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Antonio Rodríguez Balinas

2025-10-30T20:12:27Z

2605:BA00:3227:E2A1:A937:337B:2667:D4ED: /* Military awards and decorations */

{{short description|United States Army general}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Antonio Rodríguez Balinas
|birth_date= February 28, 1928
|death_date= September 21, 2011
|birth_place=[[Adjuntas, Puerto Rico]]
|death_place= [[Río Piedras, Puerto Rico]]
|placeofburial=[[Puerto Rico National Cemetery]] in [[Bayamón, Puerto Rico]]
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
|image=Antonio Rodriguez Balinas.jpg
|image_size=150
|caption='''Brigadier General Antonio Rodríguez Balinas''' The first commander of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States|United States of America]]
|branch=[[File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|25px]] [[United States Army]] [[File:United States AR seal.svg|25x25px]] [[United States Army Reserve]]
|serviceyears= 1948–1980
|rank=[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|25px]] [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]]
|commands=Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command, 166th Support Group
|unit=
|battles=[[Korean War]]
|awards=[[Silver Star]] with Oak leaf cluster [[Legion of Merit]] [[Purple Heart]] with Oak Leaf Cluster
}}
Brigadier General '''Antonio Rodríguez Balinas'''<ref group=note>{{family name hatnote|'''Rodríguez'''|'''Balinas'''|lang=Spanish}}</ref> (February 28, 1928 – September 21, 2011) was the first commander of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command.

==Early years==
Rodríguez Balinas was born and raised in the town of [[Adjuntas, Puerto Rico]], where he received his primary and secondary education.

He joined the United States Army upon graduating from the [[University of Puerto Rico]], where he earned is Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Doctorate in Law from [[University of Puerto Rico School of Law]]. Rodríguez Balinas entered the [[Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)|Officer Candidate School]] program and was commissioned a [[Second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] upon completing the program. At the outbreak of the [[Korean War]], he was assigned to the [[65th Infantry Regiment]].<ref name="B">{{Cite web |url=http://borinqueneers.com/content/soldier-112 |title=Borinqueneers |access-date=2015-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414051955/http://borinqueneers.com/content/soldier-112 |archive-date=2015-04-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Korean War==
On April 23, 1951, Rodríguez Balinas, who was assigned to "F" Co., of the 65th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, defended the left flank of his company from constant enemy attacks at Ognyo-Bong, Hill 305 at a great risk to his life. He was awarded the [[Silver Star|Silver Star Medal]]<ref name="Silver Star Citations">{{cite web
|url=http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/silver_star/index.htm#Citations
|access-date=2006-12-16|title=Silver Star Citations|publisher=Korean War Educator}}</ref> and promoted to the rank of first lieutenant for his bravery. On December 23, 1951, he fearlessly walked through a lethal hail of enemy fire directly toward the hostile bunker of the enemy, hurled his [[hand grenade]]s and singlehandedly completely destroyed the enemy position and its occupants near Sorgyon-Myon, [[Korea]]. For his actions he was awarded his second [[Silver Star]] and a [[Purple Heart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.valerosos.com/1st.Lt.AntonioRodriguezBalinas.html
|access-date=2006-12-15 |title=First Lieutenant Antonio Rodriguez Balinas (Silver Star citation)
|work=65th INFANTRY REGIMENT, Silver Star}}</ref>

==Later career==

Rodríguez Balinas continued his academic education and earned a PhD degree in Law from the UPR. In March 1968, the reserve units in Puerto Rico and the [[U.S. Virgin Islands]] of the United States Army were organized into the 166th Support Group. On July 14, 1973, the then-Colonel Rodríguez Balinas took command of the 166th Support Group and was given full command and control of all USAR ([[United States Army Reserve]]) units in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. One of Colonel Rodríguez Balinas's accomplishments was to have all the missions and functions of a major U.S. Army Reserve Command under the First U.S. Army. He wanted full autonomy for the Army Reserve forces in Puerto Rico.<ref name="B"/>

In February 1977, the USAR Forces in Puerto Rico became a General Office Command with the establishment of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command with Antonio Rodríguez Balinas, who was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, as its first General Officer. In 1979, the USAR Forces in Puerto Rico were awarded the Best Major U.S. Army Reserve Command Award. Brigadier General Rodríguez Balinas held the position of General Officer until February 27, 1988, when he retired after 37 years of active and reserve duty.<ref name="B"/> He was awarded the [[Legion of Merit Medal]] upon his retirement.

