Medal of Honor with Ed Tracy
ALFRED V. RASCON
U.S. Army, Vietnam
Member Reception - 5:00pm cst
Presentation & Live Webcast - 6:00pm cst
Almost 34 years after what he described as "ten minutes of hell", a heroic medic would finally receive his due.
Medal of Honor recipient Alfred V. Rascon will appear at the Pritzker Military Library on Thursday, June 10th for an interview with Ed Tracy on his life and service with the U.S. Army in Vietnam. This event is free and open to the public. The presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m., preceded by a reception for Library members at 5:00 p.m. It will also be webcast live and recorded for later broadcast on WYCC-TV/Channel 20.
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Rascon moved to the United States with his family at 4 years of age. Though not a citizen, he enlisted in the Army after graduating from high school, and was sent to Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. On March 16, 1966, an intense firefight broke out in the jungles of Long Khanh, and Rascon was ordered to stay sheltered. However, after seeing members of his platoon wounded on the trail ahead, Rascon ran forward to aid them, staying on his feet despite being hit several times by grenade shrapnel and bullets — and saving the lives of several men before he finally passed out from his own wounds.
The men whose lives he saved nominated Rascon for the Medal of Honor. Rascon himself, however, had several months in the hospital ahead. After he recovered, he enrolled in college and became a naturalized U.S. citizen, later returning for a second tour in Vietnam.
Years later, at a reunion of the 173rd Airborne, Rascon's platoon discovered that their nomination had been lost. Determined to see him receive the award, they petitioned the Army to reopen the case, and then asked Illinois Rep. Lane Evans of the House Veterans Affairs Committee to intervene with the White House. Finally, on February 8, 2000, Rascon received the Medal of Honor from President Clinton. He went on to serve in Afghanistan and Iraq with the Medical Service Corps; the Army renamed its training school for medics at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in his honor.
Please note: Seating for this event is limited, so reservations are strongly recommended. Call 312.587.0234 or email events@pritzkermilitarylibrary.net. While we will attempt to seat all who wish to attend, we can only guarantee a place for attendees with a reservation. Reservations will be held until 15 minutes prior to the start of the program.
This event is eligible for 1.5 Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs) for education professionals in Illinois.
Pritzker Military Library
610 North Fairbanks Court, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
312-587-0234
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"