Medal of Honor: Alejandro R. Renteria Ruiz - World War II - April 28, 1945

Name: Alejandro R. Renteria Ruiz
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: 165th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division
Date of Action: April 28, 1945
Location: Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands

Summary of Action

On 28 April 1945, Private First Class Alejandro R. Renteria Ruiz distinguished himself during the Battle of Okinawa.

His unit’s advance was halted by a skillfully camouflaged enemy pillbox.

Suddenly caught under a storm of machine-gun fire and vicious grenade attacks, his squad was pinned down and unable to move.

Without hesitation, Ruiz jumped to his feet, seized an automatic rifle, and charged through exploding grenades and sweeping fire toward the enemy strongpoint.

As he closed on the emplacement, an enemy soldier rushed him.

At that critical moment, his rifle jammed.

Undaunted, Ruiz spun on the attacker and clubbed him down with the disabled weapon.

He then ran back through bullets and grenades, seized more ammunition and another automatic rifle, and launched a second charge.

Now the enemy concentrated all fire upon him.

Still he pressed forward and miraculously reached the pillbox.

In full view of both friend and foe, Ruiz climbed onto the top of the position.

Moving from one firing aperture to another, he fired burst after burst into the interior of the bunker.

By the end of the assault, twelve enemy soldiers were dead and the position had been completely destroyed.

His fearless action saved the lives of many comrades and removed an obstacle that could have delayed the advance for far longer.

Through unmatched courage, aggression, and devotion to mission, Alejandro R. Renteria Ruiz reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

RUIZ, ALEJANDRO R. RENTERIA

When his unit was stopped by a skillfully camouflaged enemy pillbox, he displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. His squad, suddenly brought under a hail of machinegun fire and a vicious grenade attack, was pinned down. Jumping to his feet, Pfc. Ruiz seized an automatic rifle and lunged through the flying grenades and rifle and automatic fire for the top of the emplacement. When an enemy soldier charged him, his rifle jammed. Undaunted, Pfc. Ruiz whirled on his assailant and clubbed him down. Then he ran back through bullets and grenades, seized more ammunition and another automatic rifle, and again made for the pillbox. Enemy fire now was concentrated on him, but he charged on, miraculously reaching the position, and in plain view he climbed to the top. Leaping from 1 opening to another, he sent burst after burst into the pillbox, killing 12 of the enemy and completely destroying the position. Pfc. Ruiz’s heroic conduct, in the face of overwhelming odds, saved the lives of many comrades and eliminated an obstacle that long would have checked his unit’s advance.