Medal of Honor: Emilio A. De La Garza Jr. – Vietnam War – April 11, 1970
In a split second beside a muddy pond, he saw the danger before anyone else. He chose to shield his fellow Marines with his own body.
April 28, 2026
Name: Emilio A. De La Garza Jr.
Rank: Lance Corporal
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: April 11, 1970
Location: Near Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam
Summary of Action
On 11 April 1970, Lance Corporal Emilio A. De La Garza Jr. was serving as a machine gunner with Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division near Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam.
After returning from a night ambush patrol, he joined his platoon commander and another Marine in searching for two enemy soldiers who had been seen fleeing toward a small pond.
Moments later, one of the enemy was discovered hiding among reeds and brush in the water.
As the three Marines attempted to pull the resisting soldier from the pond, De La Garza noticed the enemy remove the pin from a grenade.
There was almost no time to react.
Shouting a warning to the others, De La Garza instantly placed himself between his fellow Marines and the blast.
The grenade exploded.
His selfless action absorbed the deadly force of the explosion and saved the lives of his comrades at the cost of his own.
By his immediate courage and willing sacrifice in the face of certain death, Lance Corporal De La Garza upheld the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Medal of Honor Citation
DE LA GARZA, EMILIO A., JR.
