Hector Santiago-Colon ★ Vietnam War Gold Star Veteran from New York
On June 28, 1968 Specialist Four Santiago-Colon was declared a casualty of the Vietnam War. ★ He served with honor in the United States Army. ★ He is remembered by the people of New York. ★ May his positive example inspire us. Working together towards peace, mutual respect, and equality for all.
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Click to Submit Update Request for this Fallen Service Member▼ Content Integrity Note
Our displayed data concerning the life and military history of Hector Santiago-Colon is a work in progress. We've assembled a list of elements we are in the process of researching and reviewing. This profile was last edited on 2018-03-27 20:11:39.
Missing : Core Data
· Middle name
Missing : Supplemental Data
· Birth + childhood location· Educational background
· Marriage history
· Parents, family history
· Expanded references and citations
Service Details
| This Profile ID | 296538 |
| Service ID | 67040103 |
| Name | Hector Santiago-Colon |
| From | New York, New York County, New York |
| Birth Date | December 20, 1942 |
| Casualty Date | June 28, 1968 |
| War | Vietnam War |
| Service Branch | Army |
| Rank | Specialist Four |
| Specialty | Infantry Direct Fire Crewman |
| Unit/Group | 1st Cavalry Division, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, B Company |
| Casualty Type | Died through hostile action .. multiple fragmentation wounds |
| Location | South Vietnam, Thua Thien province |
| Burial | Municipal Cemetery, Salinas, Puerto Rico |
| Notable Awards |
★ Medal of Honor
★ Purple Heart |
| Remembered | Hector Santiago-Colon is buried or memorialized at Municipal Cemetery, Salinas, Puerto Rico.  Hector is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 54w, Line 13. |
Additional Details
Santiago-Colon was one of twelve siblings born to Pablo Santiago and Petronila Colon in Salinas, Puerto Rico. In 1960 his family moved to the mainland United States and lived in New York City. He decided that he wanted to be part of the NYPD (New York City Police Department), however, at the time, in order to become a member of the NYPD you had to be a veteran. Santiago-Colon then volunteered to join the United States Army. On June 28, 1968, members of Santiago-Colon's Company B of the 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division were engaged in combat at Quang Tri Province. An enemy (North Vietnamese) soldier lobbed a hand grenade into Santiago-Colon's foxhole. Realizing that there was no time to throw out the grenade, he tucked it in to his stomach and turning away from his comrades, absorbed the full impact of the blast, sacrificing his life to save his fellow soldiers from certain death. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. The award was presented to his family in a ceremony at the White House by President Richard M. Nixon on April 7, 1970. His remains are buried in the city of Salinas, Puerto Rico. Full citation for his Medal of Honor: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Realizing that there was no time to throw the grenade out of his position, he retrieved the grenade, tucked it in to his stomach and, turning away from his comrades, absorbed the full impact of the blast. Sp4 Santiago-Colón distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a gunner in the mortar platoon of Company B. While serving as a perimeter sentry, Sp4 Santiago-Colón heard distinct movement in the heavily wooded area to his front and flanks. He alerted his fellow sentries in the area to move to their foxholes and remain alert for any enemy probing forces. From the wooded area around his position heavy enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire suddenly broke out, but extreme darkness rendered difficult the precise location and identification of the hostile force. Only the muzzle flashes from enemy weapons indicated their position. Sp4 Santiago-Colón and the other members of his position immediately began to repel the attackers, utilizing hand grenades, antipersonnel mines and small-arms fire. Due to the heavy volume of enemy fire and exploding grenades around them, a North Vietnamese soldier was able to crawl, undetected, to their position. Suddenly, the enemy soldier lobbed a hand grenade into Sp4 Santiago-Colón's foxhole. Realizing that there was no time to throw the grenade out of his position, Sp4 Santiago-Colón retrieved the grenade, tucked it in to his stomach and, turning away from his comrades, absorbed the full impact of the blast. Heroic self-sacrifice saved the lives of those who occupied the foxhole with him, and provided them with the inspiration to continue fighting until they had forced the enemy to retreat from the perimeter. By his gallantry at the cost of his life and in the highest traditions of the military service, Sp4 Santiago-Colón has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army." |
Commendations + Awards
Please note this might not be a complete or completely accurate accounting. For some awards we use probability factors based on known service details. Thanks for your understanding.
★ Medal of Honor
★ Combat Infantryman Badge
★ Purple Heart
★ Marksmanship Badge
★ National Defense Service Medal
★ Vietnam Campaign Medal
★ Vietnam Service Medal
★ Army Presidential Unit Citation
★ Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Notable Reference Sources
These are typically links to pages on external sites that have provided specific nodes of information. In most cases the information has some assurance of being crowd-sourced and vetted by a community of users.New York Gold Star Veterans Gallery
Honoring the men and women of New York who gave their all for their country. May their example of courage and sacrifice be our guide. To be strong and responsible in our lives as citizens of the world. Through honest daily actions, we honor them.
▼ New York was home to over 30,000 American Gold Star veterans from 4 wars of the 20th Century. Some significant statistics:
• 6,367 World War I
• 16,837 World War II
• 2,672 Korean War
• 4,124 Vietnam War
• 397 Prisoners of war
• 8,599 Missing in action
• 94 Pearl Harbor casualties
• 329 D-Day Normandy casualties
• 40 Medal of Honor recipients
• 16,837 World War II
• 2,672 Korean War
• 4,124 Vietnam War
• 397 Prisoners of war
• 8,599 Missing in action
• 94 Pearl Harbor casualties
• 329 D-Day Normandy casualties
• 40 Medal of Honor recipients
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National D-Day Memorial
Dedicated on June 6th, 2001 by president George W. Bush, the National D-Day Memorial was constructed in honor of those who died that day, fighting in one of the most significant battles in our nations history.
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