On November 8, 1966, during Operation Attleboro in Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam, Captain Rubio's company came under attack from the North Vietnamese Army; leaving the safety of his post, Rubio received two serious wounds as he braved the intense enemy fire to distribute ammunition, re-establish positions and render aid to the wounded. Despite his pain, he assumed command when a rifle company commander was medically evacuated. He was then wounded a third time as he tried to move amongst his men to encourage them to fight with renewed effort. While aiding the evacuation of wounded personnel, he noted that a US smoke grenade, which was intended to mark the Viet Cong's position for an air strike, had fallen dangerously close to friendly lines. He ran to move the grenade but was immediately struck to his knees by enemy fire. Despite his wounds, Rubio managed to collect the grenade and again run through enemy fire to within 20 m of the enemy position to throw the by-then already smoking grenade into the enemy before he fell for the final time. Using the now-repositioned grenade as a marker, friendly air strikes were directed to destroy the hostile positions. Rubio's singularly heroic act turned the tide of the battle, and for his extraordinary leadership and valor, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 1968. His remains were buried in Puerto Rico National Cemetery in the city of Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Medal of Honor citation
Military decorations awarded
Among the military decorations which Capt. Rubio earned were the following: Fourragère
The United States Army Reserve Center located at the Puerto Nuevo sector of San Juan was named posthumously named Capt. Eurípides Rubio United States Army Reserve Center. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Ponce was also named in memory of Captain Eurípides Rubio. The American Legion Post 142 in San Juan was named after Capt. Euripides Rubio. Rubio's name is inscribed in "El Monumento de la Recordación", dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan. His name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 12E, Row 044. On November 11, 2008, the Government of Puerto Rico unveiled in the Capitol Rotunda an oil portrait of Captain Euripedes Rubio.
