CORPORAL RODOLFO “RUDY” HERNANDEZ

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corporal rodolfo “rudy” hernandez along with the 187th airborne combat team were on a mission in korea defending hill 240. An overwhelmingly powerful enemy force was approaching. the chinese army had launched a massive artillery assault followed by ground troops that were making their way towards the hill. under heavy fire, corporal hernandez’s team began to withdraw as they ran low on ammunition. hernandez opted to stayed in his foxhole and continue his own assault at the oncoming horde of enemy troops. it was then that his rifle stopped working.

accepting his fate which seemed like absolute suicide, hernandez lept out of his foxhole and yelled out “HERE I COME!”

he charged the enemy troops with nothing but his disabled rifle & bayonet, he was quickly disarmed, but not without managing to kill six foreign troops first. this temporarily halted the enemies advancement, which allowed his team to regroup, eventually resulting in a takeover of the hill.

in his lone charge on the enemy, hernandez took a bayonet to the face, was shot once, and further grazed by shrapnel which included a grenade explosion that blew away part of his brain. as medics approached hernandez, they were sure he was dead— until he moved his finger. he was quickly treated for his injuries sustained & flown to an army hospital. he woke up one month later unable to move his arms & legs.

For his actions, Cpl. Hernandez was awarded the Medal of Honor on april 12th 1952.

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FEDERALIST PAPERS No. 85

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ALEX SCHOMBURG: AN ICON