Medal of Honor recipient from Korean War laid to rest in Arlington

By Lisa Ferdinando, ARNEWSNovember 24, 2014

MoH recipient from Korean War laid to rest at Arlington
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), provide ceremonial support during a full military honors burial for Pvt. Miguel A. Vera, Nov. 20, 2014, in Arlington National Cemetery, Va. Vera, who was killed during the Korean War, was a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
MoH recipient from Korean War laid to rest at Arlington
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), provide ceremonial support during a full military honors burial for Pvt. Miguel A. Vera, Nov. 20, 2014, in Arlington National Cemetery, Va. Vera, who was killed during the Korean War, was a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
MoH recipient from Korean War laid to rest at Arlington
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), provide ceremonial support during a full military honors burial for Pvt. Miguel A. Vera, Nov. 20, 2014, in Arlington National Cemetery, Va. Vera, who was killed during the Korean War, was a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
MoH recipient from Korean War laid to rest at Arlington
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Joe Rodriguez, (center) the nephew of Pvt. Miguel A. Vera, and Rodriguez's son Jojo Rodriguez, take part in a wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Nov. 20, 2014, following the burial of Vera, who was killed in the Korean War and receive... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
MoH recipient from Korean War laid to rest at Arlington
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 24, 2014) -- Decades after he was killed protecting his unit from the enemy, Medal of Honor recipient Pvt. Miguel A. Vera of the Korean War was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

"It was beautiful. It was what I expected plus more. Everybody was in awe," Vera's nephew Joe Rodriguez of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said of the full military honors funeral.

Vera, who was from Puerto Rico, joined the Army when he was 17 years old. He was killed in Chorwon, Korea, Sept. 21, 1952. He received the Medal of Honor, March 18, and Rodriguez accepted the award on his uncle's behalf.

Vera was recognized for extraordinary heroism when his unit attempted to retake the right sector of "Old Baldy." The unit came under heavy fire at close range and was forced back. Vera voluntarily stayed behind and was killed as he covered the withdrawal as the troops moved to safety.

His Medal of Honor citation says Vera "remained steadfast in his position, directing accurate fire against the hostile positions despite the intense volume of fire which the enemy was concentrating upon him."

Vera was buried at Utuado Municipal Cemetery in Puerto Rico. He was moved to Arlington National Cemetery Thursday, so future generations could visit the grave on the hallowed grounds.

"He's a national hero. Anybody who has the Medal of Honor is a national hero, a treasure," Rodriguez said.

About 50 people attended the re-interment, including some 30 family members, as well as members of Congress, and Medal of Honor recipient Retired Sgt. 1st Class Melvin Morris.

Morris, who was recognized for his actions in Vietnam, received the Medal of Honor in the same White House ceremony in which Vera was honored.

Vera and Morris were among the "Valor 24" group of 24 Soldiers who were found to have been overlooked for the Medal of the Honor, and their Distinguished Service Cross awards were upgraded to the nation's highest military award for valor.

The review began by examining the records of Jewish and Hispanic Service members from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and it later uncovered others who were overlooked for the Medal of the Honor.

MEMORIES OF HIS UNCLE

Rodriguez recalled living with his grandmother -- Vera's mother -- and Vera in Puerto Rico for three years as a young boy, when his own parents went to the mainland United States.

"He was very generous," he said, noting that his uncle, who was older than him by eight years, did cartoons for the newspapers as a teenager before joining the Army.

"He was just an awesome guy. He never had a bad word to say about anybody, and the most amazing thing about it was that I was just reminded by somebody who went up the hill with him, when he earned the medal, he was 5' 4", [and] 135 pounds," he said.

Rodriguez has the fondest of memories of his uncle.

"I always knew that he was a special kind of guy, very fair, very humble," Rodriguez said.

His uncle had the goal of joining the military as soon as he could and wanted to buy his mother a house, Rodriguez said, noting that he had followed Vera's advice and joined the military -- the Marine Corps.

SOLEMN DAY AT ARLINGTON

After Vera's ashes were buried in Section 71, Rodriguez, other family members and Morris participated in a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

"To give up his life to cover for his men is an awesome thing," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said he was "trying to fight back the tears" on such an emotional day.

"It's a feeling like you can't even imagine what it is," he said.

"It's a happy, sad, surprising feeling. When you look around and you see and when you know that only 3,400 Americans since the history of the United States have received the Medal of Honor and he is one of them. It's a 'wow,'" he said.

Vera's Medal of Honor citation reads:

"Private Miguel A. Vera distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an automatic rifleman with Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division in Chorwon, Korea, on September 21, 1952. That morning, despite suffering from wounds inflicted in a previous battle, Private Vera voluntarily left the aid station to join his comrades in an attack against well-fortified enemy positions on a hill of great importance. When the assaulting elements had moved within twenty yards of the enemy positions, they were suddenly trapped by a heavy volume of mortar, artillery and small-arms fire. The company prepared to make a limited withdrawal, but Private Vera volunteered to remain behind to provide covering fire. As his companions moved to safety, Private Vera remained steadfast in his position, directing accurate fire against the hostile positions despite the intense volume of fire which the enemy was concentrating upon him. Later in the morning, when the friendly force returned, they discovered Private Vera in the same position, facing the enemy. Private Vera's noble intrepidity and self-sacrifice saved many of his comrades' lives. Private Vera's extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army."

(For more ARNEWS stories, visit www.army.mil/ARNEWS, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArmyNewsService, or Twitter @ArmyNewsService)

Related Links:

Army.mil: Korean War

Army Valor 24: Pvt. Miguel A. Vera

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STAND-TO!: Medal of Honor awarded to 24 Army Veterans