José F. Jiménez


José Francisco "Jo Jo" Jiménez was a United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism in the Vietnam War in August 1969.

Early years

José Jimémez was born on March 20, 1946, in Mexico City, Mexico. He attended Benito Juárez School and José María Morelos School in Morelia, Michoacán. He graduated from Red Rock Elementary School, Red Rock, Arizona, in June 1964, and from Santa Cruz Valley Union High School, Eloy, Arizona, in June 1968.
Enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve at Phoenix, Arizona on June 7, 1968, Jiménez was discharged to enlist in the regular Marine Corps, August 12, 1968. He completed recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, in October 1968. He was promoted to private first class on October 1, 1968. Transferred to the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, he underwent individual combat training with Company G, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment and with the Rifle Training Company of the 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, completing the latter in December 1968.
Ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in February 1969, Jiménez was assigned duty as a guide and fire team leader with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to lance corporal on June 16, 1969. While participating in action against the enemy south of Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province, on August 28, 1969, he was killed in action.
Jimenez's mother, Basillia Jimenez, was employed by the Mexican government, working in Arizona. On September 6, 1969, she had Jimenez's remains buried in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. His mother died and was buried in Glendale Memorial Park Cemetery. With donations from various organizations his sister, who is his next of kin, was able to recovered his remains and have them sent to Arizona. On January 17, 2017, LCpl Jimenez Was re-interned and buried next to his mother, with full military honors in Glendale Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona

Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor citation:

Awards and honors

Jiménez's medals include:

Medal of HonorPurple HeartNational Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 service starsVietnam Gallantry Cross w/ palmVietnam Campaign Medal