Wall Note Twenty-Three: Medal of Honor Recipients on the Wall (Update One)
WALL NOTE TWENTY-THREE: MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS ON THE WALL (UPDATE ONE)
DANIEL R. ARANT [email protected]
DATE OF INFORMATION: 15 FEBRUARY 2015
WHEN YOU GO HOME
TELL THEM OF US AND SAY
FOR YOUR TOMORROW
WE GAVE OUR TODAY
KOHIMA EPITAPH BRITISH 2nd DIVISION KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY
01. PURPOSE. This Wall Note lists the Medal of Honor (MOH) recipients whose names are engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM) – the Wall. The list includes: (01) rank/rate held at the time of the action, (02) name, (03) service, (04) unit association at time of action, (05) date of action, and (06) Wall location. The stories of four MOH recipients are told briefly in paragraph 10. The complete list of the 159 Viet Nam conflict MOH names that are inscribed on the Wall may be found following paragraph 10. U. S. Park National Service (USNPS) Rangers/volunteers may desire to download the list (pages 20-27) for retention in their copies of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) Directory of Names. This Wall Note also lists the living Viet Nam conflict MOH recipients (pages 27-29) and the Viet Nam conflict recipients who are not inscribed on the Wall and who are not living (pages 29-31).
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A. The correct name of the MOH is the Medal of Honor and NOT the Congressional Medal of Honor. The MOH is awarded by direction of the President in the name of Congress. There is a Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS), which is an organization chartered by Congress and may be a factor in the Medal of Honor’s “alternate” name.
B. The date of action and the date of death for a posthumous MOH recipient may not be the same. The recipient may have died of wounds after the action. (The battle of LZ X-Ray during the 23 October-26 November 1965 Ia Drang Valley/Plei Me Campaign represents some good examples of differing dates concerning the actual date of death and the listed date of death. Most of the soldiers who were killed on 14 November 1965 are listed with a date of death of 15 November 1965 – I will explain in Wall Note Ten.) This difference in dates may be reflected in the VVMF Directory of Names. The VVMF Directory of Names lists the date of capture for a prisoner of war (POW) and not his REPORTED date of death. The reported date of death may be from National Liberation Front (NLF)/Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) or North Vietnamese sources. Some MOH citations refer to administrative areas in Viet Nam as “Provinces” when they are not. There may be some differences in the literature regarding the basic unit level of a recipient at the time of action. For example, Army medics and Navy corpsmen may be assigned to a Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) or Headquarters and Services (H&S) Company and then detailed to a specific infantry company or platoon. An artillery forward observer’s (FO) unit may be listed as his parent artillery unit or as the infantry company to which he was assigned temporarily.
C. This Wall Note updates Wall Note Eleven: Medal Of Honor Recipients on the Wall, dated 01 August 2011.
02. ANNOTATED MAPS. The annotated 1:50,000-scale Army Map Service (AMS) maps and 1:500,000 Tactical Pilotage Chart (TPC) charts are provided through the courtesy and permission of U.S. Army tanker (“C” Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Armor) Viet Nam veteran Ray Smith.
03. PHOTOGRAPHS. Photographs are provided through the courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI): http://www.usni.org.
04. VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL VOLUNTEERS WEB SITE. This site, founded and maintained by USNPS volunteer Allen McCabe, contains a wealth of textual (to include previous Wall Notes) and photographic information. Well worth a read.
A. www.vietnammemorialvolunteers.com.
05. A LABOR OF LOVE. A heartfelt thanks to VVM Volunteer Jim “Polecat” Schuckler and his team, members of the Coffelt Group, and Wall family advocate Bruce Swander – all of whom provided the “nuggets” - and much more - to ease the research process and to improve this missive.
06. DISCLAIMER. This Wall Note is not an official publication of the USNPS, the VVMF, or the Department of Defense (DOD). I have cross-checked dates and figures, but sources don’t always agree. My thanks to USNPS volunteer Donald Adam for proofreading support. Any grammatical/substantive errors in this Wall Note – from whatever source - are solely mine. Questions/comments/corrections are solicited.
