Jesus S. Duran
Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient, Vietnam War

On 10 April 1969, in Tay Ninh, Vietnam, then-Spc. 4 Jesus S. Duran, a machine-gunner with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), was on a search and clear operation. His actions that day saved several wounded Americans and led to the enemy’s retreat.

Post-Military Life

After leaving the military, Duran pursued a career as a corrections officer at a juvenile detention center in San Bernardino, CA. While working there, he dedicated numerous hours of personal time to mentor youth and lead them on educational trips.

Duran married twice and had two children. He was the sixth sibling out of 12, and loved spending time with all of his family.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Medal of Honor *
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Device
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 Duran, it is based on the valorous actions in the Citation for his DSC.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation:

For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force, in the Republic of Vietnam: Spc.4 Jesus S. Duran distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions, April 10, 1969, as a machine-gunner on a search-and-clear operation.

The reconnaissance platoon was moving into an elaborate enemy bunker complex when the lead elements began taking concentrated ambush fire from every side. With an M-60 machine-gun blazing from his hip, Duran rushed forward and assumed a defensive position near the command post. As the hostile forces stormed the post, he stood tall in a cloud of dust being raised by impacting rounds and bursting grenades aimed at him and thwarted the chargers with devastating streams of machine-gun fire. Learning that two seriously wounded troopers lay helplessly pinned down under harassing fire, he assaulted the suppressive enemy positions, firing deadly bursts on the run. Mounting a log, he fired directly into the enemy’s foxholes and eliminated four of them and several others as they fled. He then continued to pour effective fire on the disorganized and fleeing enemy.

Duran’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. [Citation represents Soldier's rank at time of action]