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COL Edmond Peter Abood

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COL Edmond Peter Abood Veteran

Birth
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA
Death
19 Jun 2005 (aged 78)
Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA
Burial
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section 31 Site 7786
Memorial ID
View Source
Honored for Heroism in War. He joined the Army in 1944. He served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. He was a rifleman, infantry commander, an Army Ranger instructor and helped change the 101st Airborne Division from a parachute infantry division to a helicopter-borne assault division. He served three tours in Vietnam commanding three 101st Airborne battalions. He received the Distinguished Service Cross Medal, four Legion of Merits, two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart and eight Air Medals. He was inducted into the Army Rangers Hall of Fame in 1999. After his retirement from the Army he was a contractor for the Defense Department. During this tenure he received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public service. He died of cancer while visiting his sister in Florida.
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DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Edmond Peter Abood (ASN: 0-89022), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Lieutenant Colonel Abood distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 August 1967 while serving as Commanding Officer of an airborne infantry battalion on an airmobile assault mission deep in hostile territory. During the assault, Colonel Abood flew low through heavy ground fire to mark the landing zone and direct air strikes on enemy positions. Several helicopters were shot down and his craft received numerous hits, but he continued to brave intense Viet Cong machine gun fire until all elements had landed. Once on the ground, he moved through sniper fire to designate defensive positions to his men. A smoke grenade set the dry elephant grass in the area ablaze, but he exposed himself time after time to withering volleys to organize fire-fighting teams and stop the approaching flames. A short time later enemy tracers started a fire around his artillery position on an adjacent hill. Completely ignoring machine gun fire and flying shrapnel, he moved to the position to direct evacuation of his men. He single-handedly rescued a man overcome by the heat and carried him to safety. Throughout the night he moved along the perimeter fully exposed to enemy fire to direct his men in repelling repeated hostile probes. Mortar rounds and rifle fire struck all around him, but he remained in the open encouraging his men. In the morning he directed infiltration operations of his men to a more secure area. Throughout the evacuation he constantly remained exposed to persistent sniper fire all around him. His courageous actions and leadership prevented loss of men or equipment to the insurgents. Lieutenant Colonel Abood's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
Honored for Heroism in War. He joined the Army in 1944. He served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. He was a rifleman, infantry commander, an Army Ranger instructor and helped change the 101st Airborne Division from a parachute infantry division to a helicopter-borne assault division. He served three tours in Vietnam commanding three 101st Airborne battalions. He received the Distinguished Service Cross Medal, four Legion of Merits, two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart and eight Air Medals. He was inducted into the Army Rangers Hall of Fame in 1999. After his retirement from the Army he was a contractor for the Defense Department. During this tenure he received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public service. He died of cancer while visiting his sister in Florida.
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DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Edmond Peter Abood (ASN: 0-89022), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Lieutenant Colonel Abood distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 August 1967 while serving as Commanding Officer of an airborne infantry battalion on an airmobile assault mission deep in hostile territory. During the assault, Colonel Abood flew low through heavy ground fire to mark the landing zone and direct air strikes on enemy positions. Several helicopters were shot down and his craft received numerous hits, but he continued to brave intense Viet Cong machine gun fire until all elements had landed. Once on the ground, he moved through sniper fire to designate defensive positions to his men. A smoke grenade set the dry elephant grass in the area ablaze, but he exposed himself time after time to withering volleys to organize fire-fighting teams and stop the approaching flames. A short time later enemy tracers started a fire around his artillery position on an adjacent hill. Completely ignoring machine gun fire and flying shrapnel, he moved to the position to direct evacuation of his men. He single-handedly rescued a man overcome by the heat and carried him to safety. Throughout the night he moved along the perimeter fully exposed to enemy fire to direct his men in repelling repeated hostile probes. Mortar rounds and rifle fire struck all around him, but he remained in the open encouraging his men. In the morning he directed infiltration operations of his men to a more secure area. Throughout the evacuation he constantly remained exposed to persistent sniper fire all around him. His courageous actions and leadership prevented loss of men or equipment to the insurgents. Lieutenant Colonel Abood's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)


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  • Created by: CindyS
  • Added: Jul 30, 2008
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28648893/edmond_peter-abood: accessed ), memorial page for COL Edmond Peter Abood (15 Sep 1926–19 Jun 2005), Find a Grave Memorial ID 28648893, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by CindyS (contributor 18484625).