Vietnam (1964 - 1973)
- Anderson, James, Jr.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps,
2d Platoon, Company F, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date:
Republic of Vietnam, 28 February 1967. Entered service at: Los Angeles, Calif. Born: 22
January 1947, Los Angeles, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at
the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Company F was advancing in dense
jungle northwest of Cam Lo in an effort to extract a heavily besieged reconnaissance
patrol. Pfc. Anderson's platoon was the lead element and had advanced only about 200
meters when they were brought under extremely intense enemy small-arms and automatic
weapons fire. The platoon reacted swiftly, getting on line as best they could in the thick
terrain, and began returning fire. Pfc. Anderson found himself tightly bunched together
with the other members of the platoon only 20 meters from the enemy positions. As the fire
fight continued several of the men were wounded by the deadly enemy assault. Suddenly, an
enemy grenade landed in the midst of the marines and rolled alongside Pfc. Anderson's
head. Unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his personal safety, he reached out,
grasped the grenade, pulled it to his chest and curled around it as it went off. Although
several marines received shrapnel from the grenade, his body absorbed the major force of
the explosion. In this singularly heroic act, Pfc. Anderson saved his comrades from
serious injury and possible death. His personal heroism, extraordinary valor, and
inspirational supreme self-sacrifice reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine
Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his
life for his country.
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- Anderson, Webster
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army,
Battery A, 2d Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Infantry Division
(Airmobile). Place and date: Tam Ky, Republic of Vietnam, 15 October 1967. Entered service
at: Winnsboro, S.C. Born: 15 July 1933, Winnsboro, S.C. Citation: Sfc.
Anderson (then S/Sgt.), distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action while serving as chief of section in Battery A, against a hostile force. During the
early morning hours Battery A's defensive position was attacked by a determined North
Vietnamese Army infantry unit supported by heavy mortar, recoilless rifle, rocket
propelled grenade and automatic weapon fire. The initial enemy onslaught breached the
battery defensive perimeter. Sfc. Anderson, with complete disregard for his personal
safety, mounted the exposed parapet of his howitzer position and became the mainstay of
the defense of the battery position. Sfc. Anderson directed devastating direct howitzer
fire on the assaulting enemy while providing rifle and grenade defensive fire against
enemy soldiers attempting to overrun his gun section position. While protecting his crew
and directing their fire against the enemy from his exposed position, 2 enemy grenades
exploded at his feet knocking him down and severely wounding him in the legs. Despite the
excruciating pain and though not able to stand, Sfc. Anderson valorously propped himself
on the parapet and continued to direct howitzer fire upon the closing enemy and to
encourage his men to fight on. Seeing an enemy grenade land within the gun pit near a
wounded member of his gun crew, Sfc. Anderson heedless of his own safety, seized the
grenade and attempted to throw it over the parapet to save his men. As the grenade was
thrown from the position it exploded and Sfc. Anderson was again grievously wounded.
Although only partially conscious and severely wounded, Sfc. Anderson refused medical
evacuation and continued to encourage his men in the defense of the position. Sfc.
Anderson by his inspirational leadership, professionalism, devotion to duty and complete
disregard for his welfare was able to maintain the defense of his section position and to
defeat a determined attack. Sfc. Anderson's gallantry and extraordinary heroism at the
risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the
military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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- Ashley, Eugene, Jr.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army,
Company C, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Near
Lang Vei, Republic of Vietnam, 6th and 7th February 1968. Entered service at: New York,
N.Y. Born: 12 October 1931, Wilmington, N.C. Citation: Sfc. Ashley, distinguished himself
by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Detachment A-101, Company C.
Sfc. Ashley was the senior special forces Advisor of a hastily organized assault force
whose mission was to rescue entrapped U.S. special forces advisors at Camp Lang Vei.
During the initial attack on the special forces camp by North Vietnamese army forces, Sfc.
