lest we forget

FERNANDEZ, REYNALDO SALINAS

Rank / Branch:

  • CORPORAL, U. S. MARINE CORP

Date Of Birth:

  • 1944-01-06

Country Of Loss:

  • SOUTH VIETNAM

Status:

  • BODY RETURNED

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:​

  • GROUND

Other:

  • NOT MARRIED

Unit:

  • THIRD MARINE DIVISION

Date Of Loss:

  • 1967-05-19

Loss Coordinates:

  • QUANG TRI

Catagory:

  • HOSTILE-LAND MINE

Awards & Decorations:

  • SEE BIO

VETERAN HAGI0GRAPHY

  • FERNANDEZ, REYNALDO SALINAS, U.S. MARINE CORP, ODESSA, ECTOR, TEXAS

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY PALM, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL, MARINE CORP COMBAT ACTION RIBBON

BIOGRAPHY

  • Reynaldo was the second son of Carolina Salinas and Olegario Fernandez. He was born in Los Angeles, County, California. After World War II, his family moved to West Texas. He attended Ector Junior and Senior High School in Odessa. He was a gifted artist and while in school, he participated in the National Scholastic League Competitions as a representative of Ector High School. He was recognized with a certificate for his artwork. His family was in the process of moving back to California and just prior to the move, Rey joined the U. S. Marine Corp from Odessa, Texas in fall of 1965.
  • He did his boot camp training at the Marine Corp Recruit Training Depot at San Diego, California and ITR at Camp Pendleton, California in infantry and then did further training as tank crewman at 29 Palms, California. His unit mobilized to Okinawa, and he further trained in the Ontos. In August 1966, his unit went to Vietnam.
  • In Vietnam, he was assigned to C Company, 3rd Antitank Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. He was assigned as a "Ontos" tank crewman. The Ontos was a tracked vehicle with six 106mm Recoilless Rifles mounted and had a three-man crew. On May 19, 1967, he was the gunner/commander of a tank. His company was participating in "Operation Hickory." His unit was operating with an infantry company when his tank hit an anti-tank mine. He was killed and there were seven marines wounded in the event. He was awarded a posthumous bronze star and purple heart.
  • He was buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, San Mateo County, California with full military honors. He was survived by his parents of Brentwood, California; four brothers, Olegario Fernandez, Jr. serving with the U.S. Military; Hernan Fernandez of Odessa; Jose and Selso Fernandez, both of Brentwood, California. He was also survived by his five sisters and one half-sister; Mrs. Flor Orduna of Coachella, California; Ermerida, Corina, Carolina and Benita, all of Brentwood, California and his half-sister; Janie B. Fernandez of Corpus Christi, Texas.
  • GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL CEMETERY, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
  • ECTOR HIGH SCHOOL, ODESSA, TEXAS 1962