Angel Mendez (August 8, 1946 – March 16, 1967) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. In 1967, during the Vietnam War, Mendez saved the life of his platoon commander, Lieutenant Ronald D. Castille, who in the future became the Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has recommended that Mendez’s award be upgraded to Medal of Honor, the United States Arms Forces’ highest military decoration.

Angel Mendez’s parents — Antonio Méndez Pomales, a native of Fajardo, and Martina Rivera García, of Naguabo — moved from Puerto Rico to New York City, seeking a better life. Mendez’s father owned and attended a grocery store in the South Bronx, while his mother cared for their eight children at home. When Mendez’s mother became ill, and the family’s economic situation worsened, his father was unable to raise him and his siblings; subsequently, 2 were sent to foster homes, and 6 were placed in the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin, an orphanage on Mount Loretto, Staten Island. There, Mendez received his primary and secondary education. Mendez was a member of the cadet corps alongside his brothers and many of the “Mount” kids. At a young age, he became fascinated with military life, and with his friends would often imagine that he was on a “patrol” while camping at Stokes State Forest and Worthington State Forest.

In 1964, Mendez volunteered to join the Marine Corps right after graduating from high school. He received his basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. After graduating from recruit training, Mendez was sent to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to attend the School of Infantry. Mendez was assigned to Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

Upon his deployment to South Vietnam, Mendez was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

Operation Desoto was initiated on January 27, 1967 in the Duc Pho District of Quang Ngai Province. The 2nd Battalion 7th Marines was part of the Special Landing Force (SLF) and took part in operations throughout the Marine Corps area of responsibility, and saw extensive action throughout the 4-month-long operation. The 7th Marines, with elements of the 5th Marine Regiment, bore the brunt of most of the patrolling and contact with the enemy, whose presence continued in Chu Lai.

On March 16, 1967, Mendez was conducting a search-and-destroy mission with his company when they came under attack from a Viet Cong battalion. Half of his platoon was pinned down in a rice paddy under enemy fire, and Mendez volunteered to lead a squad to assist the pinned-down Marines in returning to friendly lines with their two dead and two seriously wounded men. Mendez exposed himself while returning fire with his M79 grenade launcher on the enemy. His platoon commander, Lieutenant Ronald D. Castille, was seriously wounded and he fell, unable to move. Using his own body, Mendez shielded Lt. Castille as he applied a dressing to the wound; he then picked up the lieutenant and started to carry him to friendly lines, which were more than seventy-five meters away. Mendez was hit in the shoulder, and two of his comrades rushed to help him with their commander; Mendez, however, refused to let go of his platoon commander and chose to act as rearman. Mendez continued to shield his lieutenant with his own body until he was mortally wounded. Mendez was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and promoted to sergeant.