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Hispanic-American Medal of Honor Recipients VALDEZ, JOSE F. Rank and organization: Private
First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.
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Hispanic-American Medal of Honor Recipients VALDEZ, JOSE F. Rank and organization: Private
First Class, U.S. Army, Company B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.
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Citation: He was on outpost duty
with 5 others when the enemy counterattacked with overwhelming strength. From his
position near some woods 500 yards beyond the American lines he observed a hostile
tank about 75 yards away, and raked it with automatic rifle fire until it withdrew.
Soon afterward he saw 3 Germans stealthily approaching through the woods. Scorning
cover as the enemy soldiers opened up with heavy automatic weapons fire from a range
of 30 yards, he engaged in a fire fight with the attackers until he had killed all
3. The enemy quickly launched an attack with 2 full companies of infantrymen, blasting
the patrol with murderous concentrations of automatic and rifle fire and beginning
an encircling movement which forced the patrol leader to order a withdrawal. Despite
the terrible odds, Pfc. Valdez immediately volunteered to cover the maneuver, and
as the patrol 1 by 1 plunged through a hail of bullets toward the American lines,
he fired burst after burst into the swarming enemy. Three of his companions were wounded
in their dash for safety and he was struck by a bullet that entered his stomach and,
passing through his body, emerged from his back. Overcoming agonizing pain, he regained
control of himself and resumed his firing position, delivering a protective screen
of bullets until all others of the patrol were safe. By field telephone he called
for artillery and mortar fire on the Germans and corrected the range until he had
shells falling within 50 yards of his position. For 15 minutes he refused to be dislodged
by more than 200 of the enemy; then, seeing that the barrage had broken the counter
attack, he dragged himself back to his own lines. He died later as a result of his
wounds. Through his valiant, intrepid stand and at the cost of his own life, Pfc.
Valdez made it possible for his comrades to escape, and was directly responsible for
repulsing an attack by vastly superior enemy forces.