Ashley supported the camp with high explosive and illumination mortar rounds. When
communications were lost with the main camp, he assumed the additional responsibility of
directing air strikes and artillery support. Sfc. Ashley organized and equipped a small
assault force composed of local friendly personnel. During the ensuing battle, Sfc. Ashley
led a total of 5 vigorous assaults against the enemy, continuously exposing himself to a
voluminous hail of enemy grenades, machinegun and automatic weapons fire. Throughout these
assaults, he was plagued by numerous booby-trapped satchel charges in all bunkers on his
avenue of approach. During his fifth and final assault, he adjusted air strikes nearly on
top of his assault element, forcing the enemy to withdraw and resulting in friendly
control of the summit of the hill. While exposing himself to intense enemy fire, he was
seriously wounded by machinegun fire but continued his mission without regard for his
personal safety. After the fifth assault he lost consciousness and was carried from the
summit by his comrades only to suffer a fatal wound when an enemy artillery round landed
in the area. Sfc. Ashley displayed extraordinary heroism in risking his life in an attempt
to save the lives of his entrapped comrades and commanding officer. His total disregard
for his personal safety while exposed to enemy observation and automatic weapons fire was
an inspiration to all men committed to the assault. The resolute valor with which he led 5
gallant charges placed critical diversionary pressure on the attacking enemy and his
valiant efforts carved a channel in the overpowering enemy forces and weapons positions
through which the survivors of Camp Lang Vei eventually escaped to freedom. Sfc. Ashley's
bravery at the cost of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service, and
reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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- Austin, Oscar P.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps,
Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, (Rein), FMF. Place and date:
West of Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, 23 February 1969. Entered service at: Phoenix, Ariz.
Born: 15 January 1948, Nacogdoches, Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an
assistant machine gunner with Company E, in connection with operations against enemy
forces. During the early morning hours Pfc. Austin's observation post was subjected to a
fierce ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force supported by a heavy volume of
hand grenades, satchel charges, and small arms fire. Observing that 1 of his wounded
companions had fallen unconscious in a position dangerously exposed to the hostile fire,
Pfc. Austin unhesitatingly left the relative security of his fighting hole and, with
complete disregard for his safety, raced across the fire-swept terrain to assist the
marine to a covered location. As he neared the casualty, he observed an enemy grenade land
nearby and, reacting instantly, leaped between the injured marine and the lethal object,
absorbing the effects of its detonation. As he ignored his painful injuries and turned to
examine the wounded man, he saw a North Vietnamese Army soldier aiming a weapon at his
unconscious companion. With full knowledge of the probable consequences and thinking only
to protect the marine, Pfc. Austin resolutely threw himself between the casualty and the
hostile soldier, and, in doing, was mortally wounded. Pfc. Austin's indomitable courage,
inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the
Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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- Bryant, William, Maud
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army,
Company A, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Long Khanh
Province, Republic of Vietnam, 24 March 1969. Entered service at: Detroit, Mich. Born: 16
February 1933, Cochran, Ga. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Bryant, assigned to
Company A, distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer of Civilian Irregular
Defense Group Company 321, 2d Battalion, 3d Mobile Strike Force Command, during combat
operations. The battalion came under heavy fire and became surrounded by the elements of 3
enemy regiments. Sfc. Bryant displayed extraordinary heroism throughout the succeeding 34
hours of incessant attack as he moved throughout the company position heedless of the
intense hostile fire while establishing and improving the defensive perimeter, directing
fire during critical phases of the battle, distributing ammunition, assisting the wounded,
and providing the leadership and inspirational example of courage to his men. When a
helicopter drop of ammunition was made to re-supply the beleaguered force, Sfc. Bryant
with complete disregard for his safety ran through the heavy enemy fire to retrieve the
scattered ammunition boxes and distributed needed ammunition to his men. During a lull in
the intense fighting, Sfc. Bryant led a patrol outside the perimeter to obtain information
of the enemy. The patrol came under intense automatic weapons fire and was pinned down.
Sfc. Bryant single-handedly repulsed 1 enemy attack on his small force and by his heroic
action inspired his men to fight off other assaults. Seeing a wounded enemy soldier some
distance from the patrol location, Sfc. Bryant crawled forward alone under heavy fire to
retrieve the soldier for intelligence purposes. Finding that the enemy soldier had
expired, Sfc. Bryant crawled back to his patrol and led his men back to the company
position where he again took command of the defense. As the siege continued, Sfc. Bryant
organized and led a patrol in a daring attempt to break through the enemy encirclement.