In 2018 Antonio Rodríguez Balinas was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.opv.pr.gov/salon-de-la-fama/salon-de-la-fama | title=Salón de la Fama }}</ref>

==Death==
He died on September 21, 2011, in [[Río Piedras, Puerto Rico]], and was buried with [[military honors]] in the [[Puerto Rico National Cemetery]] located in the city of [[Bayamon, Puerto Rico|Bayamon]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.primerahora.com/gobernadordecretadiadeduelopormuertedeexgeneralantoniorodriguezbalinas-556269.html |title=Primera Hora |access-date=2011-11-25 |archive-date=2011-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924001728/http://www.primerahora.com/gobernadordecretadiadeduelopormuertedeexgeneralantoniorodriguezbalinas-556269.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Military awards and decorations==
Among Rodríguez Balinas' decorations were the following:
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="3"|[[File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=AFRM_with_Hourglass_Device.jpg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|colspan="3"|[[File:US Army Airborne basic parachutist badge.gif|130px]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[File:United States Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|106px]] [[File:Korean_Presidential_Unit_Citation.png|106px]]
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="12"|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Silver Star]] with 1 bronze [[Oak Leaf Cluster]]
|colspan="4"|[[Legion of Merit]]
|colspan="4"|[[Purple Heart]] with 1 bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Army Commendation Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal]]
|colspan="4"|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Korean Service Medal]] with silver star
|colspan="4"|[[Armed Forces Reserve Medal]] with bronze [[Hourglass device]]
|colspan="4"|[[United Nations Korea Medal]]
|-
|colspan="12"|[[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Parachutist badge]]
|-
|colspan="7"|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]]
|colspan="7"|[[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation]]
|}

'''Foreign decoration'''

The Bravery Gold Medal of Greece was given by the government of Greece to the 65th Infantry Regiment and to the members of the regiment who fought in the Korean War.
*[[File:Greek Cross of Valour ribbon.png|60px]]  [[Chryssoun Aristion Andrias]] (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece)
'''Congressional Gold Medal'''
{{ external media| float = left
| video1 = You can see a {{YouTube|y9u8Zy7PpR4|video}} of President [[Barack Obama]] awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Borinqueneers }}
On June 10, 2014, President [[Barack Obama]], signed the legislation known as "The Borinqueneers CGM Bill" at an official ceremony. The Bill honors the 65th Infantry Regiment with the [[Congressional Gold Medal]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/10/obama-honors-puerto-rican-infantry-regiment-with-congressional-gold-medal/ Obama honors Puerto Rican Infantry Regiment with Congressional Gold Medal, ''Washington Post,'' June 10, 2014.]</ref><ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/puerto-rico-borinqueneers-recognized-congressional-medal-article-1.1824991 Dan Friedman, "Puerto Rico's Borinqueneers recognized with Congressional Gold Medal," ''New York Daily News'', June 11, 2014.]</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/obama-awards-borinqueneers-congressional-medal-honor-n127451 Obama awards Borinqueneers Congressional Medal of Honor, ''NBC News'', June 10, 2014.]</ref><ref>[http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20140609/president-obama-to-honor-armys-puerto-rican-regiment-the-borinqueneers Richard Payerchin, "President Obama to honor Army's Puerto Rican regiment the Borinqueneers," ''The Morning Journal'', June 9, 2014.]</ref>
{{clr}}

===Silver Star citations===

{{quotation|[[File:Silver Star medal.png|70px|center]]
{{center|
<big>'''SILVER STAR'''</big> 
SECOND LIEUTENANT ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ BALINAS 
HEADQUARTERS 3D INFANTRY DIVISION 
GENERAL ORDERS # 278 - July 13, 1951 
Citation:
}}
SECOND LIEUTENANT ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ BALINAS, 01685780, Infantry, Company "F", 65th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On April 23, 1951, while occupying defensive positions on Hill 305, in the vicinity of Ognyo-bong, Korea, Company "F" was subjected to a furious attack by an estimated 300 enemy. During the ensuing attack, Lieutenant RODRIGUEZ BALINAS, leader of the Second Platoon, continuously moved through withering hostile fire, encouraging and directing his men. Upon learning that the platoon's left flank was exposed, he personally went to the imperiled position to evaluate the situation and later returned with a squad to reinforce the weakened flank. Although the supply of ammunition was becoming critically low, he determinedly fought on until a re- supply of ammunition arrived. Lieutenant RODRIGUEZ BALINAS'S gallantry under fire inspired the members of his unit to contain the enemy attack and reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the military service from Puerto Rico.<ref name="Silver Star Citations"/>}}

