Specialist Fourth Class Daniel Fernandez

 

Organization: U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry (Mechanized) 25th Infantry Division

Place and date: Cu Chi, Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam, 18 February 1966

Entered service at: Albuquerque, NM

Place of Birth: Albuquerque, NM

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.Specialist Fourth Class Fernandez' War Department Citation reads as follows:

Sp4c. Fernandez demonstrated indomitable courage when the patrol was ambushed by a Viet Cong rifle company and driven back by the intense enemy automatic weapons fire before it could evacuate an American soldier who had been wounded in the Viet Cong attack. Sp4c. Fernandez, a sergeant and 2 other volunteers immediately fought their way through devastating fire and exploding grenades to reach the fallen soldier.

Upon reaching their fallen comrade the sergeant was struck in the knee by machinegun fire and immobilized. Sp4c. Fernandez took charge, rallied the left flank of his patrol and began to assist in the recovery of the wounded sergeant.

While first aid was being administered to the wounded man, a sudden increase in the accuracy and intensity of enemy fire forced the volunteer group to take cover. As they did, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the group, although some men did not see it.

Realizing there was no time for the wounded sergeant or the other men to protect themselves from the grenade blast, Sp4c. Fernandez vaulted over the wounded sergeant and threw h imself on the grenade as it exploded, saving the lives of his four comrades at the sacrifice of his life.

Sp4c. Fernandez' profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

Information on Specialist Fourth Class Fernandez and text of citation were obtained from official records made available by the United States Department of Defense.