Mail Handler and Letter Carrier Receive Nation’s Highest
Military Honor for Valorous Service in Vietnam
President Barack Obama applauds Medal of Honor recipients (l-r) Staff Sgt. Melvin Morris, Master Sgt. Jose Rodela, and Specialist Four Santiago Erevia for actions during the Vietnam War, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington on March 18, 2014.
(Official White House photo by Pete Souza)
In a White House ceremony on March 18, 2014, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to twenty-four American military heroes. Each of these Soldiers' bravery was previously recognized by award of the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest award; that award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Twenty-one of these recipients are now deceased, and were recognized posthumously. Two of the three living recipients are connected to the postal family. Retired Master Sgt. Jose Rodela served as a Mail Handler in Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Texas following his retirement from the Army in 1975 as he transitioned to his service in the Air Force. Following his military service in the Army, former Sgt. Santiago Erevia served in both the Texas National Guard and as a San Antonio Letter Carrier until his retirement from the USPS in 2002.
These belated Medal of Honor awards come after a decade-long Pentagon review ordered by Congress in 2002, which called for a review to determine whether deserving veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War had been improperly passed over for the Medal of Honor due to discrimination based on racism or anti-Semitism.
Medal of Honor recipient Jose Rodela was born in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1937. He entered the U.S. Army in September 1955, at the age of 17. Rodela received the Medal of Honor for his valorous actions on Sept. 1, 1969, while serving as the company commander of a Cambodian strike force in Phuoc Long Province, Vietnam. A Special Forces soldier, Rodela led and organized his company throughout 18 hours of continuous contact when his battalion was attacked, and taking heavy casualties. Throughout the battle, despite suffering shrapnel wounds to his head and back, Rodela repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to attend to the fallen and eliminate an enemy rocket position. Rodela retired from the Army in 1975. He currently resides in San Antonio, Texas.
Prior to presentation of the award to Rodela by President Obama, there was a reading of his citation, which included the following: “Master Sgt. Rodela’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service, and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.”
Medal of Honor recipient Santiago Erevia also was born in Corpus Christi Texas, in 1946, and served as an Army radio telephone operator in the 101st Airborne Division, Specialist Fourth Class. Erevia received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while participating in a search-and-clear mission in central Vietnam on May 21, 1969 when his platoon came under fire. Armed with two M-16 rifles and several grenades, Erevia crawled from one wounded soldier to another, and single-handedly charged four enemy bunkers near Tam Ky City, a coastal town south of Da Nang. Methodically killing enemy troops in each bunker, he ran out of grenades and shot the last defender at point-blank range. Erevia left the Army in 1970, to begin his postal career. He also currently resides in San Antonio, Texas.
Addressing Rodela, Erevia, and the other living Medal of Honor recipient, Staff Sgt.Melvin Morris (who served as one of the original “Green Beret” soldiers), President Obama noted that they “refused to yield, and on behalf of a grateful nation, we all want to thank you for inspiring us, then and now, with your strength, your will, and your heroic acts.”
The National Postal Mail Handlers Union expresses its congratulations and gratitude to all of the March 18, 2014 Medal of Honor recipients and their families and loved ones.
Link to video of Medal of Honor Award Ceremony
