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Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
U. S. Army Spc4 Alfred Rascon
Medal of Honor recipient Alfred Rascon stands with Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera at the ceremony inducting Rascon into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes Feb. 8. Rascon received the Medal of Honor for his actions as a medic in Vietnam. (photo by Amy Hagerstrom)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release February 8, 2000
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN PRESENTATION OF MEDAL OF HONOR TO ALFRED RASCON
The East Room 2:35 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Colonel, thank you for that prayer. General Hicks, Secretary Cohen, Secretary Webb, Secretary Richardson, Secretary Caldera, General Shelton, General Ralston, members of the Joint Chiefs; all the members of Congress who are here -- and we have quite a distinguished array of them -- we thank them all for coming. I'd like to ask the members of Congress who are here to stand so you'll see how many we have. We're very grateful to you.
(Applause.)
When the Medal of Honor was conceived in 1861, some Americans actually worried that it might be a bad thing, that the medals would be seen as somehow too aristocratic, and that there was no need for them in a genuinely democratic society. Today, we award the Medal of Honor, secure in the knowledge that people like Alfred Rascon have kept our democracy alive all these years. We bestow the medal knowing the America would not have survived were it not for people like him, who, generation after generation, have always renewed the extraordinary gift of freedom for their fellow citizens. Under any circumstances, a Medal of Honor ceremony is an event of great importance. Today it is especially so: For the rare quality of heroism on display that long-ago day in 1966. For the long, patient wait for recognition. For Alfred's decision to devote his life both before and after 1966 to a nation he was not born in. Alfred Rascon was born in Mexico on September 10, 1945, just eight days after the formal surrender ending World War II. When he was very young, his parents came to America for a better chance. They ended up in Oxnard, north of Los Angeles, and when Alfred started grade school he still spoke not a word of English. He grew up near three military bases, and fell in love with the Armed Forces. At the advanced age of seven, wanting to do his part to defend America, he built a homemade parachute and jumped off the roof of his house.
(Laughter.)
Unfortunately, in his own words, the chute had a "total malfunction" -- (laughter) -- and he broke his wrist. But as usual, he was undeterred. Soon he graduated from high school and enlisted in the United States Army. Appropriately, he became a medic for a platoon of paratroopers; the first of the 503rd Airborne Battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He explained, "I wanted to give back something to this country and its citizens for the opportunities it had given me and my parents. Those paratroopers who served with me in the reconnaissance platoon knew nothing of my immigrant status. It was never an issue. They simply knew me as Doc." Alfred's platoon was sent to Vietnam in May of 1965, part of the first Army combat unit there. On March the 16th, 1966, they were in Long Khanh Province, helping another platoon that was pinned down by the enemy. In his words, it was "ten minutes of pure hell." In the middle of an intense firefight, Alfred was everywhere. While attending to a fatally wounded machine gunner, Private William Thompson, he was hit with shrapnel and shot in the hip. The bullet went parallel to his spine, and came out by his shoulder. Ignoring his own wounds, he then brought desperately needed ammo to another machine gunner, Private Larry Gibson. Several grenades then landed nearby. One of them ripped his mouth open. When he saw another land near Private Neil Haffey, he covered him with his body, absorbing the brunt of the blast. Yet another grenade landed near Sergeant Ray Compton, and Alfred covered him, too. Then, barely able to walk, bleeding from his ears and nose, he ran to recover a machine gun that the enemy was about to capture. The extra firepower kept the enemy from advancing, and Alfred Rascon saved his platoon. Through this extraordinary succession of courageous acts, he never gave a single thought to himself -- except, he admits, for the instant when the grenade exploded near his face and he thought, oh, God, my good looks are gone.
(Laughter.)
I'm not much of an expert, but I would say you were wrong about that, Captain.
(Laughter.)
You look just fine here today. On that distant day, in that faraway place, this man gave everything he had, utterly and selflessly, to protect his platoon mates and the nation he was still not yet a citizen of. Later he said with characteristic modesty, "I did it because I had to do it and that's all there is to it." He said, "I don't consider myself a hero -- anybody in combat would do the same thing for their buddies and friends. We were all colorblind, we were all different nationalities; the important thing is that we were Americans fighting for America." I want to stop just for a moment to salute all the other Americans who did that in Vietnam. We want to honor you today, along with Alfred. Many of you were there with him. And I'd like for all of you to stand or, if you can't stand, lift your arms and be recognized. We want to acknowledge you today, please.
(Applause.)
Alfred Rascon was so badly wounded that day he was actually given last rites. After a long convalescence, he pulled through -- and he continued to serve his country. He became a citizen in 1967. He rejoined the Army as an officer. In 1972, he volunteered for a second tour in Vietnam. And in 1983, he began working for the Justice Department. Today, he is the Inspector General of the Selective Service System, helping to make sure that others will be there to defend America as he did. Looking at his lifetime of service to our nation, it would be hard to imagine a better definition of citizenship. So I would like to also take a moment, sir, to thank your parents, Alfredo and Andrea, for teaching their son the values of good citizenship.
