Palm Bay, Florida – Master Sergeant Arcadio Santiago Rodríguez, a decorated U.S. Army veteran who served with distinction in three wars and became a symbol of bravery and resilience for Puerto Rican soldiers, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2025, at the age of 101. Known affectionately as “Cayito,” Rodríguez leaves behind a legacy of unwavering loyalty, heroism under fire, and quiet service to his community and country.
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Born on December 15, 1923, in Cidra, Puerto Rico, to Arcadio Santiago and Elisa Rodríguez, he grew up on a farm as a proud “Jibarito,” embracing the island’s natural beauty. He often shared seedlings, avocados, mangoes, papayas, and oranges from his yard with neighbors in Palm Bay, where he settled after retirement. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944, Rodríguez embarked on a 30-year military career that spanned World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He served primarily with the 65th Infantry Regiment, an all-Puerto Rican unit nicknamed the Borinqueneers—derived from “Borinquen,” the Taíno name for Puerto Rico.
The Borinqueneers faced harsh discrimination as a segregated unit, yet they were assigned some of the Army’s most perilous missions. Rodríguez and his comrades proved their valor time and again, earning collective praise from figures like Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who lauded their “brilliant record of heroism in battle” during the Korean War. Rodríguez himself cherished a personal memory of sharing a cup of coffee with MacArthur near the front lines. “That man, he liked the 65th so much,” Rodríguez recalled in a 2016 interview.
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In Korea, Rodríguez’s actions exemplified his courage. Near Hongbok in late April 1951, his squad came under heavy enemy fire, and his leader was killed. Rodríguez assumed command, organized a withdrawal, and later volunteered to carry a wounded comrade to safety. Encountering five enemy soldiers, he killed four, captured the fifth, and forced the prisoner to help transport the injured man to an aid station. His commanding officer nominated him for the Medal of Honor, but Rodríguez received the Silver Star instead—a downgrade he attributed to discrimination against Puerto Rican troops. “My commander told me I will recommend you for the Medal of Honor,” he said in a 2012 interview. “A few months later I got the Silver Star.”
Palm Bay Mayor Rod Medina honors MSG Arcadio Santiago Rodríguez during the Palm Bay City Council Meeting
Rodríguez earned a second Silver Star during the Vietnam War, where he served three tours. In an ambush near Xuan Loc around Thanksgiving 1969, he led a squad of 12 soldiers, throwing a grenade and firing his M-16 to kill 19 enemy combatants, though one U.S. soldier died and two were wounded. He also received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart—the latter for a hand-to-hand combat incident in Korea where he was bitten before killing his assailant with a knife. Over his career, Rodríguez served in North Africa, Germany (multiple times), Panama, and various U.S. states, including assignments at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was named Soldier of the Year in 1969 at age 45. “I was 45 and I thought I couldn’t compete with the young soldiers,” he reflected humbly.
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He had the solemn honor of participating in President John F. Kennedy’s burial in 1963, an event he remembered with emotion. Rodríguez was one of five brothers who served in the Borinqueneers, underscoring his family’s deep commitment to service. “I had four brothers in the Borinqueneers—we were five—who served in the 65th Infantry,” he said. “I’m so proud of our regiment.”
Congressman Mike Haradoplis honors Arcadio Santiago from the House Floor
In recognition of the Borinqueneers’ contributions—including their critical role in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, where they saved countless Marines—the unit was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The legislation was signed into law in 2014, and the medal was presented in a Capitol ceremony on April 13, 2016, attended by Rodríguez and other veterans. Florida Rep. Bill Posey, who sponsored the bill, noted the long-overdue acknowledgment: “There’s been an absence of any appreciation or recognition or respect but there was no absence of courage on their part. They fought valiantly. We owe ’em.”
Master Sergeant Arcadio Santiago Rodríguez’s Awards and Decorations
Rodríguez retired from the Army in 1979 as a master sergeant after being stationed at Patrick Air Force Base. He then drove school buses for Brevard Public Schools for 20 years, earning respect from students and colleagues. “The kids respected me a lot,” he said. In November 2024, he was inducted into the Distinguished Puerto Rican Veterans Hall of Fame. Reflecting on his long life, Rodríguez credited simple habits: “The secret is I take care of myself. I don’t have any bad habits. I never smoked, I never drank and I eat well. I’m Puerto Rican—I like my rice and beans. And salads.”
He is survived by his wife of over 20 years, Bernarda de Lourdes, whom he met in the Dominican Republic; his eight children—Miriam, Luis Raul, José, Carmen, Annie, Lisi, Susie, and Richard; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Services were held on July 18, 2025, at Our Lady of Lourdes in Melbourne, followed by burial at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge.
As a Borinqueneer, Rodríguez embodied discipline, excellence, and love for family and country. His obituary encouraged honoring his memory by serving others, planting a tree, or singing a “Le Lo Lai”—a traditional Puerto Rican folk song. In a world that often overlooked his sacrifices, Rodríguez’s story reminds us of the quiet heroes who shaped history through unyielding valor.
His family encourages all to honor his life by making the world a better place through service to others.
