José F. Jiménez
José Francisco Jiménez | |
---|---|
1st Marine Division | |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War † |
Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
José Francisco "Jo Jo" Jiménez (March 20, 1946 – August 28, 1969) was a
Early years
José Jiménez was born on March 20, 1946, in Mexico City, Mexico. He attended Benito Juárez School and José María Morelos School in Morelia, Michoacán. He graduated from Red Rock Elementary School, Red Rock, Arizona, in June 1964, and from Santa Cruz Valley Union High School, Eloy, Arizona, in June 1968.[1]
Enlisting in the
Ordered to the
Jimenez's mother, Basillia Jimenez, was employed by the Mexican government, working in Arizona. On September 6, 1969, she had Jimenez's remains buried in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. His mother died and was buried in Glendale Memorial Park Cemetery. With donations from various organizations his sister, who is his next of kin, was able to recover his remains and have them sent to Arizona. On January 17, 2017, LCpl Jimenez was re-interred and buried next to his mother, in Glendale Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona[3]
Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor citation:
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
LANCE CORPORAL JOSE F. JIMÉNEZ
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPSfor service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company K,
automatic weapons from a trench and, in the face of vicious enemy fire, destroyed the position. Although he was by now the target of concentrated fire from hostile gunners intent upon halting his assault, Lance Corporal Jimenez continued to press forward. As he moved to attack another enemy soldier, he was mortally wounded. Lance Corporal Jimenez' indomitable courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.[4]/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON
Awards and honors
Jiménez's medals include:
Medal of Honor | |||||||||||
Purple Heart | Combat Action Ribbon | National Defense Service Medal | |||||||||
Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 service stars | Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ palm
|
Vietnam Campaign Medal | |||||||||
Expert marksmanship badge for rifle | Expert marksmanship badge for pistol |
- Jiménez's name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 18W Line 002.[5]
- The Marine Barracks in Rota, Spain is named "Jiménez Hall" in honor of Jiménez.[citation needed]
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
- List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
- Hispanics in the United States Marine Corps
Notes
- ^ a b c "Lance Corporal Jose Francisco Jimenez, USMC, Medal of Honor recipient". Who's who in Marine Corps history. History Division, United States Marine Corps. September 18, 2003. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- ISBN 978-1494287627.
- ^ Patriot Guard Riders[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Medal of Honor – LCpl Jose F. Jimenez (Medal of Honor citation)". Medal of Honor, 1969, 3/7/1, Vietnam. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
- ^ "Jose Jimenez, LCPL, Marine Corps". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 2006-06-16.
Further reading
- Unit Action involving Lance Corporal Jimenez, His MOH Bravery, and the ferocious battles fought by the Army and Marines in Hiep Duc Valley during August 1969. See Keith William Nolan (1987). "Death Valley" – The Summer Offensive I Corps, August 1969[ISBN missing]
External links
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- "Medals of Honor (7th Marines)". Twentynine Palms, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-07-05. Retrieved 2007-11-10.