The patrol had advanced some 200 meters by heavy fighting when it was pinned down by the
intense automatic weapons fire from heavily fortified bunkers and Sfc. Bryant was severely
wounded. Despite his wounds he rallied his men, called for helicopter gunship support, and
directed heavy suppressive fire upon the enemy positions. Following the last gunship
attack, Sfc. Bryant fearlessly charged an enemy automatic weapons position, overrunning
it, and single-handedly destroying its 3 defenders. Inspired by his heroic example, his
men renewed their attack on the entrenched enemy. While regrouping his small force for the
final assault against the enemy, Sfc. Bryant fell mortally wounded by an enemy rocket.
Sfc. Bryant's selfless concern for his comrades, at the cost of his life above and beyond
the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and
reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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- Davis, Rodney Maxwell
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company B,
1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Nam Province,
Republic of Vietnam, 6 September 1967. Entered service at: Macon, Ga. Born: 7 April 1942,
Macon, Ga. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the right guide of the 2d Platoon,
Company B, in action against enemy forces. Elements of the 2d Platoon were pinned down by
a numerically superior force of attacking North Vietnamese Army Regulars. Remnants of the
platoon were located in a trench line where Sgt. Davis was directing the fire of his men
in an attempt to repel the enemy attack. Disregarding the enemy hand grenades and high
volume of small arms and mortar fire, Sgt. Davis moved from man to man shouting words of
encouragement to each of them while firing and throwing grenades at the onrushing enemy.
When an enemy grenade landed in the trench in the midst of his men, Sgt. Davis, realizing
the gravity of the situation, and in a final valiant act of complete self-sacrifice,
instantly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing with his body the full and terrific
force of the explosion. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the
face of almost certain death, Sgt. Davis saved his comrades from injury and possible loss
of life, enabled his platoon to hold its vital position, and upheld the highest traditions
of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his
country.
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- Jenkins, Robert H., Jr.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps,
3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Fire Support
Base Argonne, Republic of Vietnam, 5 March 1969. Entered service at: Jacksonville, Fla.
Born: 1 June 1948, Interlachen, Fla. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine
gunner with Company C, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, in connection with operations against
enemy forces. Early in the morning Pfc. Jenkins' 12-man reconnaissance team was occupying
a defensive position at Fire Support Base Argonne south of the Demilitarized Zone.
Suddenly, the marines were assaulted by a North Vietnamese Army platoon employing mortars,
automatic weapons, and hand grenades. Reacting instantly, Pfc. Jenkins and another marine
quickly moved into a 2-man fighting emplacement, and as they boldly delivered accurate
machinegun fire against the enemy, a North Vietnamese soldier threw a hand grenade into
the friendly emplacement. Fully realizing the inevitable results of his actions, Pfc.
Jenkins quickly seized his comrade, and pushing the man to the ground, he leaped on top of
the marine to shield him from the explosion. Absorbing the full impact of the detonation,
Pfc. Jenkins was seriously injured and subsequently succumbed to his wounds. His courage,
inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty saved a fellow marine from serious injury or
possible death and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval
Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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- Joel, Lawrece
Rank and organization: Specialist Sixth Class (then Sp5c),
U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry,
173d Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 8 November 1965, Entered
service at: New York City, N.Y. G.O. No.: 15, 5 April 1967. Born: 22 February 1928,
Winston-Salem, N.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp6c. Joel demonstrated indomitable courage,
determination, and professional skill when a numerically superior and well-concealed Viet
Cong element launched a vicious attack which wounded or killed nearly every man in the
lead squad of the company. After treating the men wounded by the initial burst of gunfire,
he bravely moved forward to assist others who were wounded while proceeding to their
objective. While moving from man to man, he was struck in the right leg by machinegun
fire. Although painfully wounded his desire to aid his fellow soldiers transcended all
personal feeling. He bandaged his own wound and self-administered morphine to deaden the
pain enabling him to continue his dangerous undertaking. Through this period of time, he
constantly shouted words of encouragement to all around him. Then, completely ignoring the
warnings of others, and his pain, he continued his search for wounded, exposing himself to
hostile fire; and, as bullets dug up the dirt around him, he held plasma bottles high
while kneeling completely engrossed in his life saving mission. Then, after being struck a
second time and with a bullet lodged in his thigh, he dragged himself over the battlefield
and succeeded in treating 13 more men before his medical supplies ran out. Displaying
resourcefulness, he saved the life of 1 man by placing a plastic bag over a severe chest
wound to congeal the blood. As 1 of the platoons pursued the Viet Cong, an insurgent force
in concealed positions opened fire on the platoon and wounded many more soldiers. With a
new stock of medical supplies, Sp6c. Joel again shouted words of encouragement as he
crawled through an intense hail of gunfire to the wounded men. After the 24 hour battle
subsided and the Viet Cong dead numbered 410, snipers continued to harass the company.
