Félix Conde Falcón

Félix Modesto Conde Falcón
File:Felix-conde-falcon-united-states-army-medal-of-honor.jpg Picture of Félix Conde Falcón wearing his military uniform
Born	(1938-02-28)February 28, 1938 Juncos, Puerto Rico
Died	Ap Tan Hoa, Republic of Vietnam
Buried	Rogers Cemetery, in Rogers, Texas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1963–1969
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Unit	82nd Airborne Division, 505th Infantry Regiment 1st Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart

Félix Modesto Conde Falcón (February 28, 1938 – April 4, 1969) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. Born in Juncos, Puerto Rico, he joined the United States Army in April 1963 in Chicago, Illinois. He was killed during combat operations in Ap Tan Hoa, South Vietnam, on April 4, 1969. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a March 18, 2014 ceremony in the White House. The award comes through the Defense Authorization Act which called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor.

Awards and badges

Military awards

Conde Falcón's awards include:

•   Medal of Honor
•   Bronze Star with an oak leaf cluster and a "V device" which identifies the award as resulting from an act of combat heroism
•   Purple Heart
•   Army Commendation Medal
•   Army Good Conduct Medal
•   National Defense Service Medal
•   Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Streamer
•   Vietnam Campaign Medal
•   Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars
•   Vietnam Civil Actions Medal with oak leaf cluster

Badges

•   Combat Infantryman Badge
•   Parachutist badge
• Expert Marksmanship Badge with rifle bar.
• Marksmanship Badge

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to:

STAFF SERGEANT
FELIX M. CONDE-FALCON
UNITED STATES ARMY

For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division:

Conde-Falcon distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions, April 4, 1969, while serving as platoon leader during a sweep operation in the vicinity of Ap Tan Hoa, Vietnam. Entering a heavily wooded section on the route of advance, the company encountered an extensive enemy bunker complex, later identified as a battalion command post. Following tactical artillery and air strikes on the heavily secured communist position, the platoon of Conde-Falcon was selected to assault and clear the bunker fortifications. Moving out ahead of his platoon, he charged the first bunker, heaving grenades as he went. As the hostile fire increased, he crawled to the blind side of an entrenchment position, jumped to the roof, and tossed a lethal grenade into the bunker aperture. Without hesitating, he proceeded to two additional bunkers, both of which he destroyed in the same manner as the first. Rejoined with his platoon, he advanced about one hundred meters through the trees, only to come under intense hostile fire. Selecting three men to accompany him, he maneuvered toward the enemy’s flank position. Carrying a machine-gun, he single-handedly assaulted the nearest fortification, killing the enemy inside before running out of ammunition. After returning to the three men with his empty weapon and taking up an M-16 rifle, he concentrated on the next bunker. Within ten meters of his goal, he was shot by an unseen assailant and soon died of his wounds.

His great courage, his ability to act appropriately and decisively in accomplishing his mission, his dedication to the welfare of his men mark him as an outstanding leader Conde-Falcon’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

See also

• List of Puerto Ricans
• List of Puerto Rican military personnel
• List of Puerto Rican recipients of the Medal of Honor
• List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
• Puerto Ricans in the Vietnam War