1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Gil Tijerina

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

B Company Commander receives Silver Star

Captain Gilbert Tijerina commanded Company B 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry
during the fight with communist forces on a mountain top in the Dak Kron Bung river valley
in June 1970. This was the largest single firefight with the enemy that 1/22 Infantry experienced
during that year. It was known to the soldiers who fought in it as the Battle of The Rock.

Gil Tijerina received the Silver Star for his actions on June 20, 1970 during the Battle of The Rock.

While Tijerina was in the valley floor below the mountain top with 3rd Platoon that day, 2nd Platoon
up on the mountain top engaged a large enemy force and a fierce firefight ensued.

In an exchange of gunfire with NVA forces, Sergeant Melvin Rutherford of Company B
was mortally wounded and went down, in the enemy's field of fire. Another of Company B's soldiers
was pinned down by the intense NVA small arms fire. PFC Albert Brick moved forward to rescue
Sergeant Rutherford, but was severely wounded in the attempt.

Tijerina hopped on a helicopter and joined 2nd Platoon on the mountain top. Once there he quickly
formulated a plan to recover Rutherford. Smoke and frag grenades were thrown between 2nd Platoon
and the enemy, allowing the pinned down soldier to withdraw to a place of safety.

Tijerina then exposed himself to the enemy's fire, and moved through the undergrowth to where
Rutherford lay. Discovering the Sergeant was dead, Tijerina dragged his body out of the NVA's
field of fire, and back to 2nd Platoon's position.

Left:

Captain Gilbert Tijerina
on a firebase in Vietnam.

Photo courtesy of Harry Beck,
Company B 1/22 Infantry 1969-70

Gil Tijerina finished his tour in Vietnam and returned to the United States. He was stationed
at Fort Knox, Kentucky, when the award of the Silver Star was forwarded through
Army channels, and was presented to him there.

It came as a surprise to him, as he did not know that he had been recommended for the award.

Newspaper clipping showing Gil Tijerina receiving the Silver Star from
Brigadier General George S. Patton, the son of General George S. Patton
of World War Two fame.

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