{{quotation|[[File:Silver Star medal.png|70px|center]]
{{center|
<big>'''SILVER STAR'''</big> 
FIRST LIEUTENANT ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ BALINAS 
HEADQUARTERS 3D INFANTRY DIVISION 
GENERAL ORDERS # 197 - MAY 29, 1952 
Citation:
}}

First Lieutenant Antonio Rodriguez Balinas, # 01685780, Infantry, Company "F", 65th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On December 23, 1951, Company "G", reinforced by the weapons platoon of Company "F", attacked heavily fortified hostile positions on Hill 200, near Sangyon-Myon, Korea. Lieutenant Rodriguez Balinas, platoon leader of the weapons platoon, attached himself to the assault platoon in order to direct close support fire from the mortars and 57 millimeter rifles of his platoon. After the supporting fire was lifted, he joined the assault platoon in its attack on the well entrenched enemy. Firing his carbine and throwing hand grenades, he effectively destroyed one hostile position. During the course of this vicious fighting, Lieutenant Rodriguez Balinas lost his carbine but, armed with only two hand grenades, he undauntedly charged another position manned by an enemy machine gun crew. He fearlessly walked through the lethal hail of fire directly toward the hostile bunker, hurled his hand grenades and completely destroyed the position and its occupants. Although painfully wounded in this action, he refused evacuation until the last of the wounded men had been removed to safety. Lieutenant Rodriguez Balinas' outstanding gallantry and inspirational leadership were instrumental in the success of the mission and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the Federal Service from Puerto Rico.<ref name="Silver Star Citations"/>}}

==Notes==
<references group=note/>

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own|first=Greg|last=Boudonck|date=15 March 2014|isbn=978-1497352568|publisher=CreateSpace}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Puerto Rico}}
*[[List of Puerto Ricans]]
*[[List of Puerto Rican military personnel]]
*[[65th Infantry Regiment (United States)|65th Infantry Regiment]]
*[[Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite news
|url=http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/vol4n26/Profile65th-en.shtml
|title=Puerto Rico Profile: The 65th Infantry Regiment in Korea
|date=June 30, 2000
|work=Puerto Rico Herald
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051220054029/http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/vol4n26/Profile65th-en.shtml
|archive-date=December 20, 2005
}}

==External links==
*{{cite web
|url = http://www.armyreserve.army.mil/USARC/RRC/0065RRC/0065_RRC_History.htm
|access-date = 2006-12-15
|title = 65th Regional Readiness Command - History
|publisher = United States Army
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070719084431/http://www.armyreserve.army.mil/USARC/RRC/0065RRC/0065_RRC_History.htm
|archive-date = 2007-07-19
|url-status = dead
}}

*{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/65rsc.htm
|access-date=2006-12-15
|title=65th Regional Readiness Command
|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061214001416/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/65rsc.htm| archive-date= 14 December 2006 | url-status= live}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez Balinas, Antonio}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials at Puerto Rico National Cemetery]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican Army personnel]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican military officers]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:United States Army reservists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:People from Adjuntas, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:University of Puerto Rico alumni]]

Modesto Cartagena

2025-10-30T20:03:31Z

2605:BA00:3227:E2A1:A937:337B:2667:D4ED:

