Copy_2_of_animflag.gif (12791 bytes) [The Purple Heart Medal][The Silver Star Medal]Copy_2_of_animflag.gif (12791 bytes)

--- General / Personal ---

Last name: ORTIZ
First name: JOHN
Home of Record (official): CHICAGO
State (official): IL
Date of Birth: Sunday, August 23, 1936
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Married

--- Military ---

Branch: Army
Rank: SSG
Serial Number: 16460144
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E6
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 11E40
 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
H Company 2nd Squardon

--- Action ---

Start of Tour: Thursday, March 23, 1967
Date of Casualty: Wednesday, January 17, 1968
Age at time of loss: 31
Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died
Reason: Artillery, rocket, mortar (Ground casualty)
Country: South Vietnam
Province: Binh Long
The Wall: Panel 34E - Row 063

--- Interment ---

Mount Calvary Cemetery
801 Southwest Westchester Road
Topeka, KS 66606
(785) 272-0820

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION
APO San Francisco 96370

 

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION
APO San Francisco 96370

9 April 1968

GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 2280

AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR

1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.

ORTIZ, JOHN RA16460144 STAFF SERGEANT E6
Company H, 2d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

 

Awarded: Silver Star
Date action: 17 January 1968
Theater: Republic of Vietnam
Reason: For gallantry in action involving close combat against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. STAFF SERGEANT ORTIZ distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 17 January 1968, while serving as a Tank Commander with Company H, 2d Squadron, llth Armored Cavalry Regiment, on a reconnaissance in force mission during Operation Fargo in Loc Ninh Province. Sergeant Ortiz's tank, in the lead position, came under heavy recoilless rifle and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior Viet Cong force. An anti-tank round struck his vehicle, causing it to burst into flames. Directing his men to abandon the flaming tank, Sergeant Ortiz covered their exit with highly accurate suppressive fire from his .50 caliber machine gun. When his men were safely evacuated, Sergeant Ortiz turned his main gun on the enemy fortification, destroying at least one of the recoilless rifle teams. While still firing devastating rounds into the insurgent pnpitions, Sergeant Ortiz was mortally wounded by an exploding antitank round. Sergeant Ortiz's extraordinary heroism in close combat against a numerically superior Viet Cong force was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 9 July 1918, and USARV message 16695, dated 1 July 1966.

FOR THE COMMANDER:


Chief of Staff

OFFICIAL: