Martin Lechuga
Corporal, U.S. Army

On 11 April 1969, then-Private First Class Martin Lechuga was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, PFC Lechuga was a rifleman with a platoon operating in Hau Nghia Province. His platoon was carrying out an intelligence mission when the point man detected an enemy ambush in time to warn his comrades. A fire fight erupted, and the hostile forces were routed. Wanting to maintain contact with the fleeing enemy, the platoon pressed forward. On entering a wooded area, the friendly element came under an enfilade from automatic weapons, rifle grenades, and mortars. On identifying the source of enemy fire to the left flank, PFC Lechuga and a comrade began moving toward the emplacement. Just as they silenced the enemy position, they received heavy fire from another enemy fortification that seriously wounded PFC Lechuga's comrade. Knowing that the hostile fusillade prevented his pulling the wounded man to safety, he placed himself in front of his comrade and began returning a hail of rifle fire. As a result of his attempt to save his fellow soldier's life, he was fatally wounded by enemy fire. PFC Lechuga's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Lechuga received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Corporal.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Martin Lechuga (ASN: RA-15960755), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Lechuga distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 11 April 1969 while serving as a rifleman with a platoon operating in Hau Nghia Province. His platoon was carrying out an intelligence mission when the lead man detected an enemy ambush in time to warn his comrades. A fire fight erupted, and the hostile forces were routed. Wishing to maintain contact with the fleeing enemy, the platoon pressed forward. On entering a wooded area, the friendly element came under an enfilade from automatic weapons, rifle grenades, and mortars. On identifying the source of enemy fire to the left flank, PFC Lechuga and a comrade began moving toward the emplacement. Just as they silenced the enemy position, they received heavy fire from another enemy fortification, which seriously wounded Private First Class Lechuga's comrade. Realizing that the hostile fusillade prevented his pulling the wounded man to safety, he placed himself in front of his comrade and began returning a hail of rifle fire. As a result of his attempt to save his fellow soldier's life, he was fatally wounded by enemy fire. Private First Class Lechuga's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2025 (June 9, 1968)

Honors

The name Martin Lechuga is located on Panel 27W Line 57 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Corporal Martin Lechuga is buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX, in Plot W, 1986.

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