{{short description|Recipient of the Purple Heart medal}}
{{family name hatnote|Cartagena|de Jesús|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Modesto Cartagena
|birth_date= {{birth date|mf=yes|1921|7|21}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|mf=yes|2010|3|2|1921|7|21}}
|birth_place= [[Cayey, Puerto Rico]]
|death_place= [[Guayama, Puerto Rico]]
|placeofburial= [[Puerto Rico National Cemetery]] in [[Bayamón, Puerto Rico]]
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
|image=ModestoCartagena3.jpg
|image_size=130
|caption=Sergeant First Class Modesto Cartagena
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States|United States of America]]
|branch= [[File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|25px]] [[United States Army]]
|serviceyears=1942–1945 1947–1971
|rank=[[File:Army-USA-OR-07.svg|20px]] [[Sergeant first class]]
|commands=
|unit= [[65th Infantry]]
|battles= [[World War II]] [[Korean War]]
|awards= [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] [[Silver Star]] [[Legion of Merit]] [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] (2) [[Purple Heart]]
|laterwork=
}}
[[Sergeant First Class]] '''Modesto Cartagena de Jesús''' (July 21, 1921 – March 2, 2010) was a member of the [[United States Army]] who served in the [[65th Infantry Regiment]], a military regiment consisting of Puerto Rican enlisted soldiers and officers from the continental United States also known as "[[The Borinqueneers]]," during [[World War II]] and the [[Korean War]], becoming the most decorated Hispanic soldier in that war. He is considered the most decorated Puerto Rican soldier of the Korean War.<ref name="CB">[http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=68982&ct_id=1 Caribbean Business]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Roman 2016 p. 152">{{cite book | last=Roman | first=J.R. | title=Voices of the Puerto Rican Middle Class in America | publisher=ROSEDOG BOOKS | year=2016 | isbn=978-1-4809-6719-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P6enDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA152 | access-date=August 9, 2019 | page=152}}</ref>

==Early years==
Cartagena was born in a poor family, and raised in the mountains of [[Cayey, Puerto Rico]] during the [[Great Depression]]. In 1940, Cartagena enlisted in the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]] and was assigned to the [[65th Infantry]], also known as [[The Borinqueneers]] because, with the exception of the officer staff, it was made up of Puerto Rican enlisted men. During [[World War II]], he was assigned to Company L, 65 Infantry Regiment and was deployed to Europe with the unit. His Third Battalion was assigned to the [[Seventh United States Army]] and arrived at the [[Maritime Alps]] in 1944 to maintain positions and prevent enemy penetration. The Regimental Commander, Col. George A. Ford, was leading a patrol of 11 men with the mission of capturing a German prisoner. Ford went ahead of his men into the heavily-protected German lines held by the [[34th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)]] and was killed along with Corporal Aristides Cales-Quiros, who was later awarded a posthumous Silver Star medal. During the machine gun attack, Cartagena gave the sign to "hold and pin down" and ordered firing at the German cable house. He also gave first aid and helped remove the wounded. For this heroic deed, he earned his first [[Bronze Star]] for Valor medal. Cartagena was discharged after the 65th Infantry Regiment returned to Puerto Rico in 1945.<ref name="CB"/><ref>[http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=14012 Modesto Cartagena, the most decorated Hispanic soldier of the Korean War: National Archives]</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Modesto Cartagena, Hero of Korea, Is Dead at 87 (Published 2010) |work=The New York Times |date=5 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114010750/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/us/05cartagena.html?_r=0 |archive-date=2018-11-14 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/us/05cartagena.html?_r=0 |last1=Goldstein |first1=Richard }}</ref>

==Korean War==
[[File:Company c.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Company "C" on patrol]]
Cartagena reenlisted in the Army in 1947 and was serving in Company H, 65th Infantry Regiment when he participated in Operation "PORTREX" [[65th Infantry Regiment (United States)]] which took place in Vieques. Upon the outbreak of the Korean War, Cartagena was assigned to Company C, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division and sent to Korea.<ref name="Villahermosa Assoc Center of Military History 2009 p. 37">{{cite book | last1=Villahermosa | first1=G.N. | last2=Assoc | first2=B. | author3=Center of Military History | title=Honor and Fidelity: The 65th Infantry in Korea, 1950-1953 | publisher=Center of Military History, United States Army | year=2009 | isbn=978-0-16-083324-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9n6DAEV1ZvEC&pg=PA37 | access-date=August 9, 2019 | page=37}}</ref>

