Valdez (FF 1096) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 5 text:

bl h arleston Sites And Sights 9 K ' 4 4 W 1 l E, I I lg. Q. V. 5 L . I L. r fi r it 5 Fort Sumter r Q. F I 8 1 a Shem Creek at dusk V ,, Cobble stone Church St. 3' i. r, W -- ----- F Y' F , ff 'Vff Basket weaver BOONE HALL Plantation , K. Q. P V I . P' E 1 I s Y

Page 4 text:

dwg? VQLD 1979-' C77 dfif

Page 6 text:

the NAVY CROSS posthumously to .:. f.,,-f -Q fl ,W-W V Mc' aaa, .g:..-,, A M UT ' 5' Y Q 3asl,..i.,.bn..ltf.,5Z ,M ..-.-f-.. -L THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON. D. C. 20350 The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting PHIL I VALDEZ HOSPITAL CORPSMAN THIRD CLASS UNITED STATES NAVY CITATION For conspicuous in action on the morning of 29 January 1967 B , First Battalion, First Marines in the of Vietnam. As corps- man with the third platoon I-lospitalmanj Valdez par- ticipated in a helilift with of Company H of the Second Battalion platoon came under heavy enemy fire and sustained while maneuvering forward. Without hesitation Petty ran over seventy-five yards of open terrain under constant enem ., re to aida fallen Marine. He then moved the wounded man to a sa i, ea and quickly and competently, rendered medical assistance A sing himself to enemy fire, Petty Officer Valdez moved across ,tw 5 y 4 ly fifty yards of open ground to another Marine While tre E ' arine, he positioned him- Phil Isadore Valdez self between the man and t s was at this time that Petty Officer Valdez was mortall ysmall-arrns fire. Through his heroic actions and selfles if duty, he was responsible for saving the lives of two Marine 1 spiring efforts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. For the President, fs! Robert H. B. Baldwin Acting Secretary of the Navy Phil Isadore Valdez was born 13 April 1946 in Dixon, New Mexico, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Valdez. He was graduated from Espanola High School Espanola, New Mexico, l November 1965 and trained as a Hospitalman Apprentice at the Naval Hospital Corps School, San Diego, California. Having advanced to Hospitalman in May 1966, he served in the Naval Hospital at Key West, Florida, until 19 December 1966. He was then assigned to the First Battalion First Marine Division Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, serving in Vietnam. Hospital Corpsman Cthen Hospitalmanj was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on the morning of 29 january 1967 while serving with Company B , First Battalion, First Marines, in the vicinity of DaNang Republic of Vietnam. He was a corpsman with the Third Platoon and participated in a helilift with his platoon in support of Company H of the Second Battalion. Upon landing, the platoon came under heavy enemy fire and sustained several wounded while maneuvering forward. Petty Officer Valdez ran over open terrain, under constant enemy fire to aid a fallen Marine. He then moved the wounded man to a safe area and rendered medical assistance. Again exposing himself to enemy fire, Petty Officer Valdez moved across open ground to another Marine. While treating the second Marine he positioned himself between the man and the hostile fire. It was at this time that Petty Officer Valdez was mortally wounded. In addition to the Navy Cross, Petty Officer Valdez was posthumously awarded the Vietnamese Military Merit Medal and Gallantry Cross with Palm from the Government of Vietnam. His citation reads in part: Courageous combatant, well known for his sacrifice, who always exhibited good will and cooperation. He assisted the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces in blocking the Red Wave of aggression from engulfing South Vietnam and Southeast Asia. With his enthusiasms and exemplary devoted manner, he willingly executed all of his entrusted assignments and, disregarding all hardships and dangers, set a brilliant example for his Comrades-in-Arms. for service as set forth in the following and I ' ! l D n --.-E I .-Q.. ,lg n o :' ,I . . . . hy: 51-iii' 2 -- . , fur., .:'gx,fji,5', 'I ' ' , j ir f 2 'A li if Q I' . , V V 1 1 CK H 1 1