Santiago J. Erevia

Santiago J. Erevia (December 15, 1945 – March 22, 2016) was an American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient who served with distinction in the Vietnam War as a member of the 101st Airborne Division.

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Santiago and Raphaela Erevia, he grew up in a financially struggling family, dropping out of high school in the tenth grade to work odd jobs including harvesting cotton, washing dishes, and delivering soda before enlisting in the U.S. Army at age 22 in San Antonio.

Assigned as a Specialist Four and radio operator with Company C, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, he deployed to Vietnam in 1969, where his quiet and modest demeanor belied the extraordinary valor he would display.

Full Name	Santiago J. Erevia
Other Name	Santiago Jesus Erevia
Gender	Male
Occupation	Soldier
Date of Birth	15-December-1945 (70 years)
Birth Year	1945
Birth Location	Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Death Time	22-March-2016
Death Location	San Antonio, Texas

On May 21, 1969, during Operation Lamar Plain near Tam Ky, Erevia's unit came under intense machine gun fire from four North Vietnamese bunkers while advancing across an open field, pinning down the soldiers and wounding several.

Without orders, he grabbed two M-16 rifles and grenades, then charged hundreds of yards through heavy enemy fire and shrapnel, single-handedly neutralizing the bunkers one by one by tossing grenades inside and engaging enemies in close combat, including a face-to-face shootout where he killed his opponent unscathed despite a bullet hole in his jacket flap.

His actions saved numerous lives, earning him the Distinguished Service Cross initially, though eyewitness Private First Class John MacFarland meticulously documented the heroism in hopes of a higher award.

In 2014, as part of a congressional mandate reviewing upgrades for minority veterans potentially overlooked due to bias, Santiago J. Erevia received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama at the White House alongside 23 others, one of only three living recipients from that group.

He left active duty in 1970, served 17 years in the Texas National Guard until 1989, married, raised four children including one who fought in Iraq, and worked over 30 years for the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 2002.

Erevia, described as a silent hero, passed away at age 70 in San Antonio, leaving a legacy of selfless courage recognized after 45 years.