Jorge Otero Barreto

Infobox Military Person
name=Jorge Otero Barreto
born=
died=
placeofbirth= Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto The most decorated American soldier of the Vietnam War
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=
serviceyears=
rank= Sergeant First Class
commands=
unit=
battles= Vietnam War
awards=Silver Star (3) Bronze Star (5) Purple Heart (5) Air Medal (5)
laterwork=

Sergeant First Class Jorge Otero Barreto (Ret.) a.k.a. "The Puerto Rican Rambo", was a member of the United States Army who was the most decorated soldier in the Vietnam War

Vietnam War

Otero Barreto was born in the town of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico where he received his primary and secondary education.

Otero Barreto joined the U.S. Army and from 1961 to 1970 served five tours in Southeast Asia, starting as an advisor who helped train Vietnamese troops. [ [http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18501576&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6 Puerto Rican veteran shares tales of Vietnam] ] Otero-Barreto participated in 200 combat missions [ [http://groups.msn.com/TatobienProductions/forsale.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=1175&LastModified=4675617750821093123&all_topics=1 Puerto Rico ante el Mundo] ] and was awarded 38 military decorations making him the most decorated American soldier of the Vietnam War. Among his many decorations are 3 Silver Stars, 5 Bronze Stars with Valor, 5 Purple Hearts and 5 Air Medals (one each for every 5th mission which involved a helicopter). [ [http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18508255&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46368&rfi=6 Mourning Journal] ] [ [http://groups.msn.com/TatobienProductions/forsale.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=1175&LastModified=4675617750821093123&all_topics=1 Puerto Rico ante el Mundo] ]

Recognitions

Otero Barreto was the keynote speaker at a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dinner in Lorain, Ohio. [ [http://www.cityoflorain.org/calendar/?e=36222 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dinner] ] In 2006, the Coalición Nacional Puertoriqueña (National Puerto Rican Collation) honored Otero Barreto in a Conference held at the Hotel Hilton of Chicago with a "Lifetime Achievement Award". [ [http://www.eldiariony.com/noticias/detail.aspx?section=23&desc=COMUNIDAD&id=1483938 Realizan encuentro boricua en Chicago 09/01/2006] ]

The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #866 in Springfield, Massachusetts was named the "Jorge Otero Barreto Homeless Veterans Transitional Program" in his honor. The Program houses twelve (12) veterans offering counseling, DVA services from the Western Massachuetts Bi-Lingual Veterans Outreach Center, assistance in obtaining Chapter 115 financial assistance, AA/NA meetings and Christian Rehabilitation Substance Abuse meetings. [ [http://www.bilingualvets.org/images/transitional_home.htm Jorge Otero Barreto Homeless Veterans Transitional] ]

The town of Vega Baja dedicated their Military Museum to Otero Barreto and named it the "Jorge Otero Barreto Museum". [ [http://pobladores.lycos.es/channels/gente_y_ciudades/BORINQUEN/area/4 Borinquen] ]

Military decorations

Among SFC Otero Barreto's mitary decorations:
* with two stars
* with four stars
* with four stars
* with four stars
*
*
*

ee also

*List of notable Puerto Ricans

References