AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION

Luis S. Santiago

Private First Class, United States Army

12731763

C Company:
2nd Battalion
14th Infantry Regiment
25th Infantry Division

Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: June 24, 1966
Buried at:

Awards: Purple Heart

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS LUIS SANTIAGO SANTIAGO was born on February 8, 1948. He attended Pine Poynt Junior High School in Camden, NJ. His home of record is Camden, NJ.

Santiago served in the US Army and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). He received his basic training at Fort Dix, NJ, and was a member of the 14th Infantry Division. He was sent to Vietnam in May 1966.

Santiago was killed in action on June 24, 1966, of a gunshot wound received while on a combat operation against a hostile force.

Philadelphia Inquirer - June 28, 1966

Norristown GI and 2 From N.J. Die in Vietnam

Pfc. Luis S. Santiago, of 418 N. 2d st., Camden.

Santiago, 18, attended Pyne Poynt Junior High School in Camden. He enlisted in July, 1965. He received his basic training at Fort Dix, and as a member of the 14th Infantry Division, went to Vietnam in May. Last Saturday, his step-father received a telegram informing him the youth had died "of a gunshot wound while on a combat operation against a hostile force."

Article taken in part from The Philadelphia Inquirer on June 28, 1966. The other 2 GI's mentioned in the article were Army PFC William R. Reese of Norristown, PA, and Sgt. 1/C Sherman Chapman Jr., of Trenton, NJ.

MESSAGES LEFT ON THEWALL-USA
** Note that some of these messages are from years ago
and their contact information may not be good anymore **

On a search and destroy mission in early June 1966 my platoon accidently killed a water buffalo. After our return to CuChi, we were ordered to return to that area of operations and pay the owner of the water buffalo. This was ordered by some idiot at Division level. As the platoon approached the village it was ambushed. Luis Santiago walking point was the first man hit. In the intense crossfire, the platoon machine gunner threw down his M60 and hid in an old shell hole. Santiago was killed by intense enemy machine gun fire. The platoon coward was subsequently court martialed and was incarcerated in Long Binh Jail. I hope he is still there. "LOOIE" was a good guy who might be alive today if anyone else had been carrying the M60 that day.

Fharry carter

squadmate and friend
Heflin, AL
Saturday, December 25, 1999

NOT FORGOTTEN HERO

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN, HERO. THANK OYU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE. DOUG 222ND INF., 25TH INF, DIV.

Doug Snyder

FELLOW SOLDIER 25TH INF
EASTON, PA
Thursday, June 24, 20043