Felipe “Phil” Obed Santiago

PFC – U.S. Army
4th Inf Division, 3rd Bde LRRP
3 June 1950 – 3 July 1969
Brooklyn, New York
Panel 21W – Line 56

MILITARY DATA

Service:               Army (Regular)

Grade at loss:   E3

Rank:                     Private First Class

ID Number:           080425690

MOS:                       11B10: Infantryman

Len Svc:               1 year

Unit:                     4 INF DIV, 3rd BDE LRRP

CASUALTY DATA

Start Tour:         05/11/1969

Cas Date:             07/03/1969

Age at Loss:       19

Remains:               Body recovered

Location:             South Vietnam

Type:                     Hostile, died outright, ground casualty

Reason:                 Multiple fragmentation wounds

AWARDS:

Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnam Service Medal with one

star, Vietnam Campaign Medal

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Link to Remembrances:

https://www.thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=45527

https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/45533/FELIPE-O-SANTIAGO

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Pfc. Santiago is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Ismeal Santiago of 734 Glenmore Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.

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July 11, 2005

SP4 John Krone from California

Affiliation: K/75 & E/58 LRP & 4th Div. LRRP

E-mail address: nitrate66lrrp@yahoo.com

19 year old PFC Felipe Obed Santiago was KIA on 3 Jul 69 as a member of 3rd Brigade 4th Infantry Division Lrrp. He was born on 6/3/50 and was enlisted out of New York. Actually, his home of record was Puerto Rico. 3rd Brigade 4th Infantry Division lrrps all remember Phil as a very likable and competent lad who had the misfortune of being KIA on his first ranger mission. Please remember and honor Phil at the upcoming reunion. Though I may not be attending the reunion this year, my heart and spirit remains with all Rangers always.

John Krone

nitrate66lrrp@yahoo.com or john.krone@ngc.com

Harbor City, Ca 90710 – 8/11/2006

A Friend Remembered

PFC Phil Santiago was a Ranger with the 3rd Brigade 4th Infantry Division at the time he was KIA. Records may show incorrectly that he was assigned to the 196 Light Infantry Brigade. 3rd Brigade Lrrps know otherwise. He was a member of a very elite unit which conducted patrols deep within enemy controlled territory. He was a member on a team led by Sgt. Art Young, PFC Dennis Crouse, SP/4 Archie Strickland and PFC Charlie Robbins. The very nature of this job required nerves of steel and courage, and yet, this gentle young man, barely 19, told of his love for our country, and how he wanted to make his country and family proud of him. A patrol went bad on July 3, 1969, and I got the news of his death on July 4th, my friend had been KIA and I sat looking at his empty bunk next to mine. I remembered his smile and the words he said to me only a few days earlier….anyone meeting Phil would have admired him and indeed we lost a patriot this day in 1969. Know that Ranger Felipe Obed Santiago died for his country and it was not in vain. He served his country the way a patriot must, for as he said to me two days before he paid the ultimate price before going on that fateful patrol saying “I owe this to my country” being here and doing what I am doing. He told of how he loved his family as well and begged Mom when not quite 18, told her he must join the Army. I cry when I hear those words and I pray that Felipe, my fellow friend and Lrrp, is there in heaven. With those words, Freedom is never free, and to know he had the courage to stand up for what he knew was right to do at a time our country struggled with that answer. I remember my Friend Phil always.