Victor Hugo Espinoza
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient, Korean War

Then-Cpl. Victor H. Espinoza is being recognized for his actions while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division on 1 August 1952, at Chorwon, Korea. While spearheading an attack to secure "Old Baldy," Espinoza’s unit was pinned down by withering fire from fortified positions. In daring succession, Espinoza single-handedly silenced a machine-gun and its crew, discovered and destroyed a covert enemy tunnel, and wiped out two bunkers. His actions inspired his unit and enabled them to secure the strong-point against great odds.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Medal of Honor *
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

* Medal of Honor

Seeking to correct potential acts of bias spanning three wars, and following a Congressionally-mandated review to ensure that eligible veterans were not bypassed due to prejudice, the Medal of Honor will be awarded to 24 Army veterans. The unusual mass ceremony, scheduled for 18 March 2014, will honor veterans, most of Hispanic or Jewish heritage, who had already received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second-highest military award for valor. Only three of the recipients are living.

The Army conducted the review under a directive from Congress in the 2002 National Defense Authorization Act. The law required that the record of each Jewish American and Hispanic American veteran who received a Distinguished Service Cross, during or after World War II, be reviewed for possible upgrade to the Medal of Honor.

The Army reviewed the cases of the 6,505 recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross from World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and found an eligible pool of 600 soldiers who may have been Jewish or Hispanic. The Army also worked with the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, the Jewish War Veterans of the USA and the American GI Forum, the largest Hispanic-American veterans group, to pinpoint potential medal recipients. Of the 24, seven fought in World War II, nine in the Korean War, and eight in the Vietnam War.

Since the award of the Medal of Honor is an upgrade to the Distinguished Service Cross already received by SGT Espinoza, it is based on the valorous actions in the Citation for his DSC.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Cpl. Victor H. Espinoza, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations, while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Espinoza distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Chowan, Korea, Aug. 1, 1952.

While spearheading an attack to secure "Old Baldy," Espinoza’s unit was pinned down by withering artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire from strongly fortified positions. Fully aware of the odds against him, Espinoza stormed forward in a daring assault and, firing his rifle and throwing grenades, silenced a machine-gun and its crew. Continuing up the fire-swept slope, he neutralized a mortar, wiped out two bunkers, and killed its defenders. After expending his ammunition, he employed enemy grenades, hurling them into the hostile trenches and inflicting additional casualties. Observing a tunnel on the crest of the hill, which could not be destroyed by grenades, he obtained explosives, entered the tunnel, set the charge, and destroyed the tunnel and the troops it sheltered. His fearless display of valor inspired all who observed him and enabled the unit to continue the assault and to secure the strong-point. [Citation represents Soldier's rank at time of action]

Death and Burial

Sergeant Victor Hugo Espinoza died on 17 April 1986. He is buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, El Paso County, TX, in Plot: F, 0, 1115.