Recio, Arquelio Baez, SGM

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.