Throughout the long battle, Sp6c. Joel never lost sight of his mission as a medical aidman
and continued to comfort and treat the wounded until his own evacuation was ordered. His
meticulous attention to duty saved a large number of lives and his unselfish, daring
example under most adverse conditions was an inspiration to all. Sp6c. Joel's profound
concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty
are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and
the Armed Forces of his country.
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- Johnson, Dwight
Rank and organization: Specialist Fifth Class, U.S. Army,
Company B, 1st Battalion, 69th Armor, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Dak To,
Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 15 January 1968. Entered service at: Detriot, Mich.
Born: 7 May 1947, Detroit, Mich. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at
the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp5c. Johnson, a tank driver with
Company B, was a member of a reaction force moving to aid other elements of his platoon,
which was in heavy contact with a battalion size North Vietnamese force. Sp5c. Johnson's
tank, upon reaching the point of contact, threw a track and became immobilized. Realizing
that he could do no more as a driver, he climbed out of the vehicle, armed only with a .45
caliber pistol. Despite intense hostile fire, Sp5c. Johnson killed several enemy soldiers
before he had expended his ammunition. Returning to his tank through a heavy volume of
antitank rocket, small arms and automatic weapons fire, he obtained a submachinegun with
which to continue his fight against the advancing enemy. Armed with this weapon, Sp5c.
Johnson again braved deadly enemy fire to return to the center of the ambush site where he
courageously eliminated more of the determined foe. Engaged in extremely close combat when
the last of his ammunition was expended, he killed an enemy soldier with the stock end of
his submachinegun. Now weaponless, Sp5c. Johnson ignored the enemy fire around him,
climbed into his platoon sergeant's tank, extricated a wounded crewmember and carried him
to an armored personnel carrier. He then returned to the same tank and assisted in firing
the main gun until it jammed. In a magnificent display of courage, Sp5c. Johnson exited
the tank and again armed only with a .45 caliber pistol, engaged several North Vietnamese
troops in close proximity to the vehicle. Fighting his way through devastating fire and
remounting his own immobilized tank, he remained fully exposed to the enemy as he bravely
and skillfully engaged them with the tank's externally-mounted .50 caliber machinegun;
where he remained until the situation was brought under control. Sp5c. Johnson's profound
concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty
are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great
credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
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- Johnson, Ralph
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps,
Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date:
Near the Quan Duc Valley, Republic of Vietnam, 5 March 1968. Entered service at: Oakland,
Calif. Born: 11 January 1949, Charleston, S.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a
reconnaissance scout with Company A, in action against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet
Cong forces. In the early morning hours during Operation ROCK, Pfc. Johnson was a member
of a 15-man reconnaissance patrol manning an observation post on Hill 146 overlooking the
Quan Duc Valley deep in enemy controlled territory. They were attacked by a platoon-size
hostile force employing automatic weapons, satchel charges and hand grenades. Suddenly, a
hand grenade landed in the 3-man fighting hole occupied by Pfc. Johnson and 2 fellow
marines. Realizing the inherent danger to his 2 comrades, he shouted a warning and
unhesitatingly hurled himself upon the explosive device. When the grenade exploded, Pfc.
