Napa Valley Register- Vets Home post office renamed for Hispanic war hero

President Obama signed legislation Tuesday renaming the Yountville Veterans Home Post Office the “Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Post Office Building,” said Rep. Mike Thompson who had sponsored the name change.

Thompson introduced this legislation in November to honor Alejandro R. Ruiz Sr., a Medal of Honor winner who spent his career in the U.S. Army and served in World War II. After retirement, Ruiz lived at the Yountville Veterans Home until he died in 2009 at the age 85.

“Private First Class Alejandro R. Ruiz Sr. served his country with honor and distinction,” Thompson said. “Today, we honor his life, courage and sacrifice by officially renaming the Yountville Veterans Home Post Office after one of its residents and heroes.”

On April 28, 1945, Ruiz was deployed to Okinawa. While patrolling in a ravine, his unit was ambushed by heavy and camouflaged machine gun fire. Every soldier except Ruiz and his squad leader was killed or injured. With his entire unit pinned down, Ruiz grabbed an automatic rifle and started his solo charge on the bunker. When he reached the bunker, his rifle misfired. After beating back enemy soldiers, he quickly ran back to where his unit was pinned down to retrieve another weapon.

On his second charge toward the bunker, he was shot in the leg by enemy fire. By himself, he killed 12 enemy soldiers and saved the lives of the platoon members.

Thompson's legislation was co-sponsored by the other 52 members of the California Congressional Delegation, and both California Senators supported the bill.

Ruiz was born in Loving, N.M. to Mexican immigrants. Of the 3,400 Medals of Honor that Presidents of the United States have awarded, only 44 have been awarded to someone of Hispanic descent. Of the 55,000 residents to have lived at the Yountville Veterans Home, only five have been awarded the Medal of Honor.