The men of the 65th, now attached to the army's 3d Infantry Division, were among the first infantrymen to meet the enemy on the battlefields of Korea. After November, 1950, they fought daily against units of the Chinese [[People's Liberation Army]] after the Chinese entered the war on the North Korean side. One of the hardships suffered by the Puerto Ricans was the lack of warm clothing during the cold and harsh winters.<ref name="valerosos">[http://www.valerosos.com/65thJacksonHeights2.html The 65th Infantry at Jackson Heights-Why?, by Lt. Col. Baltazer Soto], retrieved September 8, 2007</ref> Among the battles and operations in which the 65th participated was ''[[Operation Killer]]'' in January 1951, becoming the first regiment to cross the [[Han River (Korea)|Han River]] in South Korea during the operation. In April 1951, the Regiment participated in the Uijonbu Corridor drives.<ref name="OK">{{cite web |url=http://mervino.com/window/IBB/map65th.html |title=Outpost Kelly |access-date=October 10, 2006 }}</ref>

He earned the nickname "One Man Army".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2014/09/19/modesto-cartagena-the-most-decorated-hispanic-soldier-of-the-korean-war/|title=Modesto Cartagena, the most decorated Hispanic soldier of the Korean War|date=2014-09-19|work=Pieces of History|access-date=2017-10-11|language=en-US}}</ref> On April 19, 1951, Cartagena, "with no regard for his own safety," as the official record states, left his position and charged directly into devastating enemy fire, single-handedly destroying two enemy emplacements on Hill 206 near "Yonch'on," [[North Korea]]. After taking out the emplacements, he was knocked to the ground twice by exploding enemy grenades. Nevertheless, he got up and attacked three more times, each time destroying an enemy emplacement until he was wounded. On October 19, 2002, during a ceremony honoring the 65th Infantry, when he was asked about the battle, Cartagena responded that he just hurled back at the [[China|Chinese]] the grenades thrown at him. He thought that the rest of the squad was behind him, and didn't realize most of them had been wounded and forced to take cover. Later they found 33 dead Chinese in the machine gun and automatic emplacements and they found 15 more dead in the positions he had destroyed on his way up the hill.<ref name="OK"/> Cartagena, who had lost a lot of blood, was sent to Taibu in a helicopter and then to Japan to the 128th Station Hospital<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usarj.army.mil/units/meddac/aboutus/ |title = About Us}}</ref> where he was hospitalized for 62 days. According to 1st Lt. Reinaldo Deliz Santiago: {{quotebox|"Sgt. Cartagena's actions prevented much heavier casualties within my platoon and I feel that his courage and superior leadership and own initiative were decisive factors for the accomplishment of the mission of the unit"<ref>[http://www.valerosos.com/ModestoCartagena-MedalofHonor.html Medal of Honor]</ref>}}

Cartagena initially was awarded a [[Silver Star]] which was later upgraded to the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]], the second-highest military decoration of the United States Army (second to the Medal of Honor), awarded for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force.<ref name="Dolcater 1953 p. ">{{cite book | last=Dolcater | first=M.W. | title=3d Infantry Division in Korea | publisher=3d Infantry Division | year=1953 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3YjxAAAAMAAJ | access-date=August 9, 2019 }}</ref>

==Distinguished Service Cross citation==

{{quotebox|[[File:Army distinguished service cross medal.png|90px|center]]
{{center|<big>'''Cartagena, Modesto'''</big>}}
{{center|''Citation:''}}

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Modesto Cartagena (RA10404100), Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Sergeant Cartagena distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Yonch'on, Korea, on 19 April 1951. On that date, Company C was assigned the mission of capturing Hill 206, a terrain feature dominating a critical road junction. When the company assaulted the summit, it encountered stubborn resistance from a well-entrenched and fanatically determined hostile force. Sergeant Cartagena, directed to move his squad forward in order to approach the enemy positions from another ridgeline, led his men toward the objective, but, almost immediately, the group was forced to seek cover from an intense and accurate volume of small-arms and automatic-weapons fire. Locating the hostile emplacements that posed the greatest obstacle to the advance of the friendly forces, Sergeant Cartagena left his position and, charging directly into the devastating enemy fire he hurled a grenade at the first emplacement, totally destroying it. Ordering his squad to remain under cover, he successfully and single-handedly assaulted the second enemy position. Although knocked to the ground by exploding enemy grenades, Sergeant Cartagena repeated this daring action three more times. Finally, an increased volume of fire from the remaining hostile emplacements was concentrated on him and he was wounded. The extraordinary heroism and completely selfless devotion, to duty displayed by Sergeant Cartagena throughout this action enabled the company to secure its objective successfully with a minimum of casualties, reflect great credit on himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 698 (September 16, 1951)
Home Town: Puerto Rico<ref>[https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/7068 Cartagena's Distinguished Service Cross citation] </ref>}}

