reinforced enemy battalion was fired on by the 3d Platoon, Company K, which had taken a blocking position astride the pass. When his squad leader was mortally wounded, Private Santiago-Rodriguez voluntarily assumed command of the squad. Receiving orders to withdraw he organized the squad and led it to more tenable positions. During a later assault to drive the enemy from the ridge, Private Santiago-Rodriguez volunteered to carry a wounded comrade to safety. Suddenly encountering five enemy soldiers, he placed his wounded comrade on the ground, and opened fire on the enemy, After killing four hostile troops, he captured the fifth and forced him to evacuate the wounded man to the battalion aid station. The gallantry and initiative displayed by Private Santiago-Rodriguez reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.