Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient. Served as a Corporal, Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. On February 2, 1968, the Cam Lo District Headquarters, Quang Tri Province came under attack by a superior enemy force. As squad leader, he led his fire team to the weakened section of the perimeter. Wounded while manning an abandoned machinegun position, he then started effective fire on the advancing enemy. In a desperate attempt to silence his weapon, the North Vietnamese directed rifle fire against him inflicting additional wounds. Too weak to reload his machinegun, he continued to deliver effective fire with his rifle. He finally succumbed to his wounds, having successfully defended nearly half of the perimeter single-handedly. His other decorations include: the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm, Military Merit Medal (Vietnamese), and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient. Served as a Corporal, Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. On February 2, 1968, the Cam Lo District Headquarters, Quang Tri Province came under attack by a superior enemy force. As squad leader, he led his fire team to the weakened section of the perimeter. Wounded while manning an abandoned machinegun position, he then started effective fire on the advancing enemy. In a desperate attempt to silence his weapon, the North Vietnamese directed rifle fire against him inflicting additional wounds. Too weak to reload his machinegun, he continued to deliver effective fire with his rifle. He finally succumbed to his wounds, having successfully defended nearly half of the perimeter single-handedly. His other decorations include: the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm, Military Merit Medal (Vietnamese), and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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