Benjamin A. Ponciano
Sergeant, U.S. Army

In September 1950, Sergeant Benjamin A. Ponciano was serving with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team, in Korea.

On 16 September, SGT Ponciano's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Waegwan, Korea. SGT Ponciano, with a companion, was assisting his platoon in attacking the center of a ridge from which the enemy was delivering most of its fire, a strongpoint that was holding up the advance of the entire 2nd Battalion. Being on the left flank of his platoon, he saw enemy positions that posed a serious threat to the left rear of his advancing platoon. Unable to attract the attention of the endangered personnel, he attempted to eliminate the nearest enemy machine-gun position. Together with his companion, he was able to destroy the enemy machine-gun, but in so doing was mortally wounded. SGT Ponciano sacrificed his own life in order to protect his comrades and this 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>br> National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Benjamin A. Ponciano (ASN: RA-30111683), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team. Sergeant Ponciano distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Waegwan, Korea, on 16 September 1950. Sergeant Ponciano, with a companion, was assisting his platoon in attacking the center of a ridge from which came a preponderance of enemy fire, a strongpoint that was successfully holding up the advance of the entire battalion. Being on the left flank of his platoon, he observed prepared enemy positions that posed a serious threat to the left rear of his advancing platoon. Unable to attract the attention of the endangered personnel, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he attempted to eliminate the nearest enemy machine-gun position. Together with his companion, he was able to destroy the enemy machine-gun, but in so doing was mortally wounded and sacrificed his own life in order to protect his comrades.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 19, (January 12, 1951)

Burial

Sergeant Benjamin A. Ponciano is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI, in Plot: Q, 1322.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3789345