==Later years==
Cartagena spent 20 years in the army before retiring as a sergeant first class in 1971. He continued to be an active figure around the 65th Infantry headquarters in Puerto Rico long after his retirement. He also had family in [[El Paso, Texas]]. His family, upon learning of Modesto's actions, had taken it upon themselves to make a request to [[Congress of the United States|Congress]] that he be awarded the [[Medal of Honor]]. They received support on this quest from the Republican Veterans Committee. His supporters argued that the segregation policy of the army, at the time, and the limited [[English language|English]] capacity of his company members when filling out the forms for the application, resulted in the awarding of the nations' second-highest decoration, the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]].<ref>[http://www.frontiernet.net/~john/ModestoCartagena-MedalofHonor.html Cartagena's family's Medal of Honor campaign site]- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040617210536/http://www.frontiernet.net/~john/ModestoCartagena-MedalofHonor.html |date=June 17, 2004 }}</ref>

On March 2, 2010, the day that Puerto Rico commemorated the 93rd anniversary of American citizenship, Cartagena died in his home in the town of [[Guayama]], of a [[heart attack]] following a long battle with stomach [[cancer]], he is survived by his sisters María and Virginia and his children Modesto Jr., Luis Antonio, Fernando, Sara, Wilma and Víctor. Cartagena was buried with [[military honors]] in the [[Puerto Rico National Cemetery]] located in the city of [[Bayamon, Puerto Rico|Bayamon]]. While no Federal government representative attended the interment ceremony for this highly decorated veteran, Puerto Rico's second-highest official, Secretary of State [[Kenneth McClintock]] attended. He delivered to Cartagena's family a personal letter from Governor [[Luis Fortuño]] and stated that while Cartagena was actually being buried with a Distinguished Service Cross, "in our hearts we're sending him off with the Medal of Honor he deserves" and made a commitment to seek it posthumously.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.primerahora.com/diario/noticia/otras/noticias/alcalde_de_cayey_lamenta_fallecimiento_del_soldado_puertorriqueno_mas_condecorado_en_la_historia_de_ee.uu./371408 |title=Alcalde de Cayey lamenta fallecimiento del soldado puertorriqueño más condecorado en la historia de EE.UU. |access-date=2010-03-04 |archive-date=2010-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305223959/http://www.primerahora.com/diario/noticia/otras/noticias/alcalde_de_cayey_lamenta_fallecimiento_del_soldado_puertorriqueno_mas_condecorado_en_la_historia_de_ee.uu./371408 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/us/05cartagena.html?ref=obituaries Modesto Cartagena, Hero of Korea, Is Dead at 87]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/03/07/marco-rubio-requests-medal-honor-for-puerto-rican-soldier/ |title=Marco Rubio Requests Medal of Honor for Puerto Rican Soldier | Fox News Latino |website=[[Fox News]] |access-date=2013-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309080438/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/03/07/marco-rubio-requests-medal-honor-for-puerto-rican-soldier/ |archive-date=2012-03-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Legacy==
January 4, 2007, was officially declared as "SFC Modesto Cartagena Day" in the city of [[Hartford, Connecticut]].<ref>[http://www.hispanic-americanveteransct.org/SFCCARTAGENA.html "SFC Modesto Cartagena Day"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008105744/http://www.hispanic-americanveteransct.org/SFCCARTAGENA.html |date=2007-10-08 }}.</ref> The proclamation by Mayor [[Eddie A. Perez]] can be viewed here: [https://web.archive.org/web/20071010104702/http://www.hispanic-americanveteransct.org/files/SFC_Cartagena_Day_1_04_07.pdf "SFC Modesto Cartagena Day" Proclamation.] An avenue in his native town of Cayey is named after him. On April 14, 2021, USAG [[Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico|Fort Buchanan]] dedicated the base Visitor Control Center building in honor of SFC Modesto Cartagena.

