Alejando R Ruiz, SGT

Sergeant Alejandro R. Ruiz (June 26, 1923 – November 20, 2009) was a former United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration, for his actions in the Battle of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands during World War II.

Medal of Honor citation

ALEJANDRO R. RUIZ

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 165th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division

Place and date: Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, April 28, 1945

Entered service at: Carlsbad, New Mexico

Born: June 26, 1923, Loving, New Mexico

G.O. No. 60, June 26, 1946.

When his unit was stopped by a skillfully camouflaged enemy pillbox, he displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. His squad, suddenly brought under a hail of machinegun fire and a vicious grenade attack, was pinned down. Jumping to his feet, Pfc. Ruiz seized an automatic rifle and lunged through the flying grenades and rifle and automatic fire for the top of the emplacement. When an enemy soldier charged him, his rifle jammed. Undaunted, Pfc. Ruiz whirled on his assailant and clubbed him down. Then he ran back through bullets and grenades, seized more ammunition and another automatic rifle, and again made for the pillbox. Enemy fire now was concentrated on him, but he charged on, miraculously reaching the position, and in plain view he climbed to the top. Leaping from one opening to another, he sent burst after burst into the pillbox, killing 12 of the enemy and completely destroying the position. Pfc. Ruiz's heroic conduct, in the face of overwhelming odds, saved the lives of many comrades and eliminated an obstacle that long would have checked his unit's advance.[