Author Description

Daniel D. Fernandez received two Purple Heart citations and was awarded the Air Medal for valorous service as a helicopter "Shot Gun Rider" during his first tour of Vietnam in 1965. He returned to Vietnam in January of 1966 and courageously smothered a grenade with his body, saving the lives of four of his comrades. His selfless sacrifice was distinguished by the posthumous award of the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1967 by President Lyndon B. Johnson.This book by Richard Melzer, Cynthia J. Shetter, and John Taylor superbly documents Daniel's entire life and legacy and will be a standard for people who wish to understand the patriotism and sacrifices of America's military heroes. It should be in people's homes, on library shelves and in classrooms in New Mexico and across the nation.