Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Place: Near Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam
DE LA GARZA, EMILIO A., JR.
Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company E, 2nd
Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Place: Near Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam
Date: 11 April 1970
Entered service at: Chicago, Illinois
Born: 23 June 1949, East Chicago, Indiana
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner with Company
E.
Returning with his squad from a night ambush operation, L/Cpl. De La Garza joined his platoon commander and another marine in searching for 2 enemy soldiers who had been observed fleeing for cover toward a small pond. Moments later, he located 1 of the enemy soldiers hiding among the reeds and brush. As The 3 marines attempted to remove the resisting soldier from the pond, L/Cpl. De La Garza observed him pull the pin on a grenade. Shouting a warning, L/Cpl. De La Garza placed himself between the other 2 marines and the ensuing blast from the grenade, thereby saving the lives of his comrades at the sacrifice of his life. By his prompt and decisive action, and his great personal valor in the face of almost certain death, L/Cpl. De La Garza upheld and further enhanced the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---General / Personal---
Last name: DE LA GARZA
First name: EMILIO A JR
Home of Record (official): EAST CHICAGO
State (official): IN
Date of Birth: Thursday, June 23, 1949
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Married
---Military---
Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: LCPL
Serial Number: 313526485
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E3
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 0331
---Action---
Start of Tour: Monday, July 28, 1969
Date of Casualty: Saturday, April 11, 1970
Age at time of loss: 20
Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died
Reason: Other explosive device (Ground casualty)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Quang Nam
The Wall: Panel 12W - Row 121
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Back to: Medal Of Honor Recipients