Elmelindo Rodrigues Smith

Sergeant First Class Elmelindo Rodrigues Smith[note 1] (July 27, 1935 – February 16, 1967) was a United States Army soldier, of Hispanic-Asian descent,[1][2] who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War. Despite being severely wounded, Smith inspired his men to beat back an enemy assault.

Elmelindo Rodrigues Smith
SFC. Elmelindo Rodrigues Smith, Medal of Honor recipient
Born(1935-07-27)July 27, 1935
Wahiawā, Hawaii
DiedFebruary 16, 1967(1967-02-16) (aged 31)
Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam
Place of burial
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1953–1967
RankSergeant First Class (posthumous)
Unit1st Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
Battles/warsVietnam War †
AwardsMedal of Honor
Purple Heart

Early years

Smith, an American of Hispanic/Asian descent,[1] was born in Wahiawa, a town located in the center of Oahu Island in the County of Honolulu, Hawaii. There he received his primary and secondary education graduating from Leilehua High School.[3] He joined the United States Army in 1953 and was stationed in various countries overseas, among them was Okinawa.

During his stay in Okinawa, he met a Hawaiian born WAC by the name of Jane and soon they were married. They established their home in a military post in Tacoma, Washington and had two daughters.[4]

Vietnam War

On July 23, 1966, Smith was sent to the Republic of Vietnam and served as Platoon Sergeant of the 1st Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry of the 4th Infantry Division. The division conducted combat operations in the western Central Highlands along the border between Cambodia and Vietnam. The division experienced intense combat against North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regular forces in the mountains surrounding Kontum.

On February 16, 1967, Sergeant Smith was leading his platoon in a reconnaissance patrol, when suddenly it came under attack. NVA forces attacked the patrol with machinegun, mortar and rocket fire. Despite the fact that he was wounded, he coordinated a counterattack by positioning his men and distributing ammunition. He was struck by a rocket, but continued to expose himself in order to direct his men's fire upon the approaching enemy. Even though he perished from his wounds, his actions resulted in the defeat of the enemy.

For his actions, he was recommended for the Medal of Honor. In October 1968, his family received the medal from the hands of Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor, because President Lyndon B. Johnson was ill at the time. However, after the ceremony, which was held at the White House, the family which included his widow Jane and two daughters, Kathleen 10 and Pamela 6, were taken to President Johnson's bedroom.[5][6]

Medal of Honor citation
SMITH, ELMELINDO RODRIGUES
Rank and organization: Platoon Sergeant (then S/Sgt.), U.S. Army, 1st Platoon, Company C, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 16 February 1967
Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii
Born: 27 July 1935, Honolulu, Hawaii
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. During a reconnaissance patrol. his platoon was suddenly engaged by intense machinegun fire hemming in the platoon on 3 sides. A defensive perimeter was hastily established, but the enemy added mortar and rocket fire to the deadly fusillade and assaulted the position from several directions. With complete disregard for his safety, P/Sgt. Smith moved through the deadly fire along the defensive line, positioning soldiers, distributing ammunition and encouraging his men to repeal the enemy attack. Struck to the ground by enemy fire which caused a severe shoulder wound, he regained his feet, killed the enemy soldier and continued to move about the perimeter. He was again wounded in the shoulder and stomach but continued moving on his knees to assist in the defense. Noting the enemy massing at a weakened point on the perimeter, he crawled into the open and poured deadly fire into the enemy ranks. As he crawled on, he was struck by a rocket. Moments later, he regained consciousness, and drawing on his fast dwindling strength, continued to crawl from man to man. When he could move no farther, he chose to remain in the open where he could alert the perimeter to the approaching enemy. P/Sgt. Smith perished, never relenting in his determined effort against the enemy. The valorous acts and heroic leadership of this outstanding soldier inspired those remaining members of his platoon to beat back the enemy assaults. P/Sgt. Smith's gallant actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and they reflect great credit upon him and the Armed Forces of his country.[7]

Postscript

Sergeant First Class Elmelindo Rodrigues Smith's remains were buried with full military honors in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific located in Honolulu, Hawaii. His name is inscribed in the Vietnam War Memorial located in Washington, D.C. in Panel 15E – Row 051.[8]

Awards and recognitions

Among Smith's decorations and medals were the following:

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
 National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Foreign unit decorations

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See also

Notes
  1. This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Rodrigues and the second or maternal family name is Smith.

References
  1. Somos Primos; December 2007; Dedicated to Hispanic Heritage and Diversity Issues, Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research
  2. Rodrigues a surname of Spanish origin
  3. John L. Johnson (18 April 2012). Every Night & Every Morn: Portraits of Asian, Hispanic, Jewish, African American, and Native American Recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor from the Civil War to the War on Terror. BookBaby. pp. 147–148. ISBN 978-0-9799572-4-6.
  4. "News Tribune, Tacoma WA ( 21 Feb 1967)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2007.
  5. "News Tribune, Tacoma WA". Archived from the original on 2007-03-04. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  6. St. Petersburg Times
  7. Rodrigues Smith's Medal of Honor citation
  8. United States Department of Veterans Affairs
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