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SFC Edwin Sierra
to remember
Recio, Arquelio Baez, SGM USA(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Yauco
Date of Passing Aug 19, 2013
Location of Interment New Cemetery - Yauco, Puerto Rico
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
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My Dad and HERO SGM Arquelio Recio was laid to rest in Yauco, Puerto Rico 19 August 2013. SGM Arquelio Recio Baez, was born on 26 April 1928 in Yauco, Puerto Rico to Ramon Recio and Luisa Baez Recio. He was drafted in the United States Army on 9 January 1952 and completed basic training at Camp Tortuguero, Puerto Rico and retired on 31 January 1982 after serving with honor and distinction for 30 years.
SGM Recio served with the 65th Infantry Regiment during the Korean War and twice with
the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War.
SGM Recio awards and distinctions were numerous and include: Expert Infantry Badge, Combat Infantry Badge 2nd Award, Master Parachutist Badge, Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Valor (V) Device, Bronze Star Medal 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal (10th Award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with 5 Campaign Stars.
During his thirty years of service SGM Recio and his family were stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Davis and Fort Gulick, Panama.
He is survived by his wife Elvira Esteva Recio of 50 years (OCT 1949), two sons Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army (Retired) José Arquelio Recio (Deborah Ann Koons), Dr. Leslie Recio (Suzanne Phillips) and Belinda Ester Haken (Grant Haken).
He has three granddaughters, JoAnn Marie Recio Moore, Jennifer Irene Gosse and Cristina Haken, one grandson Henry Haken and one great grandson Landon Moore.
ARQUELIO RECIO
Silver Star during the Vietnam War - Platoon Sergeant (E-7)- Company D 3d Battalion (Airborne), 187th Infantry APO San Francisco 96383 Date of action: 18 March 1968 to 19 March 1968
For gallantry in action in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 18 March 1968 to 19 March 1968. Platoon Sergeant Recio distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company D, 3d Battalion (Airborne), 187th Infantry, during combat operations southwest of Phuoc Vinh, Republic of Vietnam. During the early evening, a large Viet Cong Force attacked the company enroute to their night defensive position. Platoon Sergeant Recio was among the first elements of his platoon to arrive at the killing zone. Platoon Sergeant Recio, oblivious to the deadly fusillade of enemy fire, calmly directed his platoon into position and assumed the responsibilities of his fatally wounded platoon leader. Continually exposed to deadly rocket propelled grenade and automatic weapons fire, Platoon Sergeant Recio maneuvered his men and obtained temporary fire superiority. The enemy moved in reinforcements and began hitting the platoon with heavy rocket propelled grenade and fifty caliber fire. Platoon Sergeant Recio, noting that the new concentrated fire was coming from a well camouflaged bunker, again exposed himself to almost certain disaster and maneuvered through a withering hail of enemy fire to successfully silence the bunker with two strategically placed grenades, allowing the platoon to once more establish fire superiority. Platoon Sergeant Recio’s gallantry in close combat against a numerically superior Viet Cong Force was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
