Jorge Otero Barreto: Difference between revisions
m Disambiguate link to Lorain |
Marine 69-71 (talk | contribs) m →Vietnam War: fix |
||
Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
==Vietnam War== |
==Vietnam War== |
||
From 1961 to 1970, Otero Barreto served five tours in [[Southeast Asia]], starting as an advisor who helped train Vietnamese troops.<ref name="AG"/><ref name="BL"/><ref> |
From 1961 to 1970, Otero Barreto served five tours in [[Southeast Asia]], starting as an advisor who helped train Vietnamese troops.<ref name="AG"/><ref name="BL"/><ref>''Puerto Rican veteran shares tales of Vietnam.''; The Morning Journal; January 2014</ref> According to the documentary "Brave Lords", Otero Barreto served in various military units during his military career. He served in the [[101st Airborne Division]] and the [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|25th Infantry Division]] "Tropic Lightning". He also served in the [[82nd Airborne Division]], an active airborne infantry division of the United States Army specializing in parachute landing operations and in the [[173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team]].<ref name="AG"/><ref name="BL"/> He participated in 200 combat missions,<ref name="AG"/><ref name="BL"/> was wounded five times in combat, and was awarded 38 military decorations,<ref>[http://articles.courant.com/1996-03-28/news/9603280251_1_puerto-ricans-vietnam-veterans-memorial-puerto-rico ''Acceptance In U.S. Role A Long March For Veterans.''] Mike Swift. Hartford Courant. 28 March 1996. Retrieved 26 August 2012.</ref> making him "the most decorated soldier of the Vietnam War."<ref name="AG"/><ref name="BL"/><ref name="prstatehood.com"/> Among his many decorations are 3 Silver Stars, 5 Bronze Stars with Valor, 4 [[Army Commendation Medal]]s, 5 Purple Hearts and 5 Air Medals (one each for every 5th mission which involved a [[helicopter]]).<ref name="prstatehood.com"/><ref>[http://www.latinoalliance.net/profiles-in-courage.html ''Most Decorated US Soldier in Vietnam War.''] Latino Alliance. Latino Alliance Profiles in Courage! 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.</ref> |
||
Otero Barreto has been called "the most decorated Puerto Rican veteran,"<ref name="Membership Notes."/> and the news media<ref name="AG"/><ref name="BL"/> and various organizations<ref>[http://www.latinoalliance.net/profiles-in-courage.html ''Most Decorated US Soldier in Vietnam War.''] Latino Alliance. 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012</ref> have called him "the most decorated soldier in the Vietnam War."<ref name="AG"/><ref name="BL"/> Whatever the case, Otero Barreto remains one of the most decorated Vietnam War veterans, and possibly the most decorated U.S. soldier in the Vietnam War living today.<ref>[http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1215162930145160.xml&coll=1 ''Hometown hero is Spirit honoree: Capt. Joe Hooper most-decorated Vietnam War vet.''] Huntsville Times. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/22/AR2010012204550.html ''Medal of Honor recipient Col. Robert L. Howard dies at 70.''] T. Rees Shapiro. Washington Post. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2012.</ref> |
Otero Barreto has been called "the most decorated Puerto Rican veteran,"<ref name="Membership Notes."/> and the news media<ref name="AG"/><ref name="BL"/> and various organizations<ref>[http://www.latinoalliance.net/profiles-in-courage.html ''Most Decorated US Soldier in Vietnam War.''] Latino Alliance. 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012</ref> have called him "the most decorated soldier in the Vietnam War."<ref name="AG"/><ref name="BL"/> Whatever the case, Otero Barreto remains one of the most decorated Vietnam War veterans, and possibly the most decorated U.S. soldier in the Vietnam War living today.<ref>[http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1215162930145160.xml&coll=1 ''Hometown hero is Spirit honoree: Capt. Joe Hooper most-decorated Vietnam War vet.''] Huntsville Times. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/22/AR2010012204550.html ''Medal of Honor recipient Col. Robert L. Howard dies at 70.''] T. Rees Shapiro. Washington Post. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2012.</ref> |
Revision as of 23:56, 19 May 2015
Jorge Otero Barreto | |
---|---|
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team | |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Awards | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sergeant First Class Jorge A. Otero Barreto
Early years
Otero Barreto was born in the town of
Vietnam War
From 1961 to 1970, Otero Barreto served five tours in
Otero Barreto has been called "the most decorated Puerto Rican veteran,"[5] and the news media[2][3] and various organizations[10] have called him "the most decorated soldier in the Vietnam War."[2][3] Whatever the case, Otero Barreto remains one of the most decorated Vietnam War veterans, and possibly the most decorated U.S. soldier in the Vietnam War living today.[11][12]
Recognitions
On 22 June 2012, Otero Barreto was the keynote speaker at a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dinner in
