THE WALL OF FACES

I was there with you that day Jose. I was the team leader of one of the m60 machine guns platoon. One of the men in my team was in that hutch with you thank you for saving his life.
PS I hope their are no more spider holes for you and i to clear out and i will see you at the great muster in heaven.

Dear Lcpl Jose Ortiz, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Lent has begun. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

We lived in the same close knit neighborhood. We went to the same schools from elementary thru high school, same Catholic Church. His mother was my catechism teacher. He was the newspaper boy for our neighborhood. Smart, hardworking, super nice. Such a loss. He had such a bright future.

Jose A. Ortiz
Date of death: August 24, 1969
Home of record: Corpus Christi Texas
Status: KIA

AWARDS AND CITATIONS

Silver Star

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Jose A. Ortiz (MCSN: 2466149), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 24 August 1969, Lance Corporal Ortiz's platoon was searching a village in Quang Nam Province. Looking inside a house, Lance Corporal Ortiz alertly observed a North Vietnamese Army utility shirt caught in a trap door and, informing his men of his discovery, led his fire team into the house. Quietly moving up to the trap door, he suddenly kicked it open. As he did so, a burst of hostile automatic weapon fire was directed at him and two hand grenades were thrown out. Reacting instantly, Lance Corporal Ortiz shouted a warning to his men and pushed the three of them out of the house, placing himself between them and the grenades in the few seconds before the explosion. Lance Corporal Ortiz was mortally wounded by grenade fragments, however, his three men, who received lesser wounds because of his valiant act, survived. Exiting a few minutes later, the North Vietnamese soldiers he had discovered were killed by the Marines. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving the lives of three men. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Ortiz upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Action Date: August 24, 1969

Service: Marine Corps

Rank: Lance Corporal

Company: Company I

Battalion: 3d Battalion

Regiment: 26th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade

Jose Ortiz also was awarded the Silver Star.