thedrifter
11-16-03, 03:23 PM
Vietnam Medals of Honor: Above and Beyond the Call
From Roger Donlon in 1964 to Roy Benavidez in 1981, the Medal of Honor was awarded to 239 Americans who served in Vietnam.
by Joe Zentner
The medal features neither gold nor pearl. It is not inset with any glittering precious stones. But the American Medal of Honor is one of the rarest decorations awarded by any nation.
The Medal of Honor can be awarded to any officer or enlisted person who has "distinguished himself [herself] conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his [her] life above and beyond the call of duty." The medal is presented "in the name of Congress"--hence the frequent erroneous reference to it as the Congressional Medal. To date, 4,121 Medals of Honor have been authorized, with U.S. Army personnel receiving the majority (the most recent on January 21, 1998, to a World War II hero).
The present Navy/Marine Corps Medal of Honor is little changed from the original design of Civil War days. The Army's award, by contrast, has gone through two design changes. The present Army award--also used by the Air Force until 1965--consists of a bronze star surrounded by a green laurel wreath suspended from a bronze bar on which is inscribed the word "Valor" surmounted by an eagle. In the center of the star, the head of Minerva, Roman goddess of righteous war and wisdom, is surrounded by the words "United States of America." There is a green oak leaf on each ray of the star. The back of the medal is engraved with the words "The Congress to [name of the recipient]."
In 1965 the Air Force announced its own Medal of Honor design, according to Edward F. Murphy of the Medal of Honor Historical Society. "The five-pointed star was retained, as was the green-enameled wreath and the oak-leaf-filled prongs. The main change was the replacing of Minerva with the head of the Statue of Liberty, looking now to the viewer's left instead of right, as had Minerva. The eagle was gone, too. In its place a bar bearing the word "Valor" was placed above an adaptation of the thunderbolt sprays from the Air Force's coat of arms. The medal is about 50 percent larger than its Army and Navy counterparts."
Since a Medal of Honor recipient has to have acted with outstanding bravery, the Defense Department painstakingly scrutinizes all available evidence before picking its heroes. The process begins when a witness to an act of heroism recommends an individual for the award. The case then works its way up through the Defense Department hierarchy. The award is ultimately approved by the president before it is presented.
In President Theodore Roosevelt's day, he stipulated that presentation of the Medal of Honor should take place at a formal ceremony. Since that time, most have been placed around the neck of the recipient or the nearest living relative if it is a posthumous award (and most are), by the president.
The conflict that raged in Southeast Asia produced more than its share of heroes. In all, 239 persons who served in Vietnam received the Medal of Honor, beginning with U.S. Army Captain Roger Hugh C. Donlon for his conspicuous gallantry in defending Camp Nam Dong on July 6, 1964. Here are some of the other Medal of Honor recipients as described in the official Congressional citations:
JIMMY G. STEWART
Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart was a member of the U.S. Army's Company B, 2nd Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. Early on the morning of May 18, 1966, a reinforced North Vietnamese company attacked Company B, which was manning a defensive perimeter.
The onslaught wounded five members of a six-man squad, leaving Sergeant Stewart alone to defend vital terrain. It became virtually a battle of one man against an entire platoon. Refusing to take advantage of a lull in the fighting that would have allowed him to withdraw, Stewart held his ground to protect his five fallen comrades and prevent the enemy from breaking through the company's perimeter.
The enemy attacked his lone position with full force, and Stewart fought like a man possessed. He emptied magazine cartridge after cartridge at the enemy. The NVA drove almost to his position and threw grenades, which Sergeant Stewart threw back at them.
After exhausting his ammunition, he crawled under intense fire to his wounded team members and collected ammunition that they had not expended. He then held his position for four hours, through three assaults, killing many enemy soldiers. Because of his incredible one-man defense, the company position held until a reinforcing platoon arrived, which counterattacked the North Vietnamese.
Stewart's body was later found in a foxhole, where he had advanced to add his fire to that of the reinforcing platoon. Eight enemy dead were found around his immediate position, with evidence that another 15 bodies had been dragged away. The American wounded for whom Stewart sacrificed his life were later evacuated.
CHARLES B. MORRIS
On June 29, 1966, Charles B. Morris was serving as a U.S. Army sergeant assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Sensing that the enemy was present in his area of operations, Morris went ahead of his platoon to reconnoiter. In so doing, he unwittingly crawled to within 30 yards of an enemy machine gun. He was fired upon and seriously wounded, but returned fire. Having killed the enemy gunner and fired at the crew, Sergeant Morris continued his reconnaissance. He returned to the platoon to report his findings. When the platoon came under heavy fire, Morris hurriedly assigned his men to better firing positions. Then, for eight hours, the platoon engaged the numerically superior foe.
