Lance Corporal Emilio Albert de la Garza Jr., a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on April 11, 1970 near Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At the time he was serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF. de la Garza was 20 years old.
de la Garza was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on September 9, 1971 — the White House, presented by Vice Pres. Spiro T. Agnew to his family.
de la Garza was born on June 23, 1949 in East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana. His Medal of Honor is credited to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. He is buried at Saint John's Cemetery in Hammond, Indiana. His medal is held by National Museum of the Marines Corps, Quantico, VA.
de la Garza is one of 274 Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor 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 two enemy soldiers who had been observed fleeing for cover toward a small pond. Moments later, he located one of the enemy soldiers hiding among the reeds and brush. As the three 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 two 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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (April 11, 1970).
- Age at death: 20
- Resting place: Saint John's Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Emilio Albert de la Garza Jr. received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Vietnam War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Washington High School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
- Born: East Chicago — map
- Died: Quảng Nam — map
- Buried: Saint John-Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- June 23, 1949Born in East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana
- April 11, 1970Act of valor — near Da Nang, Republic of VietnamAge 20. Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF Killed in action.
- September 9, 1971Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe White House, presented by Vice Pres. Spiro T. Agnew to his family
- Resting placeSaint John's CemeteryHammond, Indiana
Biography
Emilio Albert De La Garza Jr. (June 23, 1949 – April 11, 1970) was a United States Marine Corps lance corporal who was posthumously presented the nation's highest military honor – the Medal of Honor – for heroism above and beyond the call of duty on April 11, 1970, in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
From the Wikipedia article “Emilio A. De La Garza”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