07. SUMMARY.
A. During the Viet Nam conflict, 257 Medals of Honor were awarded for actions associated directly with Southeast Asia (Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia). This 257 number includes 162 posthumous awards. The names of 159 of the 162 posthumous MOH recipients are inscribed on the Wall. Three Viet Nam conflict MOH recipients died before they received their awards. They received their awards posthumously, but their names are not on the Wall since they did not die of wounds received as a result of combat action.
(01) The “BOTTOM-LINE” answer to a visitor question concerning the MOH issue is that during the Viet Nam (Southeast Asia)–associated conflict, 257 Medals of Honor were awarded: 171 Army, 57 Marine Corps, 15 Page 2 of 39
Navy, and 14 Air Force. The names of 159 of the 257 MOH recipients are inscribed on the Wall: 104 Army, 44 Marine Corps, 06 Navy, and 05 Air Force. There are 54 living Viet Nam conflict MOH recipients. There are 44 Viet Nam conflict MOH recipients who are not inscribed on the Wall and who are not living. (159+54+44=257).
(02) Just as with the “1959” inscription on Panel 01E, which should technically read “1956” – combat/non-combat status is irrelevant - there are “footnotes” to the MOH recipient number. For example, the interpretation of “posthumous” can be tricky. Examples of these “footnotes” follow.
B. Some sources include a Navy MOH recipient who was awarded his MOH for his action in the Mediterranean Sea in 1967; this would make the total MOH count 258. Further, as a result of this Navy MOH award, sources may list the Navy MOH total as 16.
(01) Cdr. William L. McGONAGLE, USN. Cdr. (retired Captain) William L. McGonagle, USN (1925-1999) was the commander of the USS Liberty (AGTR-5). USS Liberty was attacked by Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats on 08 June 1967, while the ship was operating in the Mediterranean Sea. The result was the deaths of 31 sailors, 02 Marines, and 01 civilian [a Navy reservist serving as a civilian with the National Security Agency (NSA)]; 171 personnel were wounded. Cdr. McGonagle was awarded the MOH for his actions. The name of Cdr. McGonagle is not on the Wall. If Cdr. McGonagle’s name is not counted, the total directly-associated Viet Nam conflict MOH number is 257 and the Navy number is 15.
a. If anyone desires to pursue the USS Liberty issue, there are a number of articles and books written by reasoned authors who take different views (a provoked attack or an error in identification) – similarly, the same is true regarding the 04 August 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident (did it really happen).
C. Three Posthumous MOH recipients are not inscribed on the Wall. Since there were 162 Posthumous Medals of Honor awarded for the Viet Nam conflict, one would assume that the names of all 162 are inscribed on the Wall.
(01) Lt. Col. William Atkinson JONES, III, USAF. Lt. Col. William A. Jones, III, USAF was awarded the MOH posthumously, but his name is not on the Wall. Lt. Col. Jones was the pilot of an A-1H Skyraider and assigned to the 602nd Special Operations Squadron (SOS). He was nominated to receive the MOH for his action near Dong Hoi, North Viet Nam, on 01 September 1968. Lt. Col. Jones survived his wounds and returned to the U.S. for a new assignment. On 15 November 1969, now Col. Jones was killed in the crash of a private airplane before he received his MOH. His widow received his Posthumous MOH on 06 August 1970. Thus, although Col. Jones was awarded the MOH posthumously, his name is not on the Wall.
(02) Sp4 Jesus S. DURAN, USA. Sp4 Jesus Duran, USA served with “E”/2/5, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). He received his MOH for action on 10 April 1969. Jesus Duran died on 17 February 1977 from non-combat causes and received a Posthumous MOH on 18 March 2014.
(03) Sgt. Candelario GARCIA, USA. Sgt. Candelario Garcia, USA served with “B”/1/2, 1st Infantry Division. He received his MOH for action on 08 December 1968. Candelario Garcia died on 10 January 2013 from non- combat causes and received a Posthumous MOH on 18 March 2014.