Johnson absorbed the tremendous impact of the blast and was killed instantly. His prompt
and heroic act saved the life of 1 marine at the cost of his life and undoubtedly
prevented the enemy from penetrating his sector of the patrol's perimeter. Pfc. Johnson's
courage, inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest
traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for
his country.
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- Langhorn, Garfield M.
Rank and organization: Private First class, U.S. Army, Troop
C, 7th Squadron (Airmobile), 17th Cavalry, 1st Aviation Brigade. place and date: pleiku
province, Republic of Vietnam, 15 January 1969. Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Born:
10 September 1948, Cumberland, Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Langhorn
distinguished himself while serving as a radio operator with Troop C, near plei Djereng in
pleiku province. Pfc. Langhorn's platoon was inserted into a landing zone to rescue 2
pilots of a Cobra helicopter shot down by enemy fire on a heavily timbered slope. He
provided radio coordination with the command-and-control aircraft overhead while the
troops hacked their way through dense undergrowth to the wreckage, where both aviators
were found dead. As the men were taking the bodies to a pickup site, they suddenly came
under intense fire from North Vietnamese soldiers in camouflaged bunkers to the front and
right flank, and within minutes they were surrounded. Pfc. Langhorn immediately radioed
for help from the orbiting gunships, which began to place minigun and rocket fire on the
aggressors. He then lay between the platoon leader and another man, operating the radio
and providing covering fire for the wounded who had been moved to the center of the small
perimeter. Darkness soon fell, making it impossible for the gunships to give accurate
support, and the aggressors began to probe the perimeter. An enemy hand grenade landed in
front of Pfc. Langhorn and a few feet from personnel who had become casualties. Choosing
to protect these wounded, he unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade, scooped it
beneath his body and absorbed the blast. By sacrificing himself, he saved the lives of his
comrades. Pfc. Langhorn's extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life was in keeping
with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself,
his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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- Leonard, Matthew
Rank and organization: platoon Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B,
1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. place and date: Near Suoi Da,
Republic of Vietnam, 28 February 1967. Entered service at: Birmingham, Ala. Born: 26
November 1929, Eutaw, Ala. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action
at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. His platoon was suddenly
attacked by a large enemy force employing small arms, automatic weapons, and hand
grenades. Although the platoon leader and several other key leaders were among the first
wounded, p/Sgt. Leonard quickly rallied his men to throw back the initial enemy assaults.
During the short pause that followed, he organized a defensive perimeter, redistributed
ammunition, and inspired his comrades through his forceful leadership and words of
encouragement. Noticing a wounded companion outside the perimeter, he dragged the man to
safety but was struck by a sniper's bullet which shattered his left hand. Refusing medical
attention and continuously exposing himself to the increasing fire as the enemy again
assaulted the perimeter, p/Sgt. Leonard moved from position to position to direct the fire
of his men against the well camouflaged foe. Under the cover of the main attack, the enemy
moved a machinegun into a location where it could sweep the entire perimeter. This threat
was magnified when the platoon machinegun in this area malfunctioned. p/Sgt. Leonard
quickly crawled to the gun position and was helping to clear the malfunction when the
gunner and other men in the vicinity were wounded by fire from the enemy machinegun.
