The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Fredes Vindo Mendez-Ortiz, who died in the service of his country on May 23rd, 1969 in Kontum Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death Fredes was 20 years of age. He was from Villalba, Puerto Rico. Fredes is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 24W, Line 91.

The decorations earned by PFC Fredes Vindo Mendez-Ortiz include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.

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ESTADQ LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO
POLICIA MUNICIPAL DE VILLALBA
MUNICIPIO DE VILLALBA
VILLALBA, PR 00766

April 17, 2007


Mr. Peter J. Birrow
President, 35th Infantry Regiment Association


Greetings on behalf of the City of Villalba and our Honorable Waldemar Rivera Torres, Mayor. We recently received your letter requesting information about a soldier who died in Vietnam in 1969.

Our city is very proud of those who gave their life so others may live. We recognize the important job the 35th Infantry Regiment and it's President, Mr. Birrow, not forgetting our fallen soldiers, that's why the Mayor of the city of Villalba assigned a team to search for the information you have required from us. The out come of our search was exciting when we met the mother of PFC. Mendez; she lives in a small village of our town.

Luz Isabel Ortiz, mother of PFC. Mendez, was so happy when she learned that there are still people who want to remember her son. Mr. Ortiz inmediately took out an album of her son and gave us pictures so we will send copies to you, also she told us where her son was layed to rest at the city cemetery, we went to the place and took some pictures also.

The same way you put you're trust in me and the Mayor of our city, the same way we put our trust in the 35th Infantry Regiment that the information send out to you will be used to remember our fallen soldiers.

On behalf of the city of Villalba, myself, and the Hon. Waldemar Rivera Torres, I thank you once again and wish you all the success in the world on this hard task you have ahead of you; to remember your fallen.

They are Fallen But Never Forgotten


Sincerely Yours,

Jorge L Marrero Criado
Manager of C.O.P.V.