| Miguel Armando Vera-Rodriguez | |
| Birth Name: | Miguel Armando Vera-Rodriguez |
| Birth Place: | Adjuntas, Puerto Rico |
| Death Place: | Chorwon, North Korea |
| Birth Date: | 3 May 1932[1] |
| Placeofburial: | Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Placeofburial Label: | Place of burial |
| Nickname: | "Nando" |
| Allegiance: | United States of America |
| Branch: | United States Army |
| Rank: | Private |
| Unit: | Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division |
| Servicenumber: | US50110351 |
| Battles: | Korean War |
| Awards: | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Miguel Armando "Nando" Vera-Rodriguez (May 3, 1932 - September 21, 1952) was a United States Army soldier who was killed in the Korean War and a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Old Baldy.[2] [3]
Vera was born in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico and joined the U.S. Army when he was 17 years old.[2]
After Vera was killed in action in the Korean War, his body was transferred to Puerto Rico where he was buried with full military honors in the Utuado Municipal Cemetery, Utuado, Puerto Rico. Years later, in November 2014, Vera was reburied at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.[4]
In 2017 Miguel Vera was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.[5]
The bestowal of the Medal of Honor recognized Vera for his actions at Chorwon, North Korea, on September 21, 1952.[2] While Vera's unit attempted to retake the right sector of Old Baldy, it came under heavy fire at close range and was forced back.[2] Vera selflessly chose to stay and cover the troops' withdrawal, and lost his life during this action.[2]
Vera was posthumously bestowed the Medal of Honor by President Obama in a March 18, 2014 White House ceremony.
The bestowal of the Medal of Honor was in accordance with the National 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.[6]
| Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge[7] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st row | Medal of Honor | Purple Heart | |||||
| 2nd row | Army Good Conduct Medal | National Defense Service Medal | Korean Service Medal (with two bronze service stars) | ||||
| 3rd row | United Nations Korea Medal | Korean War Service Medal | Hwarang Distinguished Military Service Medal (with one silver star) | ||||