Morris finally acknowledged that he needed medical attention, but the platoon medic had been killed. Morris administered first aid to himself and was returning to treat wounded members of his squad with the medic's first-aid kit when he was again shot. He lost consciousness, but as soon as he regained it, he went right back to treating the other wounded men.
Noticing that an enemy machine gunner had maneuvered into position behind his platoon and was firing at his men, Morris and another soldier crawled toward the weapon. His comrade was killed, and Morris was wounded a fourth time. Firing his rifle with one hand, Morris silenced the machine gun. He later recovered from his wounds.
After the battle, documents found on a dead enemy soldier revealed a planned ambush of a South Vietnamese battalion. Use of this information prevented the ambush and saved lives. Morris also saved lives by his willingness to lead and protect his men, while treating the wounded and while continually under enemy fire.
JAMES ANDERSON, JR.
James Anderson, Jr., a private first class in the U.S. Marine Corps assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, received the Medal of Honor for his actions on February 28, 1967, northwest of Cam Lo. Private First Class Anderson's company was hacking its way through dense jungle in an effort to save a besieged reconnaissance patrol.
Anderson's platoon, which was the lead unit, had advanced only a short distance when it came under intense enemy fire. The platoon reacted quickly, returning fire. Anderson found himself tightly bunched together with other platoon members and close to enemy positions.
Several American soldiers were wounded by the enemy assault. Suddenly, a grenade landed in the midst of the pack of men and rolled alongside Anderson's head. Instead of being concerned about his own safety, Anderson grabbed the grenade, pulled it to his chest and curled his body around the explosive as it detonated. His body absorbed most of the impact of the explosion. By his act of supreme self-sacrifice, Pfc Anderson saved fellow Marines.
DAVID G. OUELLET
On March 6, 1967, David G. Ouellet was a Navy seaman attached to River Squadron 5, My Tho Detachment 532, serving as the forward machine-gunner on river patrol boat (PBR) No. 124 on the Mekong River. On duty during the early evening hours, Seaman Ouellet saw suspicious activity near a riverbank. He alerted his captain and recommended that the boat move toward the area. While the PBR was conducting a high-speed reconnaissance run, Ouellet spotted a grenade coming toward the vessel. He left his protected position to run the length of the boat and warn crew members to take cover.
Seeing the captain standing unprotected on the bridge, Ouellet pushed him to safety. In the split second that followed the grenade's landing, Ouellet placed himself between it and his shipmates, absorbing most of the blast fragments with his body. His heroic actions in protecting his shipmates, at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Navy.
continued.......
From Roger Donlon in 1964 to Roy Benavidez in 1981, the Medal of Honor was awarded to 239 Americans who served in Vietnam.
by Joe Zentner
The medal features neither gold nor pearl. It is not inset with any glittering precious stones. But the American Medal of Honor is one of the rarest decorations awarded by any nation.
The Medal of Honor can be awarded to any officer or enlisted person who has "distinguished himself [herself] conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his [her] life above and beyond the call of duty." The medal is presented "in the name of Congress"--hence the frequent erroneous reference to it as the Congressional Medal. To date, 4,121 Medals of Honor have been authorized, with U.S. Army personnel receiving the majority (the most recent on January 21, 1998, to a World War II hero).
The present Navy/Marine Corps Medal of Honor is little changed from the original design of Civil War days. The Army's award, by contrast, has gone through two design changes. The present Army award--also used by the Air Force until 1965--consists of a bronze star surrounded by a green laurel wreath suspended from a bronze bar on which is inscribed the word "Valor" surmounted by an eagle. In the center of the star, the head of Minerva, Roman goddess of righteous war and wisdom, is surrounded by the words "United States of America." There is a green oak leaf on each ray of the star. The back of the medal is engraved with the words "The Congress to [name of the recipient]."
In 1965 the Air Force announced its own Medal of Honor design, according to Edward F. Murphy of the Medal of Honor Historical Society. "The five-pointed star was retained, as was the green-enameled wreath and the oak-leaf-filled prongs. The main change was the replacing of Minerva with the head of the Statue of Liberty, looking now to the viewer's left instead of right, as had Minerva. The eagle was gone, too. In its place a bar bearing the word "Valor" was placed above an adaptation of the thunderbolt sprays from the Air Force's coat of arms. The medal is about 50 percent larger than its Army and Navy counterparts."
Since a Medal of Honor recipient has to have acted with outstanding bravery, the Defense Department painstakingly scrutinizes all available evidence before picking its heroes. The process begins when a witness to an act of heroism recommends an individual for the award. The case then works its way up through the Defense Department hierarchy. The award is ultimately approved by the president before it is presented.
In President Theodore Roosevelt's day, he stipulated that presentation of the Medal of Honor should take place at a formal ceremony. Since that time, most have been placed around the neck of the recipient or the nearest living relative if it is a posthumous award (and most are), by the president.
