US Army MSG Jose Rodela: Medal of Honor Recipient Vietnam War

On September 1, 1969, Jose Rodela, a Sergeant First Class at the time, found himself in the midst of a brutal 18-hour battle during combat operations in Vietnam. As the company commander of Detachment B-36, 5th Special Forces Group, his battalion came under heavy attack from enemy mortar, rocket, and machine-gun fire.

Without hesitation, SFC Rodela exposed himself to the intense fire again and again, moving across open ground to organize defenses, direct suppressive fire, and aid the wounded. At one point, while pulling a wounded soldier to safety, he was struck by a B-40 rocket that wounded him in the back and head.

Refusing to be sidelined, he rose to his feet, charged forward alone, and destroyed the enemy rocket position that had hit him. He then returned to the perimeter to continue leading his men for the remainder of the fight.

For his extraordinary courage and leadership under fire, which helped save his battalion from being overrun, SFC Jose Rodela was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor Citation:
Sergeant First Class Jose Rodela distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the company commander, Detachment B-36, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces during combat operations against an armed enemy in Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam on September 1, 1969. That afternoon, Sergeant First Class Rodela’s battalion came under an intense barrage of mortar, rocket, and machine gun fire. Ignoring the withering enemy fire, Sergeant First Class Rodela immediately began placing his men into defensive positions to prevent the enemy from overrunning the entire battalion. Repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire, Sergeant First Class Rodela moved from position to position, providing suppressing fire and assisting wounded, and was himself wounded in the back and head by a B-40 rocket while recovering a wounded comrade. Alone, Sergeant First Class Rodela assaulted and knocked out the B-40 rocket position before successfully returning to the battalion’s perimeter. Sergeant First Class 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.

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