A transitional home for veterans in Springfield, Massachusetts, the SFC Jorge Otero-Barreto Homeless Veterans Transitional Home, was also named after Otero Barreto.[16] The home is managed by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #866 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The home is part of a program named the "Jorge Otero Barreto Homeless Veterans Transitional Program" which houses twelve (12) veterans. The program offers counseling, DVA services from the Western Massachusetts Bilingual Veterans Outreach Center, assistance in obtaining Chapter 115 financial assistance, AA/NA meetings, and Christian Rehabilitation Substance Abuse meetings.[5][17]
The town of Vega Baja dedicated its military museum to Otero Barreto and named it the "Jorge Otero Barreto Museum."[18] On 2 October 2011, Otero Barreto was named Vegabajeño del Año en Civismo (Civic Citizen of Year of Vega Baja).[19] Otero Barreto was featured in the documentary film Brave Lords, a perspective on the war in Vietnam, as experienced by Puerto Rican soldiers.[3]
Military decorations
Among SFC Otero Barreto's military decorations:[20][failed verification]
Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star with four oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Purple Heart with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with four award stars
Badges
Tabs:
101st Airborne Division Patch
25th Infantry Division Patch
82nd Airborne Division Patch
- 173th Airborne Brigade Shoulder Patch
Notes
See also
References
- ^ a b U.S. Department of Commerce. Office of the Census. 1940 United States Census Records. "Censo Décimosexto de los Estados Unidos: 1940 - Población: Puerto Rico. (Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940 - Population Schedule: Puerto Rico)." Municipality: Vega Baja. Barrio: Pueblo. Township: Aldea Sánchez López. Census Taker: Isabel Oliveras de Pérez. Date: 5 April 1940. Sheet: 6-B. Rows 71, 72, and 75. The National Archives and Records Administration, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NorthWest, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h American Greatness
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Brave Lords Cite error: The named reference "BL" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c Remarks of Major General Orlando Llenza, USAF (Ret.), Delivered to the Puerto Rico Bar Association of Florida, 6th Annual Gala, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Major General Orlando Llenza. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ a b c Membership Notes. December 2000/January 2001. Vietnam Veterans of America. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Sargento Jorge Otero Barreto: Es el soldado boricua más condecorado. Hispanidad: Nuestros Paises. Univision. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Puerto Rican veteran shares tales of Vietnam.; The Morning Journal; January 2014
- ^ Acceptance In U.S. Role A Long March For Veterans. Mike Swift. Hartford Courant. 28 March 1996. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Most Decorated US Soldier in Vietnam War. Latino Alliance. Latino Alliance Profiles in Courage! 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Most Decorated US Soldier in Vietnam War. Latino Alliance. 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012
- ^ Hometown hero is Spirit honoree: Capt. Joe Hooper most-decorated Vietnam War vet. Huntsville Times. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Medal of Honor recipient Col. Robert L. Howard dies at 70. T. Rees Shapiro. Washington Post. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dinner. Lorain County Vietnam War Fallen Heroes Recogintion Dinner. Calendar. City of Lorain, Ohio. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ [Realizan encuentro boricua en Chicago.; El Diario-La Prensa. New York, NY 09/01/2006.]
- ^ [NPRC Reception, Dinner and Dance: “Un Encuentro Entre Familia”.; Fiesta Boricua. La Voz del Paseo Boricua. July–August 2006. Vol 3. Number 4. Page 11. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
- ^ Outreach/Vet Centers & Transition Houses.;]The Bay State Veteran. August 2012 Newsletter. Page 4. The Blinded Veterans Association (BVA). Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Jorge Otero Barreto Homeless Veterans Transitional Home. Bilingual Veterans Outreach Centers of Massachusetts, Inc. Springfield, Mass. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Municipalities / Vega Baja: Places of Interest. Puerto Rico Encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ [Vegabajeño del Año en Civismo. Diario Vegabajeño. Vega Baja News, Inc. 11 October 2009.] Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Documentary decoration gallery. Joe Felix. Brave Lords, The Documentary Film: A perspective of the war in Vietnam as experienced by Puerto Rican soldiers. Brave Lords Productions. New York, New York. 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
Further reading
- Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own; by : Greg Boudonck; ISBN 978-1497421837