Silver Star Citacion

SILVER STAR
HEADQUARTERS 3D INFANTRY DIVISION
GENERAL ORDERS # 12 - 20 January 1951

65th INFANTRY REGIMENT

AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR. - By direction of the President under the Act of Congress approved 9 July 1918 (WD Bulletin 43, 1918) the Silver Star for gallantry in action is awarded to the following enlisted men:

CORPORAL ANTONIO SANTOS, RA10401718, Infantry, Company "D", 65th Infantry,3d Infantry Division. United States Army. On 22 December 1950, near Tong-ni,Korea, Corporal Santos. a machine gunner on the Hungnam defense perimeter, opened fire on a company size, enemy column when it was approximately one-hundred yards from his position. The enemy concentrated their fire on his position firing mortars, automatic weapons, and small arms. While engaged in the fire fight Corporal Santos' machine gun failed, and he , with utter disregard for his personal safety, remained, calmly repaired the gun, and continued carrying out his duties in an outstanding manner. When enemy mortar fire forced him to quit his position, he moved the machine gun into the open field and carried on his mission. Due to Corporal Santos' heroic actions, the enemy was forced to with-draw leaving behind many casualties. Corporal Santos' intrepid heroism on this occasion is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Entered the military service from Puerto Rico.

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Published Article:

El Boricua
November 1984
by: Ivonne Figueroa, Editor

On December 22, 1950, Boricua Corporal Antonio "Toño" Santos won the Silver Star. The Silver Star is the second most prestigious award given for valor in combat. Santos as a member of the 65th Infantry, a segregated Puerto Rican Battalion. Santos was squadron leader and gunner, and his squadron was the most decorated squadron in Korea at the time.

Early in the morning of December 22, 1950, a force of approximately two thousand Chinese attacked his battalion with about two hundred concentrating their fire on Santo's machine gun. At 30-degree temperature and chest-high snow, stranded and without communication from the rest of the battalion, Santos opened fire against an enemy line only 100 yards from his position.

Santos positioned six of his men as look-outs taking center position himself with his gun and his assistant gunner, Corporal Calderón. Just as the enemy was advancing, the gun broke down when it was hit by a mortar fragment, but miraculously neither Santos nor Calderón were injured. While the enemy tried frantically to shoot them down, Santos was able to fix the machine gun. The gun had lost the covert bolt-pin, that built up pressure. Santos bravely used one hand to do the job of the pin, held the gun and shot with the other, all while being the target of North Korean and Chinese fire.

Corporal Calderón had a safety-pin with 'medallas' of Saints his mother had sent him from Puerto Rico. Calderón took off the pin, detached the 'medallas' and gave it to Santos who used it as a temporary fix for the weapon. Then Santos, disregarding his own safety, bravely moved the weapon to an open field where he had a better view. Santos again opened fire until the enemy was forced to withdraw leaving about half of them dead or seriously wounded.

Corporal Antonio Santos was awarded the Silver Star on the field.

The other valiant men in the squadron were: First SGT Saes, Corp Francisco Calderón, PFC Carmoaga, PFC Peter (NewYorican), PFC Bonet, PFC Cabrera, and Korean interpreter, Kadoni. All except the interpreter were Puertorriqueños.

* This event has been documented in several military history books.