Ricardo Cardenas
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army

Ricardo Cardenas was born on 19 December 1923 in El Paso, TX, the son of Heliodoro and Manuela Alvarez Cardenas. He was raised in in the Mojave Desert at Oro Grande, San Bernardino County, CA.

During World War II, Ricardo Cardenas was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943, where he trained as a scout. Subsequently, on the trek north to Japan through New Guinea, Dutch East Indies and the Philippines, he participated in five amphibious landings and one major jungle / mountain operation (Biak Island - June 1944). (Data from MilitaryTimes Hall of Valor)

In July 1951, Cardenas received a battlefield commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. In June 1953, Captain Ricardo Cardenas was serving as serving as Commanding Officer of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 13 June, CPT Cardenas' company was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Chat-Kol, Korea, where Company F was defending positions along the United Nations' main line of resistance. When the enemy threatened to rout a Republic of Korea Army unit in an adjacent area, CPT Cardenas went to the sector, reorganized a portion of the troops, and led a counterattack that reclaimed over four hundred yards of territory. The following evening, Company F underwent an intense artillery barrage that destroyed all communications. CPT Cardenas saw that the enemy forces were approaching the right flank of his company and left the command post to alert his men. He moved through heavy fire to an open trench and, after three futile attempts, succeeded in firing a warning flare. While still under bombardment, CPT Cardenas directed the defense of the position and killed two of the enemy. Although wounded, he refused to be evacuated until the area was secured. CPT Cardenas' extraordinary heroism and inspiring leadership earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Cardenas served two tours in Korea.

Following Korea, Cardenas served in various assignments in the U.S. and Europe. He also attended the Advanced Officer Course, Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA; Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS; and various other training courses.

Cardenas served two tours in the Vietnam war. He retired as a Lieutenent Colonel in January 1972.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Purple Heart with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Korean Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (Second Award)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) Ricardo Cardenas, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of Company F, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Captain Cardenas distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chat-Kol, Korea, on the morning of 13 June 1953. On that date, Captain Cardenas' company was defending positions along the United Nations main line of resistance. When the enemy threatened to rout a Republic of Korea Army unit in an adjacent area, Captain Cardenas voluntarily proceeded to the sector, reorganized a portion of the troops, and personally led a counter-attack which regained over four hundred yards of territory. The following evening, the enemy subjected Captain Cardenas' company to an intense artillery barrage and destroyed all communications. Noticing that the enemy forces were approaching the right flank of the company, Captain Cardenas fearlessly left the comparative safety of the command post to alert his men. Completely disregarding his personal safety, he moved through the heavy fire to an open trench and, after three futile attempts, succeeded in firing a warning flare. Continuing to brave the bombardment, Captain Cardenas then directed the defense of the position and personally killed two of the enemy. Although wounded, he refused to he evacuated until the area was secured.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 1000 (November 10, 1953)

Death and Burial

Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Cardenas died on 23 June 2004 at San Leandro, CA. He is buried at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, Merced County, CA, in Section 1, Site 1358.