Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Near Da
Nang, Republic of Vietnam, 11 April 1970. Entered service at:
Chicago, 111. Born: 23 June 1949, East Chicago, Ind.
Citation... For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of
duty while serving as a machine gunner with Company E. Returning
with his squad from a night ambush operation, L/Cpl. De La Garza
joined his platoon commander and another marine in searching for 2
enemy soldiers who had been observed fleeing for cover toward a
small pond. Moments later, he located 1 of the enemy soldiers hiding
among the reeds and brush. As the 3 marines attempted to remove the
resisting soldier from the pond, L/Cpl. De La Garza observed him
pull the pin on a grenade. |
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