Antonio Rodriguez Balinas
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General Antonio Rodríguez Balinas (February 28, 1928 - September 21, 2011) was the first commander of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command.
, where he received his primary and secondary education. He joined the U.S. Army upon graduating from the University of Puerto Rico
where he earned is Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Rodríguez Balinas entered the Officer Candidate School
program and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon completing OCS. At the outbreak of the Korean War
, he was assigned to the 65th Infantry Regiment.
and promoted to the rank of first lieutenant for his bravery. On December 23, 1951, he fearlessly walked through a lethal hail of enemy fire directly toward the hostile bunker of the enemy, hurled his hand grenade
s and singlehandedly completely destroyed the enemy position and its occupants near Sorgyon-Myon, Korea
. For his actions he was awarded his second Silver Star
and a Purple Heart
.
SILVER STAR
HEADQUARTERS 3D INFANTRY DIVISION
GENERAL ORDERS # 278 - July 13, 1951
Citation (1st citation):
SILVER STAR
HEADQUARTERS 3D INFANTRY DIVISION
GENERAL ORDERS # 197 - MAY 29, 1952
Citation (2nd citation):
) units in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. One of Col. Rodríguez Balinas accomplishments was to have all the missions and functions of a major U.S. Army Reserve Command under the First U.S. Army. Col. Rodríguez Balinas wanted the full autonomy for the Army Reserve forces in Puerto Rico.
On February 1977, the USAR Forces in Puerto Rico became a General Office Command with the establishment of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command with Antonio Rodríguez Balinas, who was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, as its first General Officer. In 1979, the USAR Forces in Puerto Rico were awarded the Best Major U.S. Army Reserve Command Award. Brig. General Rodríguez Balinas held the position of General Officer until 1980 when he retired.
located in the city of Bayamon
.
Badges:
Foreign decoration
Early years
Rodríguez Balinas was born and raised in the town of Adjuntas, Puerto RicoAdjuntas, Puerto Rico
Adjuntas is a small mountainside municipality in Puerto Rico located central midwest of the island on the Central Mountain range , north of Yauco, Guayanilla and Peñuelas; southeast of Utuado; east of Lares and Yauco; and west of Ponce. Adjuntas is spread over 16 wards and Adjuntas Pueblo...
, where he received his primary and secondary education. He joined the U.S. Army upon graduating from the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
where he earned is Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Rodríguez Balinas entered the Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)
The United States Army's Officer Candidate School , located at Fort Benning, Georgia, provides training to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army...
program and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon completing OCS. At the outbreak of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, he was assigned to the 65th Infantry Regiment.
Korean War
On April 23, 1951, Rodríguez Balinas, who was assigned to "F" Co., of the 65th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, defended the left flank of his company from constant enemy attacks at Ognyo-Bong, Hill 305 at a great risk to his life. He was awarded the Silver Star MedalSilver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
and promoted to the rank of first lieutenant for his bravery. On December 23, 1951, he fearlessly walked through a lethal hail of enemy fire directly toward the hostile bunker of the enemy, hurled his hand grenade
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
s and singlehandedly completely destroyed the enemy position and its occupants near Sorgyon-Myon, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. For his actions he was awarded his second Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
and a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
.
Silver Star citations
Military career
Rodríguez Balinas continued his academic education and earned a Phd degree in Law from the UPR. On March 1968, the reserve units in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands of the United States Army were organized into the 166th Support Group. On July 14, 1973, the then-Colonel Rodríguez Balinas took command of the 166th Support Group and was given full command and control of all USAR (United States Army ReserveUnited States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
) units in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. One of Col. Rodríguez Balinas accomplishments was to have all the missions and functions of a major U.S. Army Reserve Command under the First U.S. Army. Col. Rodríguez Balinas wanted the full autonomy for the Army Reserve forces in Puerto Rico.
On February 1977, the USAR Forces in Puerto Rico became a General Office Command with the establishment of the Office of the First U.S. Army Deputy Command with Antonio Rodríguez Balinas, who was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, as its first General Officer. In 1979, the USAR Forces in Puerto Rico were awarded the Best Major U.S. Army Reserve Command Award. Brig. General Rodríguez Balinas held the position of General Officer until 1980 when he retired.
Quote
Brigadier General Antonio Rodríguez Balinas is quoted as saying: "Puerto Rico's contribution to the national defense has been noteworthy, and in some cases … decisive, as in the Korean War. I believe that Puerto Rico has done for this nation more than its share."Legacy
In 1980, Rodríguez Balinas retired from the military and was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal upon his retirement. He died on September 21, 2011, and was buried with military honors in the Puerto Rico National CemeteryPuerto Rico National Cemetery
Puerto Rico National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Bayamón, in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It encompasses of land, and as of the end of 2005, had 44,722 interments. It is the only National Cemetery in Puerto Rico, and the only one outside of the mainland...
located in the city of Bayamon
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
.
Military awards and decorations
Among Rodríguez Balinas' decorations were the following:
Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
with bronze star
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
with Oak leaf Cluster
Army Commendation Medal- Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal
Armed Forces Reserve MedalArmed Forces Reserve MedalThe Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve and National Guard forces of the United States of America....
National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
Korean Service MedalKorean Service MedalThe Korean Service Medal is an award of the United States military and was created in November 1950 by executive order of President Harry Truman. The Korean Service Medal is the primary United States medal for participation in the Korean War and is awarded to any U.S. service member, who...
United Nations Service MedalUnited Nations Service MedalThe United Nations Service Medal for Korea is an international military decoration which was established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950...- Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (US)The Presidential Unit Citation, originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy on or after 7 December 1941... .svg.png)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
Badges:
Parachutist badgeParachutist BadgeThe Parachutist Badge or Parachutist Brevet is a military badge awarded by the Armed Forces of most countries in the world to soldiers who receive the proper parachute training and accomplish the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the first to introduce such award...
Combat Infantryman BadgeCombat Infantryman BadgeThe Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
Foreign decoration
- Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece)
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- 65th Infantry Regiment65th Infantry Regiment (United States)The 65th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed "The Borinqueneers," was an all-volunteer Puerto Rican regiment of the United States Army. Its motto was Honor et Fidelitas, Latin for Honor and Fidelity. It participated in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War...