Puerto Rico's 
65th INFANTRY REGIMENT
SILVER STAR
HEADQUARTERS 3D INFANTRY DIVISION
GENERAL ORDERS # 229 - 6 July 1953
Master Sergeant NOEL VAZQUEZ, RA29160297, Company "E", 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On the afternoon of 9 June 1953, a daylight combat patrol left the main line of resistance assigned the mission of assaulting Hill "412" in the vicinity of Sagimak, Korea. Sergeant VAZQUEZ was assistant patrol leader of the forward assault element that closed with the enemy, inflicting numerous casualties on the foe. When the patrol entered the trenches of the enemy stronghold, he exposed himself to intense fire to reach the mouth of a cave and destroy it with hand grenades. On one occasion, he saw two of the enemy approaching his patrol leader and immediately he mortally wounded the foe. Firing his weapon, although wounded by fragments from a hand grenade, Sergeant VAZQUEZ continued firing his weapon until his ammunition was expended. He then directed the effective fire of other members of the patrol. Sergeant VAZQUEZ' outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the Federal Service from Puerto Rico.
Source: Record Group 338: General Orders 3rd Infantry Division, Boxes 129 to 131 -National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland.
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