D. Maj. Gen. Keith Lincoln WARE, USA. Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware, USA is a MOH recipient and his name is inscribed on the Wall, but he received his MOH during WW II. Then Lt. Col. Keith Ware, commander of the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, received the MOH for action on 26 December 1944 in France. While in Viet Nam now Maj. Gen. Ware commanded the 1st Infantry Division. His helicopter was shot down on 13 September 1968. His name is inscribed on 44W 055. Technically, there are 160 MOH recipients on the Wall of which 159 were awarded for direct participation in the Viet Nam conflict.
E. PFC (Sgt.) William David PORT, USA. PFC William D. Port, USA received his MOH for action on 12 January 1968. During that action, he was wounded and taken prisoner and reportedly died in captivity on or about 28
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November 1968. PFC Port was awarded a Posthumous MOH on 06 August 1970. His name is inscribed on 34E 039.
F. MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS ASSOCIATED WITH LAOS AND CAMBODIA. Although the count of 257 for the Viet Nam conflict is not affected, a number of MOH recipients received their medal for action in Laos or Cambodia, but their citations read Viet Nam or “deep within enemy-held territory.” I assume these citations are associated with: (01) the 23 July 1962 declaration and protocol on the neutrality of Laos signed at the 14-nation conference at Geneva or (02) the mantra of Cambodian neutrality.
G. VIET NAM UNKNOWN MEDAL OF HONOR. In August 1998, the DOD denied a request from the family of 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, USAF (01W 023) that 1st Lt. Blassie be allowed to retain the Unknown MOH. The Viet Nam Unknown MOH is not included in the 257 total.
08. MEDALS OF HONOR BY SERVICE.
A. ARMY.
(01) Posthumous: 106.
a. Posthumous names inscribed on the Wall: 104.
b. Posthumous names not inscribed on the Wall: 02.
(02) Names not inscribed on the Wall: 67. (Includes the two posthumous names not inscribed on the Wall.)
(03) Total: 171. (104+67=171).
(04) Total names on the Wall if WW II MOH recipient Maj. Gen. Keith Ware is included: 105.
B. MARINE CORPS.
(01) Posthumous: 44.
(02) Names not inscribed on the Wall: 13.
(03) Total: 57.
C. NAVY.
(01) Posthumous: 06.
(02) Names not inscribed on the Wall: 09. This excludes Cdr. William L. McGonagle. Ten if Cdr. McGonagle is included.
(03) Total: 15. Sixteen if Cdr. McGonagle is included.
D. AIR FORCE.
(01) Posthumous: 06.
a. Posthumous names inscribed on the Wall: 05.
b. Posthumous name not inscribed on the Wall: 01.
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(02) Names not inscribed on the Wall: 09. (This includes one posthumous name not inscribed on the Wall.)
(03) Total: 14. (05+09=14)
E. TOTAL VIET NAM CONFLICT MOH RECIPIENTS BY SERVICE.
(01) Army: 171.
(02) Marine Corps: 57.
(03) Navy: 15.
(04) Air Force: 14.
(05) Total: 257.
F. TOTAL VIET NAM CONFLICT MOH RECIPIENTS INSCRIBED ON THE WALL.
(01) Army: 104.
(02) Marine Corps: 44.
(03) Navy: 06.
(04) Air Force: 05.
(05) Total: 159.
G. TOTAL VIET NAM CONFLICT MOH RECIPIENTS NOT INSCRIBED ON THE WALL.
(01) Army: 67.
(02) Marine Corps: 13.
(03) Navy: 09.
(04) Air Force: 09.
(05) Total: 98.
H. TOTAL VIET NAM CONFLICT MOH RECIPIENTS.
(01) Inscribed on the Wall: 159.
(02) Not inscribed on the Wall: 98.
(03) Total: 257.
