Sergeant First Class Modesto Cartagena, born July 21, 1921 in Cayey, Puerto Rico, served in the US Army during WWII and the Korean War. In WWII he was assigned to the Army's 65th Infantry Regiment and served in units guarding Caribbean military installations and in the Allied occupation of Germany.
He was discharged after the war and he returned to Puerto Rico. He re-enlisted at the outbreak of the Korean War and was assigned to Company C, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.
He earned the nickname "One Man Army" after his actions on April 19, 1951 in North Korea. He left his position "with no regard for his own safety" and charged into enemy fire, single-handedly destroyed two enemy positions. Although being knocked to the ground twice by exploding grenades, he got up and attacked three more times, destroying three more enemy positions. He was finally wounded.
He stated later that he though the rest of the squad was behind him. He did not realize that most of them had been wounded or forced to take cover.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest military decoration in the US Army. Among others decorations, he won the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
He passed away in March 2010.
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