Source: http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html (11-09-08) |
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All those awarded in 1966-67 involved the administrative
efforts for the soldiers of the Awards and Casualty Reporting
Section of the 4th Administration Company, 4th Infantry Division,
while I served as the OIC of the Section before rotating home in
October
1967.
McDONALD, PHILL G.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army,
Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. place
and
date: Near Kontum City, Republic of Vietnam, 7 June 1968. Entered
service
at: Beckley, W . Va. Born: 13 September 1941. Avondale, W. Va.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. McDonald distinguished
himself
while serving as a team leader with the 1st platoon of Company A. While
on a combat mission his platoon came under heavy barrage of automatic
weapons
fire from a well concealed company-size enemy force. Volunteering to
escort
2 wounded comrades to an evacuation point, Pfc. McDonald crawled
through
intense fire to destroy with a grenade an enemy automatic weapon
threatening
the safety of the evacuation. Returning to his platoon, he again
volunteered
to provide covering fire for the maneuver of the platoon from its
exposed
position. Realizing the threat he posed, enemy gunners concentrated
their
fire on Pfc. McDonald's position, seriously wounding him. Despite his
painful
wounds, Pfc. McDonald recovered the weapon of a wounded machine gunner
to provide accurate covering fire for the gunner's evacuation. When
other
soldiers were pinned down by a heavy volume of fire from a hostile
machine
gun to his front, Pfc. McDonald crawled toward the enemy position to
destroy
it with grenades. He was mortally wounded in this intrepid action. Pfc.
McDonald's gallantry at the risk of his life which resulted in the
saving
of the lives of his comrades, is in keeping with the highest traditions
of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his
unit,
and the U.S. Army.
McNERNEY, DAVID H.
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, U.S. Army,
Company
A, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. place and date:
polei Doc, Republic of Vietnam, 22 March 1967. Entered service at: Fort
Bliss, Tex. Born: 2 June 1931, Lowell, Mass. Citation: 1st Sgt.
McNerney
distinguished himself when his unit was attacked by a North Vietnamese
battalion near polei Doc. Running through the hail of enemy fire to the
area of heaviest contact, he was assisting in the development of a
defensive
perimeter when he encountered several enemy at close range. He killed
the
enemy but was painfully injured when blown from his feet by a grenade.
In spite of this injury, he assaulted and destroyed an enemy machinegun
position that had pinned down 5 of his comrades beyond the defensive
line.
Upon learning his commander and artillery forward observer had been
killed,
he assumed command of the company. He adjusted artillery fire to within
20 meters of the position in a daring measure to repulse ??enemy
assaults.
When the smoke grenades used to mark the position were gone, he moved
into
a nearby clearing to designate the location to friendly aircraft. In
spite
of enemy fire he remained exposed until he was certain the position was
spotted and then climbed into a tree and tied the identification panel
to its highest branches. Then he moved among his men readjusting their
position, encouraging the defenders and checking the wounded. As the
hostile
assaults slackened, he began clearing a helicopter landing site to
evacuate
the wounded. When explosives were needed to remove large trees, he
crawled
outside the relative safety of his perimeter to collect demolition
material
from abandoned rucksacks. Moving through a fusillade of fire he
returned
with the explosives that were vital to the clearing of the landing
zone.
Disregarding the pain of his injury and refusing medical evacuation 1st
Sgt. McNerney remained with his unit until the next day when the new
commander
arrived. First Sgt. McNerney's outstanding heroism and leadership were
inspirational to his comrades. His actions were in keeping with the
highest
traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and
the
Armed Forces of his country.
MOLNAR, FRANKIE ZOLY
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army,
Company
B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. place and date:
Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 20 May 1967. Entered service at:
Fresno, Calif. Born: 14 February 1943, Logan, W. Va. Citation: For
conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and
beyond
the call of duty. S/Sgt. Molnar distinguished himself while serving as
a squad leader with Company B, during combat operations. Shortly after
the battalion's defensive perimeter was established, it was hit by
intense
mortar fire as the prelude to a massive enemy night attack. S/Sgt.
Molnar
immediately left his sheltered location to insure the readiness of his
squad to meet the attack. As he crawled through the position, he
discovered
a group of enemy soldiers closing in on his squad area. His accurate
rifle
fire killed 5 of the enemy and forced the remainder to flee. When the
mortar
fire stopped, the enemy attacked in a human wave supported by grenades,
rockets, automatic weapons, and small-arms fire. After assisting to
repel
the first enemy assault, S/Sgt. Molnar found that his squad's
ammunition
and grenade supply was nearly expended. Again leaving the relative
safety
of his position, he crawled through intense enemy fire to secure
additional
ammunition and distribute it to his squad. He rejoined his men to beat
back the renewed enemy onslaught, and he moved about his area providing
medical aid and assisting in the evacuation of the wounded. With the
help
of several men, he was preparing to move a severely wounded soldier
when
an enemy hand grenade was thrown into the group. The first to see the
grenade,
S/Sgt. Molnar threw himself on it and absorbed the deadly blast to save
his comrades. His demonstrated selflessness and inspirational
leadership
on the battlefield were a major factor in the successful defense of the
American position and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the
U.S. Army. S/Sgt. Molnar's actions reflect great credit upon himself,
his
unit, and the U.S. Army.
