FIRST LIEUTENANT ANGEL ESCRIBANO APONTE, 01685755, Infantry, Company "E",
65th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On 4 June 1951, near
Sanjan-ni, Korea, the enemy launched a strong counterattack, supported by
mortar and machine gun fire against defensive positions being occupied by
Company "E". The First Platoon, commanded by Lieutenant ESCRIBANO APONTE, in
forward positions approximately 200 yards in front of the main line of resist=
ance, was virtually surrounded by the assaulting hostile troops. Lieutenant
ESCRIBANO APONTE, to keep from being completely cut-off, ordered his unit to
fight their way back to the company perimeter. After the majority of the pla-
toon had reached the company area, Lieutenant ESCRIBANO APONTE and a small
group of enlisted men still in the original positions were savagely attacked
by the foe. Carefully utilizing their dwindling supply of ammunition, the
valiant officer and his men held, stubbornly refusing to be overcome by the
enemy. Deciding to attempt an escape, Lieutenant ESCRIBANO APONTE and his
small band, after killing a number of hostile soldiers with a volley of hand
grenades and forcing others to retreat, moved out toward their company's
positions. They had gone only a short distance when 4 enemy soldiers attacked
Lieutenant ESCRIBANO APONTE with knives. Fighting back, he killed two of them
with the butt of a disabled automatic rifle, while his men eliminated the last
two. Lieutenant ESCRIBANO APONTE'S courageous and inspiring gallantry en-
abled him and his men to make a successful withdrawal and reflects the high-
est credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the military service
from Puerto Rico.

Source: Record Group 338: General Orders 3^rd Infantry Division, Boxes 129 to 131 -

National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland.

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