(Applause.)
And we would all like to welcome your wife, Carol, and your children, Amanda and Alan. They must be so very proud of you today. We welcome you here.
(Applause.)
Now, here's the story of how we all came here. Alfred Rascon was given a Silver Star for his valor that day, in 1966. But the request for his Medal of Honor somehow got lost in a thicket of red tape. His platoon mates persisted, showing as much loyalty to him as he had shown to them. Thanks to them, after 34 years, I am proud to present you with our nation's highest honor. Since the creation of the Medal of Honor, roughly one in five of them have been awarded to immigrants. Today, there are over 60,000 immigrants protecting the United States in our military. Alfred was once asked why he volunteered to join and to go to Vietnam when he was not even a citizen. And he said, "I was always an American in my heart." Alfred Rascon, today we honor you as you have honored us, by your choice to become an American, and your courage in reflecting the best of America. You said that you summoned your courage for your platoon because "you've got to take care of your people." That's a pretty good credo for all the rest of us, as well. On behalf of all Americans, and especially on behalf of your platoon members who are here today, I thank you for what you mean to our country. Thank you for what you gave that day and what you have given every day since. Thank you for reminding us that being American has nothing to do with the place of your birth, the color of your skin, the language of your parents or the way you worship God. Thank you for living the enduring American values every day. Thank you for doing something that was hard, because no one else was there to do it. Thank you for looking out for people when no one else could be there for them. You have taught us once again that being American has nothing to do with place of birth, racial, ethnic origin or religious faith. It comes straight from the heart. And your heart, sir, is an extraordinary gift to your country.
Commander, please read the citation.
(The Medal of Honor citation is read. The President places the Medal of Honor on Alfred Rascon.)
(Applause.)
ALFRED RASCON: First of all, thank you very much. The honor is not really mine, it ends up being those who were with me that day. Mr. President, thank you very much for giving me at least a couple of seconds to thank those who were with me that day. Would my recon platoon please stand up.
(Applause.)
What you see before you is common valor that was done every day, and those of you who served in the military, and continue to serve in the military, are very much aware of that. What you do every day, it is duty, honor and country. And I'm deeply grateful to be here. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: I want to thank you all again for being here today, and invite you to join our honoree and his family in a reception in the State Dining Room at the end of the hall. Thank you very much, and welcome.
(Applause.)
But don't leave until we have the benediction.
(Laughter.)
General Hicks.
END 2:55 P.M. EST
Citation:
RASCON, ALFRED
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate) Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 16 March 1966 Born: 1945, Chihuahua, Mexico. Specialist Four Alfred Rascon, distinguished himself by a series of extraordinarily courageous acts on 16 March 1966, while assigned as a medic to the Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). While moving to reinforce its sister battalion under intense enemy attack, the Reconnaissance Platoon came under heavy fire from a numerically superior enemy force. The intense enemy fire from crew-served weapons and grenades severely wounded several point squad soldiers. Specialist Rascon, ignoring directions to stay behind shelter until covering fire could be provided, made his way forward. He repeatedly tried to reach the severely wounded point machine-gunner laying on an open enemy trail, but was driven back each time by the withering fire. Disregarding his personal safety, he jumped to his feet, ignoring flying bullets and exploding grenades to reach his comrade. To protect him from further wounds, he intentionally placed his body between the soldier and enemy machine guns, sustaining numerous shrapnel injuries and a serious wound to the hip. Disregarding his serious wounds he dragged the larger soldier from the fire-raked trail. Hearing the second machine-gunner yell that he was running out of ammunition, Specialist Rascon, under heavy enemy fire crawled back to the wounded machine-gunner stripping him of his bandoleers of ammunition, giving them to the machine-gunner who continued his suppressive fire. Specialist Rascon fearing the abandoned machine gun, its ammunition and spare barrel could fall into enemy hands made his way to retrieve them. On the way, he was wounded in the face and torso by grenade fragments, but disregarded these wounds to recover the abandoned machine gun, ammunition and spare barrel items, enabling another soldier to provide added suppressive fire to the pinned-down squad. In searching for the wounded, he saw the point grenadier being wounded by small arms fire and grenades being thrown at him. Disregarding his own life and his numerous wounds, Specialist Rascon reached and covered him with his body absorbing the blasts from the exploding grenades, and saving the soldier's life, but sustaining additional wounds to his body. While making his way to the wounded point squad leader, grenades were hurled at the sergeant. Again, in complete disregard for his own life, he reached and covered the sergeant with his body, absorbing the full force of the grenade explosions. Once more Specialist Rascon was critically wounded by shrapnel, but disregarded his own wounds to continue to search and aid the wounded. Severely wounded, he remained on the battlefield, inspiring his fellow soldiers to continue the battle. After the enemy broke contact, he disregarded aid for himself, instead treating the wounded and directing their evacuation. Only after being placed on the evacuation helicopter did he allow aid to be given to him. Specialist Rascon's extraordinary valor in the face of deadly enemy fire, his heroism in rescuing the wounded, and his gallantry by repeatedly risking his own life for his fellow soldiers are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Alfred Rascon Recipient of the Medal Of Honor
By Daniel Muoz, Jr.
