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Photo credit: Military.com / Daniel L. Hernandez
Episode 3148 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the bravery of Marine Vietnam Vet Danny Hernandez. The featured story is titled Forgotten Vietnam Marine’s Daring Rescue: The Fight for His Overdue Medal of Honor. It appeared on the Military.Com website. It was submitted by Robert Billard.
Billard reported that Operation UTAH in March 1966 stands as one of the earliest and fiercest clashes between U.S. Marines and a regimental-sized North Vietnamese Army force. In the chaos of Quảng Ngãi Province, 19-year-old PFC Danny Hernandez of M Company, 3/1 Marines exemplified the extraordinary courage that has come to define the Vietnam Veteran Generation—an often under-recognized cohort whose grit, sacrifice, and unbreakable loyalty remain among the greatest in American military history.
Having already lost 17 Marines from his company in a single day, Hernandez repeatedly risked his life to save others. Under relentless fire, he sprinted across open terrain to rescue PFC Joel Rodriguez, taking a bullet in the back but refusing evacuation. Moments later, seeing wounded Marines targeted by advancing NVA soldiers, he again charged forward, drawing fire onto himself and killing the enemy in a furious exchange. Shot once more—this time in the head—he continued fighting until he collapsed and was eventually evacuated. After recovery, he returned to Vietnam to rejoin his unit, embodying the indomitable spirit shared by so many of his generation.
Despite such heroism, Hernandez’s Silver Star paperwork was lost for decades. Not until 2009—43 years later—was he formally recognized. Yet those who served alongside him believed his valor merited even higher distinction. Led by the late Hubert Yoshida, a dedicated committee undertook the exhaustive effort to upgrade his Silver Star to the Congressional Medal of Honor. Yoshida, even while battling cancer, pursued the mission with unwavering devotion, determined to see Hernandez’s actions honored at the level they deserved.
Today, the committee to upgrade Sgt. Danny Hernandez continues that fight. For Hernandez, the recognition would stand not for himself alone but for Mike Company, for Operation UTAH, and for the enduring greatness of the Vietnam Veteran Generation.
Listen to Episode 3149 and discover more about the bravery of Marine Vietnam Vet Danny Hernandez.