The conflict that raged in Southeast Asia produced more than its share of heroes. In all, 239 persons who served in Vietnam received the Medal of Honor, beginning with U.S. Army Captain Roger Hugh C. Donlon for his conspicuous gallantry in defending Camp Nam Dong on July 6, 1964. Here are some of the other Medal of Honor recipients as described in the official Congressional citations:
JIMMY G. STEWART
Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart was a member of the U.S. Army's Company B, 2nd Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. Early on the morning of May 18, 1966, a reinforced North Vietnamese company attacked Company B, which was manning a defensive perimeter.
The onslaught wounded five members of a six-man squad, leaving Sergeant Stewart alone to defend vital terrain. It became virtually a battle of one man against an entire platoon. Refusing to take advantage of a lull in the fighting that would have allowed him to withdraw, Stewart held his ground to protect his five fallen comrades and prevent the enemy from breaking through the company's perimeter.
The enemy attacked his lone position with full force, and Stewart fought like a man possessed. He emptied magazine cartridge after cartridge at the enemy. The NVA drove almost to his position and threw grenades, which Sergeant Stewart threw back at them.
After exhausting his ammunition, he crawled under intense fire to his wounded team members and collected ammunition that they had not expended. He then held his position for four hours, through three assaults, killing many enemy soldiers. Because of his incredible one-man defense, the company position held until a reinforcing platoon arrived, which counterattacked the North Vietnamese.
Stewart's body was later found in a foxhole, where he had advanced to add his fire to that of the reinforcing platoon. Eight enemy dead were found around his immediate position, with evidence that another 15 bodies had been dragged away. The American wounded for whom Stewart sacrificed his life were later evacuated.
CHARLES B. MORRIS
On June 29, 1966, Charles B. Morris was serving as a U.S. Army sergeant assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Sensing that the enemy was present in his area of operations, Morris went ahead of his platoon to reconnoiter. In so doing, he unwittingly crawled to within 30 yards of an enemy machine gun. He was fired upon and seriously wounded, but returned fire. Having killed the enemy gunner and fired at the crew, Sergeant Morris continued his reconnaissance. He returned to the platoon to report his findings. When the platoon came under heavy fire, Morris hurriedly assigned his men to better firing positions. Then, for eight hours, the platoon engaged the numerically superior foe.
Morris finally acknowledged that he needed medical attention, but the platoon medic had been killed. Morris administered first aid to himself and was returning to treat wounded members of his squad with the medic's first-aid kit when he was again shot. He lost consciousness, but as soon as he regained it, he went right back to treating the other wounded men.
Noticing that an enemy machine gunner had maneuvered into position behind his platoon and was firing at his men, Morris and another soldier crawled toward the weapon. His comrade was killed, and Morris was wounded a fourth time. Firing his rifle with one hand, Morris silenced the machine gun. He later recovered from his wounds.
After the battle, documents found on a dead enemy soldier revealed a planned ambush of a South Vietnamese battalion. Use of this information prevented the ambush and saved lives. Morris also saved lives by his willingness to lead and protect his men, while treating the wounded and while continually under enemy fire.
JAMES ANDERSON, JR.
James Anderson, Jr., a private first class in the U.S. Marine Corps assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, received the Medal of Honor for his actions on February 28, 1967, northwest of Cam Lo. Private First Class Anderson's company was hacking its way through dense jungle in an effort to save a besieged reconnaissance patrol.
Anderson's platoon, which was the lead unit, had advanced only a short distance when it came under intense enemy fire. The platoon reacted quickly, returning fire. Anderson found himself tightly bunched together with other platoon members and close to enemy positions.
Several American soldiers were wounded by the enemy assault. Suddenly, a grenade landed in the midst of the pack of men and rolled alongside Anderson's head. Instead of being concerned about his own safety, Anderson grabbed the grenade, pulled it to his chest and curled his body around the explosive as it detonated. His body absorbed most of the impact of the explosion. By his act of supreme self-sacrifice, Pfc Anderson saved fellow Marines.
DAVID G. OUELLET
On March 6, 1967, David G. Ouellet was a Navy seaman attached to River Squadron 5, My Tho Detachment 532, serving as the forward machine-gunner on river patrol boat (PBR) No. 124 on the Mekong River. On duty during the early evening hours, Seaman Ouellet saw suspicious activity near a riverbank. He alerted his captain and recommended that the boat move toward the area. While the PBR was conducting a high-speed reconnaissance run, Ouellet spotted a grenade coming toward the vessel. He left his protected position to run the length of the boat and warn crew members to take cover.
Seeing the captain standing unprotected on the bridge, Ouellet pushed him to safety. In the split second that followed the grenade's landing, Ouellet placed himself between it and his shipmates, absorbing most of the blast fragments with his body. His heroic actions in protecting his shipmates, at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Navy.
continued.......