 There is no higher honor, and nothing says more about a person than to be recognized with The Medal of Honor - you are a hero. This week Alfred Rascon was recognized as a Hero.
On March 16, 1965 Specialist (medic) Alfred Rascon, U.S. Army, and his platoon were in Long Khanh Province, helping another platoon that was pinned down by the enemy. In his words, it was "ten minutes of pure hell."
Alfred Rascon salutes his platoon upon receiving the Medal of Honor. Credit: David Scull, The White House.
While under intense enemy attack, Rascon dashed through flying bullets and exploding grenades to reach a fallen comrade. While attending to a fatally wounded machine gunner, Rascon was hit with shrapnel and shot in the hip. The bullet went parallel to his spine, and came out by his shoulder. Ignoring his own injuries, he dragged his comrade to safety and crawled back through the area of heaviest fire with ammunition for a machine gunner who was pinned down and hopelessly trapped.
Several grenades then landed nearby. One of them ripped his mouth open. When he saw another land near Private Neil Haffey, he covered him with his body, absorbing the brunt of the blast. Yet another grenade landed near Sergeant Ray Compton, and Alfred covered him, too.
Then, barely able to walk, bleeding from his ears and nose, he ran to recover a machine gun that the enemy was about to capture. The extra firepower kept the enemy from advancing - Alfred Rascon saved his platoon.
Alfred Rascon was so badly wounded that day he was given last rites.
"We bestow the medal knowing America would not have survived were it not for people like him, who, generation after generation, have always renewed the extraordinary gift of freedom for their fellow citizens," stated President Bill Clinton during the awards ceremony.
"Under any circumstances, a Medal of Honor ceremony is an event of great importance. Today is especially so: For the rare quality of heroism on display that long-ago day in 1966," said Clinton. "For the long, patient wait for recognition. For Alfred's decision to devote his life both before and after 1966 to a nation he was not born in."
For Rascon the recognition almost didn't come at all.
Rascon was recommend for the Medal of Honor by the men he saved that day. Somehow the paperwork was lost. Rascon received the Silver Star instead.
Rascon is congratulated by President Bill Clinton. Photo Credit: William Vasta, The White House.
It wasn't until 1993, when one of the men he saved learned that Rascon did not receive the Medal of Honor, did the wheels start rolling toward the ultimate recognition. Fellow platoon members Ray Compton, Neil Haffey and Larry Gibson sought to correct the oversight.
Initially the Pentagon would not reconsider Rascon's case because so much time had elapsed, but with the assistants of Rep. Lane Evans, D-Ill, President Clinton received a packet of information about Rascon in 1997.
The Pentagon relented last May, and Defense Secretary William Cohen approved the honor in November. 34 years after his heroism Rascon finally received his Medal of Honor.
Alfred Rascon was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, the only child of Alfredo and Andrea Rascon. His parents immigrated to the United States, settling in Oxnard, California, where he attend elementary school, not speaking a word of English.
Undeterred he graduated from high school and enlisted in the United States Army, he became a medic for a platoon of paratroopers; the first of the 503rd Airborne Battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. His immigration status never came up.
Alfred was once asked why he volunteered to join and to go to Vietnam when he was not even a citizen. And he said, "I was always an American in my heart."
"I wanted to give back something to this country and its citizens for the opportunities it had give me and my parents," stated Rascon. "Those paratroopers who served with me in the reconnaissance platoon knew nothing of my immigrant status. It was never an issue. They simply knew me as Doc."
In 1996 Rascon was honorably discharged from active duty and placed in the Army Reserves. In 1967 he became a naturalized citizen and after recovering from injuries, he graduated from the Army's Infantry Officers Candidate School and in 1970 was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.
During the ceremony Rascon asked his platoon to stand and be recognized. Rascon stated: "What you see before you is common valor that was done every day, and those of you who served in the military, and continue to serve in military , are very much aware of that. What you do every day, it is duty, honor and country, And I'm deeply grateful to be here."
In recognizing Rascon, President Clinton said, "On that distant day, in that faraway place, this man gave everything he had, utterly and selflessly, to protect his platoon mates and the nation he was still not yet a citizen of."
Rascon was to say, "I did it because I had to do it and that's all there is to it. I don't consider myself a hero -- anybody in combat would do the same thing for their buddies and friends. We were all colorblind, we were all different nationalities; the important thing is that we were Americans fighting for America."
Contributions from the Associated Press and the White House Press Office.
Additional news article about Medal of Honor Recipient Alfred Rascon
Congressman Jim Moran's News Commentary
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