Santiago J. Erevia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Santiago J. Erevia
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Erevia during his time of service
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| Birth name | Santiago Jesus Erevia |
| Born | December 15, 1945 Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Died | March 22, 2016 (aged 70) San Antonio, Texas |
| Buried |
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas
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| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Army Texas National Guard |
| Years of service | 1967–1970 1972–1989 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | Company C, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Air Medal Army Commendation Medal |
Santiago Jesus Erevia (December 15, 1945 – March 22, 2016) was an American soldier who fought in the Vietnam War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Biography
Santiago Erevia, a Mexican-American, was born in Nordheim, Texas, in 1945, volunteering to join the United States Army in San Antonio when he was 22 years old.
Serving in the Vietnam War, his conduct resulted in his being presented with the Medal of Honor: while a Spc. 4, Erevia distinguished himself May 21, 1969, while serving as a radio-telephone operator during Operation Lamar Plain, a search-and-clear mission near Tam Ky City, in the Republic of Vietnam.
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 worked as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service, retiring in 2002 after thirty-two years of service. Erevia died on March 22, 2016, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 70.
Medal of Honor award
Erevia was one of two dozen veterans who received the Medal of Honor in 2014 after a Pentagon review, mandated by Congress in 2002, of past discrimination in the bestowal of the military's highest honor for valor. Erevia was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a March 18, 2014 ceremony at the White House.
The award came through the Defense Authorization Act which called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor.
- Erevia receiving the Medal of Honor
during a White House ceremony on March 18, 2014
