View source for Eurípides Rubio

{{short description|United States Army Medal of Honor recipient}}
{{Infobox military person
|name          = Eurípides Rubio 
|birth_date    = {{Birth date|1938|3|1}}
|death_date    = {{Death date and age|1966|11|8|1938|3|1}}
|birth_place   = [[Ponce, Puerto Rico]]
|death_place   = [[Tay Ninh Province]], [[South Vietnam|Republic of Vietnam]]  
|placeofburial = [[Puerto Rico National Cemetery]], [[Bayamón, Puerto Rico]]
|placeofburial_label = Place of burial
|image        = File:Euripides Rubio.jpg
|caption      = Capt. Eurípides Rubio
|nickname     =
|allegiance   = [[United States|United States of America]] 
|branch       = [[File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|25px]]&nbsp;[[United States Army]]
|serviceyears = 1956–1966
|rank         = [[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|25px]] [[Captain (United States)|Captain]]
|commands     =
|unit         = 1st Battalion, [[28th Infantry Regiment (United States)|28th Infantry]],<br/>[[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]
|battles      = [[Vietnam War]]
*[[Operation Attleboro]]{{KIA}}
|awards       = [[Medal of Honor]]<br/>[[Purple Heart]]
|laterwork    =
}}
[[Captain (United States)|Captain]] '''Eurípides Rubio''' (March 1, 1938 – November 8, 1966) was a [[United States Army]] officer and one of nine [[Puerto Ricans in the United States|Puerto Ricans]] who were [[Posthumous recognition|posthumous]]ly awarded the [[United States]]' highest military decoration for valor, the [[Medal of Honor]], for actions on November 8, 1966, during the [[Vietnam War]]. Rubio was a member of the [[United States Army]], Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment (Black Lions), 1st Infantry Division.

==Early years==
Rubio was born in the city of [[Ponce, Puerto Rico]], in the southern region of Puerto Rico. There, he received his primary and secondary education. Rubio was a member of the 
[[Civil Air Patrol]]'s [[Ponce High School]] Cadet Squadron, Chapter 52012/PR012, [[Puerto Rico Wing Civil Air Patrol|Puerto Rico Wing]], from 1952 to 1956. After high school, Rubio enrolled at the [[University of Puerto Rico]] and the program [[Army ROTC]], Rubio joined the Army as a commissioned second lieutenant officer in the [[Military Police Corps (United States)|Military Police Corps]] at [[Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico]].<ref name="SP">[http://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=66912 Service Profile]</ref>

==Action in Vietnam==
On November 8, 1966, during [[Operation Attleboro]] in [[Tay Ninh Province]], [[South Vietnam]], Captain Rubio's company came under attack from the [[North Vietnamese Army]]; leaving the safety of his post, Rubio received two serious wounds as he braved the intense enemy fire to distribute [[ammunition]], re-establish positions and render aid to the wounded. Despite his pain, he assumed command when a rifle company commander was medically evacuated. He was then wounded a third time as he tried to move amongst his men to encourage them to fight with renewed effort.<ref name="MHR">{{Cite web
 |url= http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-m-z.html
 |title= Vietnam War War (M-Z); Rubio, Euripides entry
 |work= Medal of Honor recipients
 |publisher= [[United States Army Center of Military History]]
 |date= August 3, 2009
 |accessdate= July 13, 2010
 |archive-date= April 24, 2008
 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080424094845/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-m-z.html
 |url-status= dead
 }}</ref><ref name="ER">{{Cite web
|url=http://www.mishalov.com/Rubio.html
|title=Euripides Rubio
|publisher=mishalov.com
|accessdate=2006-07-14
|archive-date=2016-04-16
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416125216/http://www.mishalov.com/Rubio.html
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

