Luis Santiago Santiago

Private First Class Luis Santiago Santiago was born on February 8, 1948. He attended Pyne Poynt Junior High School in Camden, NJ. His home of record is Camden, NJ.

Santiago served in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of Private First Class. 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.

He was awarded the Purple Heart. Luis S. Santiago is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 8E, Line 88.

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.

On a search and destroy mission in early June 1966 my platoon accidentally killed a water buffalo. After our return to Cu Chi, 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 — December 25, 1999

Not Forgotten Hero

Just to let you know that you are not forgotten, Hero. Thank you for your sacrifice. Doug, 222nd Inf., 25th Inf. Div.

— Doug Snyder, Fellow Soldier 25th Inf., Easton, PA — June 24, 2004