Valor 24: Santiago Erevia [Image 5 of 5]

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

03.21.2014

Courtesy Photo

Office of the Chief of Public Affairs

Medal of Honor candidate Santiago Erevia was born in Nordheim, Texas, in 1946. He volunteered to join the U.S. Army in San Antonio when he was 22-years-old. Then-Spc. 4 Erevia distinguished himself May 21, 1969, serving as a radio telephone operator in Company C, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Erevia’s company was engaged in a search and clear operation near the city of Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province, Vietnam. Throughout the day there was light skirmishing between Company C and elements of the enemy force across the open rice paddy. Arriving at the hillside, Company C was under heavy contact with the enemy and suffered to the front. At approximately 4 p.m., the order was given for Company C to attack the hill from the north. At the hillside, Company C received numerous casualties as a result of the intensity of the battle. Erevia was designated by his platoon leader to give aid to four of his wounded comrades while the rest of the platoon pushed forward against the insurgents. While administering first aid, Erevia and the four wounded personnel came under intense automatic weapons and small-arms fire from four enemy bunkers strategically located approximately 50 meters to the left flank. He realized that action must be taken immediately if they were able to be relieved from the precarious situation they were in. With bullets striking all around him, he proceeded to crawl from wounded to wounded gathering up weapons and ammunition. Armed with two M16 rifles and several hand grenades, Erevia, issuing forth a heavy volume of fire, moved in on the line of enemy bunkers. Disregarding the fire directed at him from the remaining bunkers, he pulled the pin on a hand grenade and advanced on the bunker, firing his rifles until he dropped the grenade into the bunker, thus destroying the fortification and killing the enemy soldier within. By this time, he was the primary target of the enemy gunners. Without hesitation, he proceeded to maneuver his way through the intense enemy fire toward the three other bunkers and completely silenced them by accurately throwing a hand grenade at two positions and firing his M16 rifle at the last bunker. Erevia returned to aid in treating and evacuating the dead and wounded from his company. In 1970 Erevia left active service with a two-year reserve obligation. In 1972 he joined the Texas National Guard and went on to serve 17 years. Erevia was also employed with the U.S. Postal Service; after 32 years of public service there, he retired in 2002. Erevia has four grown children and lives in San Antonio with his wife, Leticia Lopez.

• Date Taken: 03.21.2014
• Date Posted: 03.21.2014 13:52
• Photo ID: 1192457
• VIRIN: 140321-A-ZZ999-005
• Resolution: 2174x1677
• Size: 370.42 KB
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)