Candido Colon-Fonseca

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Candido Colon-Fonseca (RA10405562), Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On 12 December 1950, Sergeant Colon-Fonseca was sent with the second platoon of Company L, as platoon sergeant, to take the village of Haton-ni Korea, about four miles from the company command post. When Sergeant Colon-Fonseca and his platoon crossed the river just in front of the village, they were met with an extremely heavy fire from small arms, machine guns, mortars in the hands of a numerically superior, well entrenched enemy. Receiving an order to withdraw, Sergeant Colon-Fonseca, without regard for his own personal safety, took an exposed position and, with two other men, kept delivering fire on the enemy to cover the platoon’s withdrawal. After dark he was able to neutralize the enemy machine guns with his rifle and hand grenades. During the battle one of his two companions, a Republic of Korea soldier, was wounded and Sergeant Colon-Fonseca, after giving him first aid, carried him more than four miles to safety. Sergeant Colon- Fonseca’s gallantry, personal courage, and disregard for his own safety reflect grant credit upon himself and the military service.