In 2019 Modesto Cartagena was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.opv.pr.gov/salon-de-la-fama/salon-de-la-fama | title=Salón de la Fama }}</ref>

==Military awards and decorations==
[[File:Modesto Cartagena.JPEG|thumb|right|175px|Cartagena in a Korean War memorial service in 2000.]]
According to a photo published by the New York Times, Cartagena's numerous decorations are the following:<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/us/05cartagena.html?_r=0|title = Modesto Cartagena, Hero of Korea, is Dead at 87|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 5 March 2010|last1 = Goldstein|first1 = Richard}}</ref>

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="3"|[[File:CIB2.svg|235px]]
|-
|colspan="3"|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Distinguished_Service_Cross_ribbon.svg|width=108}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|other_device=|ribbon=Legion_of_Merit_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|other_device=|ribbon=Purple_Heart_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-leaf|ribbon=Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}[[File:Gcl-13.png|100px]]
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|other_device=|ribbon=American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Army_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army_Overseas_Service_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Republic_of_Korea_War_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Korean_Presidential_Unit_Citation.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Meritorious_Unit_Commendation_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="3"|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]] (2nd award)
|-
|colspan="3"|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]]
|-
|[[Silver Star]] (upgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross)
|[[Legion of Merit]]
|[[Bronze Star]] w/ 1 bronze [["V" device]] and 1 bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]
|-
|[[Purple Heart]]
|[[Army Good Conduct Medal]] w/ 3 [[Good Conduct Loop]]s
|[[American Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|[[World War II Victory Medal]]
|[[Army of Occupation Medal]]
|-
|[[National Defense Service Medal]] w/ 1 [[service star]]
|[[Korean Service Medal]] w/ 1 [[silver star]]
|[[Army Service Ribbon]]
|-
|[[Army Overseas Service Ribbon]]
|[[United Nations Korea Medal]]
|[[Korean War Service Medal]]
|-
|[[Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation]]
|[[Meritorious Unit Commendation|Army Meritorious Unit Commendation]]
|[[Presidential Unit Citation (US)|Army Presidential Unit Citation]]
|}
'''Badges:'''
*[[File:Markesman Weapons Qual Badge.png|60px]]  [[Weapons Qualification Badge|Rifle Marksmanship Badge]]
*[[File:ASU overseas service bar.jpg|60px]] 2 [[Overseas Service Bar]]s
*[[File:Service stripe.jpg|60px]] 7 [[Service stripe]]s

'''Puerto Rican Legislative Award'''
*[[File:Military Medal of Honor of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico.JPG|80px]]  [[List of decorations awarded by the United States National Guard#Puerto Rico|Military Medal of Honor of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico]]

'''Foreign decoration'''
The Bravery Gold Medal of Greece was given by the Government of Greece to the 65th Infantry Regiment and to the members of the regiment who fought in the Korean War.
*[[File:Greek Cross of Valour ribbon.png|80px]]  [[Chryssoun Aristion Andrias]] (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece)

'''Congressional Gold Medal'''

{{ external media| float = left
| video1 = You can see a {{YouTube|y9u8Zy7PpR4|video of President Barack Obama awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Borinqueneers}} }}
On June 10, 2014, President [[Barack Obama]], signed the legislation known as "The Borinqueneers CGM Bill" at an official ceremony. The Bill honors the 65th Infantry Regiment with the [[Congressional Gold Medal]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/10/obama-honors-puerto-rican-infantry-regiment-with-congressional-gold-medal/ Obama honors Puerto Rican Infantry Regiment with Congressional Gold Medal, ''Washington Post,'' June 10, 2014.]</ref><ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/puerto-rico-borinqueneers-recognized-congressional-medal-article-1.1824991 Dan Friedman, "Puerto Rico's Borinqueneers recognized with Congressional Gold Medal," ''New York Daily News'', June 11, 2014.]</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/obama-awards-borinqueneers-congressional-medal-honor-n127451 Obama awards Borinqueneers Congressional Medal of Honor, ''NBC News'', June 10, 2014.]</ref><ref>[http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20140609/president-obama-to-honor-armys-puerto-rican-regiment-the-borinqueneers Richard Payerchin, "President Obama to honor Army's Puerto Rican regiment the Borinqueneers," ''The Morning Journal'', June 9, 2014.]</ref>
{{clear}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Puerto Rico}}
*[[List of Puerto Ricans]]
*[[List of Puerto Rican military personnel]]
*[[Puerto Rican recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross]]
{{clear}}

==Notes==
<references group=note/>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cartagena, Modesto}}
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials at Puerto Rico National Cemetery]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Army non-commissioned officers]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican Army personnel]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:People from Cayey, Puerto Rico]]