ROARK, ANUND C.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C,
1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date:
Kontum
Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16 May 1968. Entered service at: Los
Angeles,
Calif. Born: 17 February 1948, Vallejo, Calif. Citation: For
conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and
beyond
the call of duty. Sgt. Roark distinguished himself by extraordinary
gallantry
while serving with Company C. Sgt. Roark was the point squad leader of
a small force which had the mission of rescuing 11 men in a hilltop
observation
post under heavy attack by a company-size force, approximately 1,000
meters
from the battalion perimeter. As lead elements of the relief force
reached
the besieged observation post, intense automatic weapons fire from
enemy
occupied bunkers halted their movement. Without hesitation, Sgt. Roark
maneuvered his squad, repeatedly exposing himself to withering enemy
fire
to hurl grenades and direct the fire of his squad to gain fire
superiority
and cover the withdrawal of the outpost and evacuation of its
casualties.
Frustrated in their effort to overrun the position, the enemy swept the
hilltop with small arms and volleys of grenades. Seeing a grenade land
in the midst of his men, Sgt. Roark, with complete disregard for his
safety,
hurled himself upon the grenade, absorbing its blast with his body.
Sgt.
Roark's magnificent leadership and dauntless courage saved the lives of
many of his comrades and were the inspiration for the successful relief
of the outpost. His actions which culminated in the supreme sacrifice
of
his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military
service,
and reflect great credit on himself and the U.S. Army .
Rank and organization: Platoon Sergeant (then S/Sgt.), U.S. Army, 1st Platoon, Company C, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 16 February 1967. Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii. Born: 27 July 1935, Honolulu, Hawaii. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. During a reconnaissance patrol. his platoon was suddenly engaged by intense machinegun fire hemming in the platoon on 3 sides. A defensive perimeter was hastily established, but the enemy added mortar and rocket fire to the deadly fusillade and assaulted the position from several directions. With complete disregard for his safety, P/Sgt. Smith moved through the deadly fire along the defensive line, positioning soldiers, distributing ammunition and encouraging his men to repeal the enemy attack. Struck to the ground by enemy fire which caused a severe shoulder wound, he regained his feet, killed the enemy soldier and continued to move about the perimeter. He was again wounded in the shoulder and stomach but continued moving on his knees to assist in the defense. Noting the enemy massing at a weakened point on the perimeter, he crawled into the open and poured deadly fire into the enemy ranks. As he crawled on, he was struck by a rocket. Moments later, he regained consciousness, and drawing on his fast dwindling strength, continued to crawl from man to man. When he could move no farther, he chose to remain in the open where he could alert the perimeter to the approaching enemy. P/Sgt. Smith perished, never relenting in his determined effort against the enemy. The valorous acts and heroic leadership of this outstanding soldier inspired those remaining members of his platoon to beat back the enemy assaults. P/Sgt. Smith's gallant actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and they reflect great credit upon him and the Armed Forces of his country.
WILLETT, LOUIS E.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army,
Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Place
and
date: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 15 February 1967. Entered
service
at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Born: 19 June 1945, Brooklyn, N.Y. Citation: For
conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty. Pfc. Willett distinguished himself while serving as a
rifleman
in Company C, during combat operations. His squad was conducting a
security
sweep when it made contact with a large enemy force. The squad was
immediately
engaged with a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire and pinned to the
ground. Despite the deadly fusillade, Pfc. Willett rose to his feet
firing
rapid bursts from his weapon and moved to a position from which he
placed
highly effective fire on the enemy. His action allowed the remainder of
his squad to begin to withdraw from the superior enemy force toward the
company perimeter. Pfc. Willett covered the squad's withdrawal, but his
position drew heavy enemy machinegun fire, and he received multiple
wounds
enabling the enemy again to pin down the remainder of the squad. Pfc.
Willett
struggled to an upright position, and, disregarding his painful wounds,
he again engaged the enemy with his rifle to allow his squad to
continue
its movement and to evacuate several of his comrades who were by now
wounded.
Moving from position to position, he engaged the enemy at close range
until
he was mortally wounded. By his unselfish acts of bravery, Pfc. Willett
insured the withdrawal of his comrades to the company position, saving
their lives at the cost of his life. Pfc. Willett's valorous actions
were
in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect
great
credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.