p/Sgt. Leonard rose to his feet, charged the enemy gun and destroyed the hostile crew
despite being hit several times by enemy fire. He moved to a tree, propped himself against
it, and continued to engage the enemy until he succumbed to his many wounds. His fighting
spirit, heroic leadership, and valiant acts inspired the remaining members of his platoon
to hold back the enemy until assistance arrived. p/Sgt. Leonard's profound courage and
devotion to his men are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service,
and his gallant actions reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
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- Long, Donald Russell
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Troop C, 1st
Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division. place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 30 June
1966. Entered service at: Ashland, Ky. Born: 27 August 1939, Blackfork, Ohio. G.O. No.:
13, 4 April 1968. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the
risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Troops B and C, while conducting a
reconnaissance mission along a road were suddenly attacked by a Viet Cong regiment,
supported by mortars, recoilless rifles and machineguns, from concealed positions astride
the road. Sgt. Long abandoned the relative safety of his armored personnel carrier and
braved a withering hail of enemy fire to carry wounded men to evacuation helicopters. As
the platoon fought its way forward to resupply advanced elements, Sgt. Long repeatedly
exposed himself to enemy fire at point blank range to provide the needed supplies. While
assaulting the Viet Cong position, Sgt. Long inspired his comrades by fearlessly standing
unprotected to repel the enemy with rifle fire and grenades as they attempted to mount his
carrier. When the enemy threatened to overrun a disabled carrier nearby, Sgt. Long again
disregarded his own safety to help the severely wounded crew to safety. As he was handing
arms to the less seriously wounded and reorganizing them to press the attack, an enemy
grenade was hurled onto the carrier deck. Immediately recognizing the imminent danger, he
instinctively shouted a warning to the crew and pushed to safety one man who had not heard
his warning over the roar of battle. Realizing that these actions would not fully protect
the exposed crewmen from the deadly explosion, he threw himself over the grenade to absorb
the blast and thereby saved the lives of 8 of his comrades at the expense of his life.
Throughout the battle, Sgt. Long's extraordinary heroism, courage and supreme devotion to
his men were in the finest tradition of the military service, and reflect great credit
upon himself and the U.S. Army.
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- Olive, Milton Lee, III
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company
B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Phu
Cuong, Republic of Vietnam, 22 October 1965. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 7
November 1946, Chicago, Ill. C.O. No.: 18, 26 April 1966. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc.
Olive was a member of the 3d Platoon of Company B, as it moved through the jungle to find
the Viet Cong operating in the area. Although the platoon was subjected to a heavy volume
of enemy gunfire and pinned down temporarily, it retaliated by assaulting the Viet Cong
positions, causing the enemy to flee. As the platoon pursued the insurgents, Pfc. Olive
and 4 other soldiers were moving through the jungle together with a grenade was thrown
into their midst. Pfc. Olive saw the grenade, and then saved the lives of his fellow
soldiers at the sacrifice of his by grabbing the grenade in his hand and falling on it to
absorb the blast with his body. Through his bravery, unhesitating actions, and complete
disregard for his safety, he prevented additional loss of life or injury to the members of
his platoon. Pfc. Olive's extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life above and beyond
the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit
upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
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- Pitts, Riley L.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company C, 2d
Battalion, 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Ap Dong, Republic of
Vietnam, 31 October 1967. Entered service at: Wichita, Kans. Born: 15 October 1937,
Fallis, Okla. Citation: Distinguishing himself by exceptional heroism while serving as
company commander during an airmobile assault. Immediately after his company landed in the
area, several Viet Cong opened fire with automatic weapons. Despite the enemy fire, Capt.
Pitts forcefully led an assault which overran the enemy positions. Shortly thereafter,
Capt. Pitts was ordered to move his unit to the north to reinforce another company heavily
engaged against a strong enemy force. As Capt. Pitts' company moved forward to engage the
enemy, intense fire was received from 3 directions, including fire from 4 enemy bunkers, 2
of which were within 15 meters of Capt. Pitts' position. The severity of the incoming fire
prevented Capt. Pitts from maneuvering his company. His rifle fire proving ineffective
against the enemy due to the dense jungle foliage, he picked up an M-79 grenade launcher
and began pinpointing the targets. Seizing a Chinese Communist grenade which had been
taken from a captured Viet Cong's web gear, Capt. Pitts lobbed the grenade at a bunker to
his front, but it hit the dense jungle foliage and rebounded. Without hesitation, Capt.
Pitts threw himself on top of the grenade which, fortunately, failed to explode. Capt.
Pitts then directed the repositioning of the company to permit friendly artillery to be
fired. Upon completion of the artillery fire mission, Capt. Pitts again led his men toward
the enemy positions, personally killing at least 1 more Viet Cong. The jungle growth still
prevented effective fire to be placed on the enemy bunkers. Capt. Pitts, displaying
complete disregard for his life and personal safety, quickly moved to a position which
permitted him to place effective fire on the enemy. He maintained a continuous fire,
pinpointing the enemy's fortified positions, while at the same time directing and urging
his men forward, until he was mortally wounded. Capt. Pitts' conspicuous gallantry,
extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the cost of his life, above and beyond the call
of duty, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon
himself, his unit, and the Armed Forces of his country.
