thedrifter
03-24-09, 07:37 AM
Sen. Schumer renews fight to honor Staten Island Vietnam War victim
Posted by gnyback March 23, 2009 15:01PM
Sen. Charles Schumer today renewed his fight to have deceased Staten Island Vietnam veteran Angel Mendez posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Mendez -- a former resident at Mount Loretto, the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin in Pleasant Plains -- was killed when he ran to his platoon commander, who was wounded and unable to move. While the commander survived, Mendez, unfortunately, was fatally wounded.
The Medal of Honor is the military's highest honor
In 2003, Schumer urged tried to have the honor awarded to Mendez. The application is still pending at the Pentagon and the Department of the Navy says the decision is expected later this year.
Mendez has been awarded the Navy Cross for bravery in the line of duty. Many, including his former platoon commander Ronald Castille, feel he has earned the Medal of Honor. Castille is now Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
"Angel Mendez made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and would be a deserving recipient of the Medal of Honor for the extraordinary bravery and heroism he displayed," Schumer said. "While serving in Vietnam, under heavy enemy fire, Mendez risked his life to save the life of his commander. Unfortunately, Mendez did not survive. But we have the opportunity here to keep his memory alive by finally awarding him the Medal of Honor he so deserves."
In 1967, Staten Island resident Angel Mendez was leading a squad in Vietnam that was heading to an area to assist Marines that were trapped by heavy fire. While on the mission, the platoon commander, Ronald Castille, was wounded and unable to move.
Castille told his corporal to stay under cover, but Mendez raced more than 60 yards to him. Firing his grenade launcher, he held off the enemy, dressed Castille's leg wounds, then dragged his battered lieutenant through an intense firefight to safety.
A corporal in Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, Mendez was killed as he dragged Castille more than 75 yards to safety after a section of their unit was ambushed in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam.
Ellie
Posted by gnyback March 23, 2009 15:01PM
Sen. Charles Schumer today renewed his fight to have deceased Staten Island Vietnam veteran Angel Mendez posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Mendez -- a former resident at Mount Loretto, the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin in Pleasant Plains -- was killed when he ran to his platoon commander, who was wounded and unable to move. While the commander survived, Mendez, unfortunately, was fatally wounded.
The Medal of Honor is the military's highest honor
In 2003, Schumer urged tried to have the honor awarded to Mendez. The application is still pending at the Pentagon and the Department of the Navy says the decision is expected later this year.
Mendez has been awarded the Navy Cross for bravery in the line of duty. Many, including his former platoon commander Ronald Castille, feel he has earned the Medal of Honor. Castille is now Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
"Angel Mendez made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and would be a deserving recipient of the Medal of Honor for the extraordinary bravery and heroism he displayed," Schumer said. "While serving in Vietnam, under heavy enemy fire, Mendez risked his life to save the life of his commander. Unfortunately, Mendez did not survive. But we have the opportunity here to keep his memory alive by finally awarding him the Medal of Honor he so deserves."
In 1967, Staten Island resident Angel Mendez was leading a squad in Vietnam that was heading to an area to assist Marines that were trapped by heavy fire. While on the mission, the platoon commander, Ronald Castille, was wounded and unable to move.
Castille told his corporal to stay under cover, but Mendez raced more than 60 yards to him. Firing his grenade launcher, he held off the enemy, dressed Castille's leg wounds, then dragged his battered lieutenant through an intense firefight to safety.
A corporal in Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, Mendez was killed as he dragged Castille more than 75 yards to safety after a section of their unit was ambushed in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam.
Ellie