Ramón Núñez-Juarez

Private First Class Ramón Nuñez-Juarez (October 6, 1932 in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico-September 8, 1952) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, second highest military award of the United States of America after the Medal of Honor. He was listed as Missing in Action during the Korean War.

Early years

Nuñez-Juarez received his primary and secondary education in the town of San Sebastián. In 1952, Nuñez-Juarez was inducted into the Marines in San Juan, the island's capital and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. After he graduated from his basic training, he was sent to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina where he underwent advanced training before being sent to Korea. He was assigned as an automatic rifleman to Company E of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines (2/1), 1st Marine Division.

Korean War

The 1st Marine Division was stationed in the eastern part of Korea when in early spring of 1952 it was ordered to move to defend the western sector. The sector, which was 15 miles long and stretched all the way to the Samichon River, was a section of the 8th Army's Main Line of Resistance (MLR) known as the Jamestown Line.

On August 8, 1952, E Company, 2/1, began taking incoming mortar and artillery rounds from the Communist Chinese Army's 63rd and 65th armies. A company-size Chinese Communist Force (CCF) struck Outpost Siberia, which was manned by PFC Ramon Nuñez-Juarez and a squad of 15 men. Nuñez-Juarez and the other the riflemen fought off the enemy for nearly half an hour before withdrawing from their position.

Nuñez-Juarez, manning a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), was able to halt the enemy's advance long enough for the remainder of his squad to escape. Nuñez-Juarez was struck by enemy gunfire and died as a result of his wounds. For the next several days the Marines tried to retake Outpost Siberia, but were unable to do so. Nuñez-Juarez was listed as Missing in Action and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions.

Navy Cross citation

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Awards and decorations

Among Ramon Nuñez-Juarez's awards and decorations are the following:

•   Navy Cross
•   Purple Heart
•   Navy Unit Commendation
•   National Defense Service Medal
•   Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars
•   United Nations Service Medal
•   Presidential Unit Citation (Korea)

Postscript

PFC Ramón Nuñez-Juarez's remains have never been recovered and a symbolic burial with full military honors was held on October 25, 1970. There is a headstone with his name inscribed above an emty grave in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery, located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. His name is inscribed in El Monumento de la Recordación, a monument dedicated to the Puerto Ricans who have fallen in combat, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans-Military
• Puerto Ricans Missing in Action - Korean War
• Puerto Rican recipients of the Navy Cross