Eurípides Rubio

Captain Eurípides Rubio (March 1, 1938 – November 8, 1966) was a United States Army officer and one of nine Puerto Ricans who were posthumously awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for actions on November 8, 1966, during the Vietnam War. Rubio was a member of the United States Army, Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment (Black Lions), 1st Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam.

Early years
Rubio was born in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the southern region of Puerto Rico. There, he received his primary and secondary education. Rubio was a member of the Civil Air Patrol's Ponce High School Cadet Squadron, Chapter 52012/PR012, Puerto Rico Wing, from 1952 to 1956. After high school, Rubio enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico and the program Army ROTC, Rubio joined the Army as a commissioned second lieutenant officer in the Military Police Corps at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.

Action in Vietnam
On November 8, 1966, during Operation Attleboro in Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam, Captain Rubio's company came under attack from the North Vietnamese Army; leaving the safety of his post, Rubio received two serious wounds as he braved the intense enemy fire to distribute ammunition, re-establish positions and render aid to the wounded. Despite his pain, he assumed command when a rifle company commander was medically evacuated. He was then wounded a third time as he tried to move amongst his men to encourage them to fight with renewed effort.

While aiding the evacuation of wounded personnel, he noted that a US smoke grenade, which was intended to mark the Viet Cong's position for an air strike, had fallen dangerously close to friendly lines. He ran to move the grenade but was immediately struck to his knees by enemy fire. Despite his wounds, Rubio managed to collect the grenade and again run through enemy fire to within 20 m of the enemy position to throw the by-then already smoking grenade into the enemy before he fell for the final time. Using the now-repositioned grenade as a marker, friendly air strikes were directed to destroy the hostile positions.

Rubio's singularly heroic act turned the tide of the battle, and for his extraordinary leadership and valor, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 1968. His remains were buried in Puerto Rico National Cemetery in the city of Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

Military decorations awarded
Among the military decorations which Capt. Rubio earned were the following:

Foreign unit decorations
 * Fourragère CG.png Fourragère cord

Honors
The United States Army Reserve Center located at the Hato Rey sector of San Juan was named posthumously named Capt. Eurípides Rubio United States Army Reserve Center.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Ponce was named in memory of Captain Eurípides Rubio.

The American Legion Post 142 in San Juan was named after Capt. Euripides Rubio.

Rubio's name is inscribed in "El Monumento de la Recordación" (Monument of Remembrance), dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan.

His name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial ("The Wall") on Panel 12E, Row 044.

On November 11, 2008, the Government of Puerto Rico unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda an oil portrait of Captain Euripedes Rubio.

In 2017 Eurípides Rubio was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.