While aiding the evacuation of wounded personnel, he noted that a US smoke grenade, which was intended to mark the [[Viet Cong]]'s position for an [[air strike]], had fallen dangerously close to friendly lines. He ran to move the grenade but was immediately struck to his knees by enemy fire. Despite his wounds, Rubio managed to collect the grenade and again run through enemy fire to within 20 m of the enemy position to throw the by-then already smoking grenade into the enemy before he fell for the final time. Using the now-repositioned grenade as a marker, friendly air strikes were directed to destroy the hostile positions.<ref name="MHR"/><ref name="ER"/>

Rubio's singularly heroic act turned the tide of the battle, and for his extraordinary leadership and valor, he [[Posthumous recognition|posthumously]] received the [[Medal of Honor]] in 1968. His remains were buried in [[Puerto Rico National Cemetery]] in the city of [[Bayamón, Puerto Rico]].<ref name="MHR"/><ref name="ER"/>

==Medal of Honor citation==
{{quotebox|[[File:cmoh army.jpg|50px|center]]
{{center|<big>'''RUBIO, EURIPIDES'''</big>}}
{{center|''Rank and organization:'' Captain, U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry,1st Infantry Division, RVN. }}
{{center|''Place and date:'' Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, November 8, 1966.}}
{{center|''Entered service at:'' Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.}}
{{center|''Born:'' March 1, 1938, Ponce, Puerto Rico.}}
{{center|''Citation:''}}
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Rubio, Infantry, was serving as communications officer, 1st Battalion, when a numerically superior enemy force launched a massive attack against the battalion defense position. Intense enemy machinegun fire raked the area while mortar rounds and rifle grenades exploded within the perimeter. Leaving the relative safety of his post, Capt. Rubio received 2 serious wounds as he braved the withering fire to go to the area of most intense action where he distributed ammunition, re-established positions and rendered aid to the wounded. Disregarding the painful wounds, he unhesitatingly assumed command when a rifle company commander was medically evacuated. Capt. Rubio was wounded a third time as he selflessly exposed himself to the devastating enemy fire to move among his men to encourage them to fight with renewed effort. While aiding the evacuation of wounded personnel, he noted that a smoke grenade which was intended to mark the Viet Cong position for air strikes had fallen dangerously close to the friendly lines. Capt. Rubio ran to reposition the grenade but was immediately struck to his knees by enemy fire. Despite his several wounds, Capt. Rubio scooped up the grenade, ran through the deadly hail of fire to within 20 meters of the enemy position and hurled the already smoking grenade into the midst of the enemy before he fell for the final time. Using the repositioned grenade as a marker, friendly air strikes were directed to destroy the hostile positions. Capt. Rubio's singularly heroic act turned the tide of battle, and his extraordinary leadership and valor were a magnificent inspiration to his men. His remarkable bravery and selfless concern for his men are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on Capt. Rubio and the U.S. Army.<ref>{{Cite web |accessdate=October 5, 2010 |url=http://www.mishalov.com/Rubio.html |title=Medal of Honor citation Medal of Honor citation |archive-date=April 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416125216/http://www.mishalov.com/Rubio.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

==Military decorations awarded==
Among the military decorations which Capt. Rubio earned were the following:

{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="6" style="text-align: center" | [[File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg|190px]]
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align: right" | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=A light blue ribbon with five white five pointed stars}}
| colspan="3" style="text-align: left" | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
| colspan="2" | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| colspan="2" | {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| colspan="2" | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}}
|-
| colspan="2" | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
| colspan="2" | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg|width=106}}
| colspan="2" | {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=VNCivilActionsRibbon-2.svg|width=106}}
|-
| colspan="6" style="text-align: center" | [[File:US_Army_Airborne_basic_parachutist_badge.gif|100px]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! Badge
| colspan="6" style="text-align: center" | [[Combat Infantryman Badge]]
|-
! 1st row
| colspan="3" style="text-align: center" | [[Medal of Honor]]
| colspan="3" style="text-align: center" | [[Purple Heart]]
|-
! 2nd row
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top" | [[National Defense Service Medal]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top" | [[Vietnam Service Medal]]<br /><small>with one bronze [[service star]]</small>
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top" | [[Vietnam Campaign Medal]] 
|-
! 3rd row
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: 22em" | [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Army Presidential Unit Citation]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: 22em" | [[Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; width: 22em" | [[Vietnam Civil Actions Medal|Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation]] 
|-
! Badge
| colspan="6" style="text-align: center" | [[Parachutist Badge (United States)|Basic Parachutist badge]]
|}

