View source for Félix Conde Falcón

{{short description|United States Army Medal of Honor recipient}}
{{family name hatnote|Conde|Falcón|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox military person
| name          = Félix Modesto Conde Falcón
| image         = Felix-conde-falcon-united-states-army-medal-of-honor.jpg
| caption       = Picture of Félix Conde Falcón wearing his military uniform
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1938|02|28}}
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|1969|04|04|1938|02|28}}
| birth_place   = [[Juncos, Puerto Rico|Juncos]], [[Puerto Rico]]
| death_place   = [[Ap Tan Hoa]], [[South Vietnam|Republic of Vietnam]]
| placeofburial = Rogers Cemetery, [[Rogers, Texas]]
| allegiance    = [[United States|United States of America]]
| branch        = [[File:United States Department of the Army Seal.svg|25px]]&nbsp;[[United States Army]]
| serviceyears  = 1963–1969
| rank          = [[File:Army-USA-OR-06.svg|25px]] [[Staff Sergeant]]
| unit          = Company D, 1st Battalion, [[505th Infantry Regiment (United States)|505th Infantry Regiment]], 3d Brigade, [[82d Airborne Division]]
| battles       = [[Vietnam War]]{{KIA}}
| awards        = [[Medal of Honor]]<br>[[Bronze Star]]<br>[[Purple Heart]]
}}
'''Félix Modesto Conde Falcón''' (February 28, 1938 – April 4, 1969) was a [[United States Army]] soldier and a recipient of the [[Medal of Honor]]. Born in [[Juncos, Puerto Rico]], he joined the United States Army in April 1963 in [[Chicago, Illinois]]. He was killed during combat operations in Ap Tan Hoa, South Vietnam, on April 4, 1969.<ref name="army">{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/valor24/recipients/conde-falcon/?f=recipient_list|title=Staff Sergeant Felix M. Conde-Falcon &#124; Valor 24 &#124; Medal of Honor &#124; The United States Army|publisher=army.mil|accessdate=2014-03-31}}</ref> He was posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] by President [[Barack Obama]] in a March 18, 2014 ceremony in the [[White House]]. The award comes through the Defense Authorization Act which called for a review of Jewish American and Hispanic American veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War to ensure that no prejudice was shown to those deserving the Medal of Honor.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-obama-medal-of-honors-veterans-20140221,0,5919747.story#axzz2u0hD4kAA
|title=Obama will award Medal of Honor to 24 overlooked Army veterans|accessdate= 2014-02-21|author= Daniel Rothberg|date= 2014-02-21|work= [[The Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name="go">{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-award-medal-honor-24-army-veterans-22623301?singlePage=true|title=Obama to Award Medal of Honor to 24 Army Veterans – ABC News|publisher=abcnews.go.com|accessdate=2014-02-22}}</ref>
==Military awards==
Conde Falcón's military decorations include the following:
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="6" style="text-align: center" | [[File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg|190px]]
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=A light blue ribbon with five white five pointed stars}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|other_device=v|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Army Good Conduct ribbon.svg|width}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=VNCivilActionsRibbon-2.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}}
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="6" style="text-align: center" | [[Combat Infantryman Badge]]
|-
|
|[[Medal of Honor]]
|
|-
|[[Bronze Star]] with a [[V device]] and one [[oak leaf cluster]]
|[[Purple Heart]]
|[[Army Commendation Medal]]
|-
|[[Good Conduct Medal (United States)|Army Good Conduct Medal]]
|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]] with 3 [[service stars]]
|-
|[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross|Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation]] with Palm
|[[Vietnam Civil Actions Medal|Vietnam Civil Actions unit citation]]
|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|-
|}
===Badges===
*[[File:US Army Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge-Generic.png|60px]] [[Marksmanship Badge (United States)|Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge]]
*[[File:Markesman Weapons Qual Badge.png|60px]] [[Marksmanship Badge (United States)|Marksmanship Badge]]
*[[File:DrillInstructBadge.gif|60px]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Drill Sergeant Identification Badge]]
*[[File:ArmyOSB.jpg|55px]] 1 [[Overseas Service Bar]]
== Medal of Honor citation ==
{{quotebox|[[File:cmoh army.jpg|50px|center]]
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (posthumously) to:
{{center|STAFF SERGEANT<br />'''FELIX M. CONDE-FALCON'''<br />UNITED STATES ARMY}}
For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 505th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division:
Conde-Falcon distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions, April 4, 1969, while serving as platoon leader during a sweep operation in the vicinity of Ap Tan Hoa, Vietnam. Entering a heavily wooded section on the route of advance, the company encountered an extensive enemy bunker complex, later identified as a battalion command post. Following tactical artillery and air strikes on the heavily secured communist position, the platoon of Conde-Falcon was selected to assault and clear the bunker fortifications. Moving out ahead of his platoon, he charged the first bunker, heaving grenades as he went. As the hostile fire increased, he crawled to the blind side of an entrenchment position, jumped to the roof, and tossed a lethal grenade into the bunker aperture. Without hesitating, he proceeded to two additional bunkers, both of which he destroyed in the same manner as the first. Rejoined with his platoon, he advanced about one hundred meters through the trees, only to come under intense hostile fire. Selecting three men to accompany him, he maneuvered toward the enemy's flank position. Carrying a machine-gun, he single-handedly assaulted the nearest fortification, killing the enemy inside before running out of ammunition. After returning to the three men with his empty weapon and taking up an M-16 rifle, he concentrated on the next bunker. Within ten meters of his goal, he was shot by an unseen assailant and soon died of his wounds.
His great courage, his ability to act appropriately and decisively in accomplishing his mission, his dedication to the welfare of his men mark him as an outstanding leader Conde-Falcon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.}}
Historic Feats
Staff Sergeant Conde-Falcon and his company encountered an extensive enemy bunker complex, later identified as a battalion command post. Following tactical artillery and air strikes on the heavily-secured enemy position, Staff Sergeant Conde-Falcon’s platoon was selected to assault and clear the bunker fortifications. Moving out ahead of his platoon, Staff Sergeant Conde-Falcon charged the first bunker, heaving grenades as he went. As the hostile fire increased, he crawled to the blind side of an entrenchment position, jumped to the roof, and tossed a grenade into the bunker aperture. Without hesitating, he proceeded to two additional bunkers, both of which he destroyed in the same manner as the first. Rejoining his platoon, Staff Sergeant Conde-Falcon advanced about one hundred meters through the trees before coming under intense hostile fire. Selecting three men to accompany him, he maneuvered toward the enemy’s flank position. Carrying a machinegun, he single-handedly assaulted the nearest fortification, killing the enemy inside before running out of ammunition. After returning to the three men with his empty weapon and taking up an M-16 rifle, he concentrated on the next bunker. Within ten meters of his goal, Staff Sergeant Conde-Falcon was shot by an unseen assailant and soon died of his wounds.
==See also==
{{Portal|Puerto Rico|Biography}}
*[[List of Puerto Ricans]]
*[[List of Puerto Rican military personnel]]
*[[List of Puerto Rican recipients of the Medal of Honor]]
*[[List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients]]
*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War]]
*[[Puerto Ricans in the Vietnam War]]
==Notes==
{{notelist|2}}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Puerto Rican recipients of the Medal of Honor}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Conde Falcon, Felix}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:1969 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Juncos, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican Army personnel]]
[[Category:United States Army non-commissioned officers]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican recipients of the Medal of Honor]]
[[Category:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor]]
{{US-army-bio-stub}}
[[Category:United States Army personnel killed in the Vietnam War]]