Victor A. Justiniano, Jr.
Private First Class, U.S. Army

On 3 March 1968, Private First Class Victor A. Justiniano, Jr. was serving with Company B, 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, in South Vietnam.

On that day, PFC Justiniano was the medic of an infantry platoon conducting a search and destroy mission in the central highlands near Kontum. the patrol was following the trail of a wounded North Vietnamese soldier when it came under a heavy automatic weapons and rocket attack. The enemy was only 10 meters to the front, entrenched in a reinforced bunker complex. Two men of the point element were wounded in the initial volley of fire. PFC Justiniano moved forward to aid them. As he advanced, he was wounded several times by automatic weapons fire and shrapnel from an exploding rocket. Ignoring his wounds, he crawled forward and finally reached the position where his 2 comrades lay exposed to enemy fire. He moved one man to safety and treated him. He then returned for the other soldier who was almost directly in front of an enemy position. As he attempted to rescue the casualty, PFC Justiniano was mortally wounded. PFC Justiniano's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Medical Badge
Parachutist Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

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 Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Victor A. Justiniano, Jr. (ASN: RA-11823037), 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 B, 3d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Private First Class Justiniano distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 3 March 1968 as the medic of an infantry platoon conducting a search and destroy mission in the central highlands near Kontum. the patrol was following the trail of a wounded North Vietnamese soldier when it came under a heavy automatic weapons and rocket attack. The enemy was only ten meters to the front, entrenched in a reinforced bunker complex. Two men of the point element were wounded in the initial volley of fire. With complete disregard for his safety, Private Justiniano moved forward to aid them. As he advanced, he was wounded several times by automatic weapons fire and shrapnel from an exploding rocket. Ignoring his wounds, he crawled forward and finally reached the position where his two comrades lay exposed to enemy fire. He moved one man to safety and treated him. He then returned for the other soldier who was almost directly in front of an enemy position. As he attempted to rescue the casualty, Private Justiniano was mortally wounded. Private First Class Justiniano'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.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 3600 (July 26, 1968)

Honors

The name Victor A Justiniano Jr is located on Panel 42E Line 52 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Private First Class Victor A. Justiniano, Jr. is buried at Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamon, Bayamon Municipality, in Puerto Rico.