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- Rogers, Charles Calvin
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S . Army, 1st
Battalion, 5th Artillery, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Fishhook, near Cambodian
border, Republic of Vietnam, 1 November 1968. Entered service at: Institute, W Va. Born: 6
September 1929, Claremont, W Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col. Rogers, Field
Artillery, distinguished himself in action while serving as commanding officer, 1st
Battalion, during the defense of a forward fire support base. In the early morning hours,
the fire support base was subjected to a concentrated bombardment of heavy mortar, rocket
and rocket propelled grenade fire. Simultaneously the position was struck by a human wave
ground assault, led by sappers who breached the defensive barriers with bangalore
torpedoes and penetrated the defensive perimeter. Lt. Col. Rogers with complete disregard
for his safety moved through the hail of fragments from bursting enemy rounds to the
embattled area. He aggressively rallied the dazed artillery crewmen to man their howitzers
and he directed their fire on the assaulting enemy. Although knocked to the ground and
wounded by an exploding round, Lt. Col. Rogers sprang to his feet and led a small
counterattack force against an enemy element that had penetrated the howitzer positions.
Although painfully wounded a second time during the assault, Lt. Col. Rogers pressed the
attack killing several of the enemy and driving the remainder from the positions. Refusing
medical treatment, Lt. Col. Rogers reestablished and reinforced the defensive positions.
As a second human wave attack was launched against another sector of the perimeter, Lt.
Col. Rogers directed artillery fire on the assaulting enemy and led a second counterattack
against the charging forces. His valorous example rallied the beleaguered defenders to
repulse and defeat the enemy onslaught. Lt. Col. Rogers moved from position to position
through the heavy enemy fire, giving encouragement and direction to his men. At dawn the
determined enemy launched a third assault against the fire base in an attempt to overrun
the position. Lt. Col. Rogers moved to the threatened area and directed lethal fire on the
enemy forces. Seeing a howitzer inoperative due to casualties, Lt. Col. Rogers joined the
surviving members of the crew to return the howitzer to action. While directing the
position defense, Lt. Col. Rogers was seriously wounded by fragments from a heavy mortar
round which exploded on the parapet of the gun position. Although too severely wounded to
physically lead the defenders, Lt. Col. Rogers continued to give encouragement and
direction to his men in the defeating and repelling of the enemy attack. Lt. Col. Rogers'
dauntless courage and heroism inspired the defenders of the fire support base to the
heights of valor to defeat a determined and numerically superior enemy force. His
relentless spirit of aggressiveness in action are in the highest traditions of the
military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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- Sargent, Ruppert L.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B,
4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Hau Nghia Province,
Republic of Vietnam, 15 March 1967. Entered service at: Richmond, Va. Born: 6 January
1938, Hampton, Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the
risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While leading a platoon of Company B,
1st Lt. Sargent was investigating a reported Viet Cong meeting house and weapons cache. A
tunnel entrance which 1st Lt. Sargent observed was booby trapped. He tried to destroy the
booby trap and blow the cover from the tunnel using hand grenades, but this attempt was
not successful. He and his demolition man moved in to destroy the booby trap and cover
which flushed a Viet Cong soldier from the tunnel, who was immediately killed by the
nearby platoon sergeant. 1st Lt. Sargent, the platoon sergeant, and a forward observer
moved toward the tunnel entrance. As they approached, another Viet Cong emerged and threw
2 hand grenades that landed in the midst of the group. 1st Lt. Sargent fired 3 shots at
the enemy then turned and unhesitatingly threw himself over the 2 grenades. He was
mortally wounded, and his 2 companions were lightly wounded when the grenades exploded. By
his courageous and selfless act of exceptional heroism, he saved the lives of the platoon
sergeant and forward observer and prevented the injury or death of several other nearby
comrades. 1st Lt. Sargent's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the
military services and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.