'''Foreign unit decorations'''
*[[File:Fourragère CG.png|50px]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Fourragère|Fourragère cord]]

==Honors==
The United States Army Reserve Center located at the [[Puerto Nuevo (Hato Rey)|Hato Rey]] sector of [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]] was named posthumously named Capt. Eurípides Rubio United States Army Reserve Center.

The [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]] Outpatient Clinic in Ponce was named in memory of Captain Eurípides Rubio.

The [[American Legion]] Post 142 in San Juan was named after Capt. Euripides Rubio.

Rubio's name is inscribed in "El Monumento de la Recordación" (Monument of Remembrance), dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan.

His name is inscribed on the [[Vietnam Veterans Memorial]] ("The Wall") on Panel 12E, Row 044.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.virtualwall.org/dr/RubioEx01a.htm
|title=Euripides Rubio, CPT, Army
|publisher=The Virtual Wall
|accessdate=2006-07-14}}</ref>

On November 11, 2008, the Government of Puerto Rico unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda an oil portrait of Captain Euripedes Rubio.

In 2017 Eurípides Rubio 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>

[[File:Urbanizaciones en Gobernador Piñero, San Juan, Puerto Rico.jpg|thumb|left|CPT Eurípides Rubio United States Army Reserve Center can be seen in the center green area surrounded by an urban landscape, in barrio Gobernador Piñero (in San Juan).]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Puerto Rico}}
*[[List of Puerto Ricans]]
*[[List of Puerto Rican military personnel]]
*[[Puerto Rican recipients of the Medal of Honor]]
*[[List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients]]
*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients]]
*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War#L|List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*''Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own''; by : Greg Boudonck; {{ISBN|978-1497421837}}

==External links==
*{{Cite web
 |url= http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-m-z.html
 |title= Vietnam War War (M-Z); Rubio, Euripides entry
 |work= Medal of Honor recipients
 |publisher= [[United States Army Center of Military History]]
 |date= August 3, 2009
 |accessdate= July 13, 2010
 |archive-date= April 24, 2008
 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080424094845/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-m-z.html
 |url-status= dead
 }}
*{{Cite web
|url=http://www.mishalov.com/Rubio.html
|title=Euripides Rubio
|publisher=mishalov.com
|accessdate=2006-07-14
|archive-date=2016-04-16
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416125216/http://www.mishalov.com/Rubio.html
|url-status=dead
}}

*{{Cite web
|url=http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/m-zb.htm
|title=Euripides Rubio
|work=Medal of Honor recipients, Americans of Hispanic Heritage
|publisher=Hispanic America U.S.A
|accessdate=2006-07-14
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060531113410/http://www.neta.com/%7E1stbooks/m-zb.htm
|archive-date=2006-05-31
|url-status=dead
}}
*{{Cite web |url=http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/medal2.htm |title=Medal of Honor Recipients: Hispanics in Americas Defense |accessdate=September 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627064554/http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/medal2.htm |archivedate=June 27, 2006 }}
*{{Cite web |url=http://www.virtualwall.org/dr/RubioEx01a.htm |title=Virtual Wall |accessdate=September 29, 2010 }}

{{Authority control}}

{{Puerto Rican recipients of the Medal of Honor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rubio, Euripides}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:1966 deaths]]
[[Category:Burials at Puerto Rico National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Ponce, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Ponce High School alumni]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican Army personnel]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:People of the Civil Air Patrol]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican military officers]]
[[Category:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel killed in the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:University of Puerto Rico alumni]]