Rank: Private, Pv-2 (Army), Pvt (Airforce, Marine Corps)
Unit: A Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11B – Infantryman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 29-May-1944
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Marital status: Married to Dotty L. Medina
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: Apr-1962
Start of tour: 3-Dec-1966
Incident date: 26-Feb-1967
Date of casualty: 26-Feb-1967
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
Carlos Medina was on combat operation when hit by hostile small arms fire.
Five Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident
SP4 Jesse L. Brandon
SGT Johnny Edward Brumley
SP4 Rodger Dale Lewis
SP4 Harry Mathis Jr
PVT Carlos Medina
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Baltimore National Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS CARLOS MEDINA
26 FEBRUARY 1967
A TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private Medina distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 26 February 1967 while serving as a member of the 3d Platoon, Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment near Tay Ninh in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, while participating in a search and destroy operation, his armored unit arrived near a suspected Viet Cong base camp. Elements of each platoon dismounted and cautiously followed a trail in an attempt to locate the enemy, Private Medina aggressively led the patrol which found the Viet Cong camp. As the dismounted element entered the camp, they received a heavy volume of Viet Cong automatic weapons fire. Private Medina, reacting without hesitation, bravely returned fire in order to protect his comrades while they sought covered positions. It was while performing this courageous act that he was fatally wounded. Private Medina’s personal courage, complete disregard for his own personal safety, and profound concern for his fellow soldiers, prevented the loss of many lives. Private Medina’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 426 (22 March 1967)