Félix Conde Falcón

Félix Modesto Conde Falcón

Picture of Félix Conde Falcón wearing his military uniform
Born (1938-02-28)February 28, 1938
Juncos, Puerto Rico
Died April 4, 1969(1969-04-04) (aged 31)
Ap Tan Hoa, Republic of Vietnam
Buried at Rogers Cemetery, in Rogers, Texas
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1963–1969
Rank Staff Sergeant
Unit 82nd Airborne Division, 505th Infantry Regiment 1st Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion
Battles/wars Vietnam War †
Awards Medal of Honor
Bronze Star
Purple Heart

Félix Modesto Conde Falcón[lower-alpha 1] (February 28, 1938 – April 4, 1969) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Born in Juncos, Puerto Rico, he joined the United States Army in April 1963 in Chicago, Illinois. He was killed during combat operations in Ap Tan Hoa, South Vietnam, on April 4, 1969.[1] He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a March 18, 2014 ceremony in the White House. The award comes through the Defense Authorization Act which called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor.[2][3]


Military awards

Conde Falcón's military decorations include the following:

Badges

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to:

STAFF SERGEANT
FELIX M. CONDE-FALCON
UNITED STATES ARMY

For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division:

Conde-Falcon distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions, April 4, 1969, while serving as platoon leader during a sweep operation in the vicinity of Ap Tan Hoa, Vietnam. Entering a heavily wooded section on the route of advance, the company encountered an extensive enemy bunker complex, later identified as a battalion command post. Following tactical artillery and air strikes on the heavily secured communist position, the platoon of Conde-Falcon was selected to assault and clear the bunker fortifications. Moving out ahead of his platoon, he charged the first bunker, heaving grenades as he went. As the hostile fire increased, he crawled to the blind side of an entrenchment position, jumped to the roof, and tossed a lethal grenade into the bunker aperture. Without hesitating, he proceeded to two additional bunkers, both of which he destroyed in the same manner as the first. Rejoined with his platoon, he advanced about one hundred meters through the trees, only to come under intense hostile fire. Selecting three men to accompany him, he maneuvered toward the enemy’s flank position. Carrying a machine-gun, he single-handedly assaulted the nearest fortification, killing the enemy inside before running out of ammunition. After returning to the three men with his empty weapon and taking up an M-16 rifle, he concentrated on the next bunker. Within ten meters of his goal, he was shot by an unseen assailant and soon died of his wounds.

His great courage, his ability to act appropriately and decisively in accomplishing his mission, his dedication to the welfare of his men mark him as an outstanding leader Conde-Falcon’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Conde and the second or maternal family name is Falcón.

References


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