The United States Army
01/17/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/17/2025 19:02
Commander’s love of teammates drove him to risk his life
[Link] Laura Blevins, center, daughter of former Army Gen. Richard Cavazos, receives a framed Medal of Honor flag from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin during the Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony in Conmy Hall at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., on Jan. 4th, 2025. Cavazos - who later achieved the distinction of becoming the U.S. Army's first Hispanic four-star general - was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House, Jan. 3, 2025, for his acts of extraordinary heroism during the Korean War on June 14, 1953, near Sagimak, Korea, while serving in Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Derek Hamilton) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Derek Hamilton) VIEW ORIGINAL
WASHINGTON - During a pivotal three-hour battle during the Korean War in June 1953, then-1st Lt. Richard Cavazos decided he could not leave his men.
A heavy mortar and artillery battle with North Korean forces dealt Cavazos' unit numerous casualties and injuries. Cavazos received orders to withdraw his forces.
The Soldier followed orders but soon returned to the hill alone to rescue five injured Soldiers while taking on enemy fire. His valiant efforts more than seven decades ago earned him another prestigious honor.
President Joe Biden awarded Cavazos the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor, during a ceremony Jan. 3 at the White House. Cavazos' daughter, Laura Blevins accepted the award, which was an upgrade from the Distinguished Service Cross he initially received. Cavazos also received an induction into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes Jan. 4.
"I believe my father would assert that he was very much a humble, ordinary man," said Cavazos' son, Tommy Cavazos. "He was a man of deep faith who loved his country, loved his family; loved his Soldiers. And it was that love, that selfless love of which there's no greater, that drove him up the hill that night in 1953 to collect the men of his company and get them to safety."
Following his service in the Korean War, the Army assigned Cavazos to Fort Hood, Texas, an installation that would eventually be renamed in his honor seven decades later. Cavazos would go on to become the Army's first Hispanic American four-star general.
Troops who served under Cavazos said his dedication to his Soldiers distinguished him from his peers. He would often fight alongside them on the frontlines.
Cavazos once again earned the Distinguished Service Cross in the Vietnam War during a counterattack operation near Loc Ninh. During the battle, he exposed himself to enemy fire in leading an effective artillery attack.
After 33 years in the Army, Cavazos retired from military service in 1984. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 88.
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