"He was on outpost duty with 5 others when the enemy counterattacked with
overwhelming strength. From his position near some woods 500 yards
beyond the American lines he observed a hostile tank about 75 yards
away, and raked it with automatic rifle fire until it withdrew. Soon
afterward he saw 3 Germans stealthily approaching through the woods. Scorning cover as the enemy soldiers opened up with heavy automatic
weapons fire from a range of 30 yards, he engaged in a fire fight with
the attackers until he had killed all 3. The enemy quickly launched an
attack with 2 full companies of infantrymen, blasting the patrol with
murderous concentrations of automatic and rifle fire and beginning an
encircling movement which forced the patrol leader to order a
withdrawal. Despite the terrible odds, Pfc. Valdez immediately
volunteered to cover the maneuver, and as the patrol 1 by 1 plunged
through a hail of bullets toward the American lines, he fired burst
after burst into the swarming enemy. Three of his companions were
wounded in their dash for safety and he was struck by a bullet that
entered his stomach and, passing through his body, emerged from his
back. Overcoming agonizing pain, he regained control of himself and
resumed his firing position, delivering a protective screen of bullets
until all others of the patrol were safe. By field telephone he called
for artillery and mortar fire on the Germans and corrected the range
until he had shells falling within 50 yards of his position. For 15
minutes he refused to be dislodged by more than 200 of the enemy; then,
seeing that the barrage had broken the counter attack, he dragged
himself back to his own lines. He died later as a result of his wounds. Through his valiant, intrepid stand and at the cost of his own life, PFC
Valdez made it possible for his comrades to escape, and was directly
responsible for repulsing an attack by vastly superior enemy forces."
From PFC Valdez's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on February 8, 1946.
May you be at peace,
Brian
All Veterans Memorial Park in Berg Park, Farmington, New Mexico
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