Carlos James Lozada (September 6, 1946 – November 20, 1967) was a member of the United States Army who was one of five Puerto Ricans who received the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.
Early years
Lozada was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He graduated from high school in 1966 and soon married. Lozada then joined the United States Army.
Vietnam War
The United States at that time was involved in the Vietnam War and on June 11, 1967, Lozada was sent to Vietnam and assigned to Co. A, 2nd Battalion, 503 Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade based in Vicenza, Italy.
Lozada's unit was heavily engaged during the Battle of Dak To. On November 20, 1967, PFC Lozada spotted a North Vietnamese Army company rapidly approaching his outpost. He alerted his comrades and opened fire with a machine gun, killing at least twenty of the enemy soldiers and disrupting their initial attack. He realized that if he abandoned his position there would be nothing to hold back the surging North Vietnamese soldiers and his entire company withdrawal would be jeopardized – as a result he told his comrades to move to the back and that he would supply cover for them. He continued to deliver a heavy and accurate volume of suppressive fire against the enemy until he was mortally wounded and had to be carried during the withdrawal.
Lozada was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in December 1969.
Medal of Honor citation
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|colspan="3"|File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg
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{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
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!Badge
|colspan="12"|Combat Infantryman Badge
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!1st Row
|colspan="2"|Medal of Honor
|colspan="2"|Purple Heart
|colspan="2"|Army Good Conduct Medal
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!2nd Row
|colspan="2"|National Defense Service Medal
|colspan="2"|Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze service star
|colspan="2"|Vietnam Campaign Medal
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! Badge
| colspan="5" style="text-align: center" | Parachutist Badge
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! Unit awards
|colspan="3"|Army Presidential Unit Citation
|colspan="3"|Valorous Unit Award
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Honors
- He was buried with full military honors at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY, in Section T, Site 2295.
- The Bronx honored him by naming a playground in his honor located behind 175 Willis Ave.
- A fitness center at Fort Campbell was named in his honor.
- On 11 November 2008, the Government of Puerto Rico unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda the oil portrait of PFC Carlos James Lozada.
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- Puerto Rican recipients of the Medal of Honor
- List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
References
Further reading
- Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own; by : Greg Boudonck;