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- Sasser, Clarence Eugene
Rank and organization: Specialist Fifth Class (then Pfc.),
U.S. Army, Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Place
and date: Ding Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 10 January 1968. Entered service at:
Houston, Tex. Born: 12 September 1947, Chenango, Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry
and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp5c.
Sasser distinguished himself while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d
Battalion. He was serving as a medical aidman with Company A, 3d Battalion, on a
reconnaissance in force operation. His company was making an air assault when suddenly it
was taken under heavy small arms, recoilless rifle, machinegun and rocket fire from well
fortified enemy positions on 3 sides of the landing zone. During the first few minutes,
over 30 casualties were sustained. Without hesitation, Sp5c. Sasser ran across an open
rice paddy through a hail of fire to assist the wounded. After helping 1 man to safety,
was painfully wounded in the left shoulder by fragments of an exploding rocket. Refusing
medical attention, he ran through a barrage of rocket and automatic weapons fire to aid
casualties of the initial attack and, after giving them urgently needed treatment,
continued to search for other wounded. Despite 2 additional wounds immobilizing his legs,
he dragged himself through the mud toward another soldier 100 meters away. Although in
agonizing pain and faint from loss of blood, Sp5c. Sasser reached the man, treated him,
and proceeded on to encourage another group of soldiers to crawl 200 meters to relative
safety. There he attended their wounds for 5 hours until they were evacuated. Sp5c.
Sasser's extraordinary heroism is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military
service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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- Sims, Clifford Chester
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D,
2d Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Near
Hue, Republic of Vietnam, 21 February 1968. Entered service at: Jacksonville, Fla. Born:
18 June 1942, Port St. Joe, Fla. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Sims
distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader with Company D. Company D was
assaulting a heavily fortified enemy position concealed within a dense wooded area when it
encountered strong enemy defensive fire. Once within the woodline, S/Sgt. Sims led his
squad in a furious attack against an enemy force which had pinned down the 1st Platoon and
threatened to overrun it. His skillful leadership provided the platoon with freedom of
movement and enabled it to regain the initiative. S/Sgt. Sims was then ordered to move his
squad to a position where he could provide covering fire for the company command group and
to link up with the 3d Platoon, which was under heavy enemy pressure. After moving no more
than 30 meters S/Sgt. Sims noticed that a brick structure in which ammunition was stocked
was on fire. Realizing the danger, S/Sgt. Sims took immediate action to move his squad
from this position. Though in the process of leaving the area 2 members of his squad were
injured by the subsequent explosion of the ammunition, S/Sgt. Sims' prompt actions
undoubtedly prevented more serious casualties from occurring. While continuing through the
dense woods amidst heavy enemy fire, S/Sgt. Sims and his squad were approaching a bunker
when they heard the unmistakable noise of a concealed booby trap being triggered
immediately to their front. S/Sgt. Sims warned his comrades of the danger and
unhesitatingly hurled himself upon the device as it exploded, taking the full impact of
the blast. In so protecting his fellow soldiers, he willingly sacrificed his life. S/Sgt.
Sims' extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life is in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the U.S.
Army.
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- Warren, John E., Jr.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company C,
2d Battalion, (Mechanized), 22d Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Tay Ninh
Province, Republic of Vietnam, 14 January 1969. Entered service at: New York, N.Y . Born:
16 November 1946, Brooklyn, N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Warren,
distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a platoon leader with
Company C. While moving through a rubber plantation to reinforce another friendly unit,
Company C came under intense fire from a well-fortified enemy force. Disregarding his
safety, 1st Lt. Warren with several of his men began maneuvering through the hail of enemy
fire toward the hostile positions. When he had come to within 6 feet of one of the enemy
bunkers and was preparing to toss a hand grenade into it, an enemy grenade was suddenly
thrown into the middle of his small group. Thinking only of his men, 1st Lt. Warren fell
in the direction of the grenade, thus shielding those around him from the blast. His
action, performed at the cost of his life, saved 3 men from serious or mortal injury.
First Lt. Warren's ultimate action of sacrifice to save the lives of his men was in
keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit on
him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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