EURIPIDES RUBIO JR

Medal of Honor · awarded posthumously

For conspicuous gallantry

Euripides Rubio JR received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, for his actions on November 8, 1966. The official citation reads:

RUBIO, EURIPIDES

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry,1st Infantry Division, RVN.

Place and date: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, November 8, 1966.

Entered service at: Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.

Born: March 1, 1938, Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Rubio, Infantry, was serving as communications officer, 1st Battalion, when a numerically superior enemy force launched a massive attack against the battalion defense position. Intense enemy machinegun fire raked the area while mortar rounds and rifle grenades exploded within the perimeter. Leaving the relative safety of his post, Capt. Rubio received 2 serious wounds as he braved the withering fire to go to the area of most intense action where he distributed ammunition, re-established positions and rendered aid to the wounded. Disregarding the painful wounds, he unhesitatingly assumed command when a rifle company commander was medically evacuated. Capt. Rubio was wounded a third time as he selflessly exposed himself to the devastating enemy fire to move among his men to encourage them to fight with renewed effort. While aiding the evacuation of wounded personnel, he noted that a smoke grenade which was intended to mark the Viet Cong position for air strikes had fallen dangerously close to the friendly lines. Capt. Rubio ran to reposition the grenade but was immediately struck to his knees by enemy fire. Despite his several wounds, Capt. Rubio scooped up the grenade, ran through the deadly hail of fire to within 20 meters of the enemy position and hurled the already smoking grenade into the midst of the enemy before he fell for the final time. Using the repositioned grenade as a marker, friendly air strikes were directed to destroy the hostile positions. Capt. Rubio's singularly heroic act turned the tide of battle, and his extraordinary leadership and valor were a magnificent inspiration to his men. His remarkable bravery and selfless concern for his men are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on Capt. Rubio and the U.S. Army.

Among the military decorations which Capt. Rubio earned were the following:

Badge

Combat Infantryman Badge

1st row

Medal of Honor

Purple Heart

2nd row

National Defense Service Medal

Vietnam Service Medal

with one bronze service star

Vietnam Campaign Medal

Unit Citations

Army Presidential Unit Citation

Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation

Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation

Badge

Basic Parachutist badge

Foreign unit decorations

Fourragère cord

^ "Medal of Honor citation Medal of Honor citation". Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2010.

Citation text as reproduced in Wikipedia’s article on Euripides Rubio JR; Medal of Honor citations are official U.S. government records. See also the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and all Medal of Honor recipients on the Wall.