09. SOME OBSERVATIONS.
A. SHIELDING FELLOW SERVICEMEN FROM EXPLOSIVE DEVICES.
(01) I counted 84 instances whereby a soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine used his body as a shield to protect his comrades from an explosive device. This included diving directly on the explosive device (most of the instances), placing his body between the explosive device and his comrades, or picking up a live explosive device to carry/throw it out of harm’s way; 73 of these instances were mortal. Page 5 of 39
B. PRISONERS OF WAR (POWs). Eight MOH recipients were POWs; the names of four are inscribed on the Wall. Five of the eight received the MOH for their actions as a POW. Three of the eight were awarded the MOH for actions prior to becoming a POW; two of these returned and one died in captivity. Four MOH POWs died in captivity. Ranks are those held at the time of capture.
(01) SSgt. Jon R. CAVAIANI, USA. MOH for action prior to capture. Returned 27 March 1973.
a. Died 29 July 2014.
b. See Wall Note Nineteen, paragraph 09.G. for further information regarding Jon Cavaiani.
(02) Capt. Donald Gilbert COOK, USMC. MOH for action as a POW. Died in captivity. 01E 080.
a. Remains Not Returned.
(03) Maj. George Everette “Bud” DAY, USAF. MOH for action as a POW. Returned 14 March 1973.
a. Died 27 July 2013.
(04) PFC William David PORT, USA. MOH for action prior to capture. Died in captivity. 34E 039.
a. Remains Returned: 14 August 1985. Remains Identified: 07 October 1985.
(05) 1st Lt. Lance Peter SIJAN, USAF. MOH for action as a POW. Died in captivity. 29E 062.
a. Remains Returned: 13 March 1974. Remains Identified: 22 April 1974.
(06) Cdr. James Bond STOCKDALE, USN. MOH for action as a POW. Returned 12 February 1973.
a. Died 05 July 2005.
(07) Maj. Leo Keith THORSNESS, USAF. MOH for action prior to capture. Returned 04 March 1973.
(08) Capt. Humbert Roque “Rocky” VERSACE, USA. MOH for action as a POW. Died in captivity. 01E 033.
a. Remains Not Returned.
C. CHAPLAINS. Three chaplains received the MOH; the names of two are inscribed on the Wall.
(01) Lt. Vincent Robert CAPODANNO, Jr., USN. 25E 095.
(02) Capt. Angelo J. LITEKY, USA.
a. Angelo Liteky left / ”returned” his MOH at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on 29 July 1986 as a protest to the then U.S. policy in Latin America. The MOH and his letter to the U. S. President are on display at the National Museum of American History.
b. Angelo Liteky is now known as Charles James “Charley” Liteky.
(03) Maj. Charles Joseph WATTERS, USA. 30E 036.
D. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. Two conscientious objectors received the MOH, both posthumously. Both were Army medics.
(01) PFC Thomas William BENNETT, USA. 32W 010.
(02) Sp4 Joseph Guy La POINTE, Jr., USA. 23W 045.
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E. ENLISTED ARMY, NAVY, AND AIR FORCE MEDICAL PERSONNEL. I counted 15 Army medics (08 posthumous), 04 Navy corpsmen (02 posthumous), and 01 Air Force pararescue/medical specialist (01 posthumous) MOH recipients. Also, two Army helicopter pilots assigned to aviation medical units were awarded the MOH for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations of wounded soldiers.
(01) One of the Army MEDEVAC pilots was then CWO3 Michael J. Novosel, Sr. During WW II, Michael Novosel was a captain in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and flew B-29 Superfortress bombing raids over Japan. He piloted one of the B-29s that overflew the USS Missouri (BB-63) on 02 September 1945 upon the completion of the Japanese surrender ceremony. He left active duty but was recalled during the Korean War and after that conflict, he again left active duty. By 1955, he was a Lt. Col. in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He volunteered to fly in Viet Nam, but the USAF did not have a slot for a 42-year-old Lt. Col. Reservist. He joined the Army and completed helicopter pilot training. CWO Novosel completed two tours in Viet Nam as a MEDEVAC pilot. On 02 October 1969, he made three trips into an extremely hostile landing zone and rescued 29 South Vietnamese soldiers in the area of the Plain of Reeds, Kien Tuong Province (now Long An Province). On 15 June 1971, he was awarded the MOH by President Richard M. Nixon for this action. Note: In March 1970, CWO Novosel and his son Michael Jr. had a unique experience. Michael Jr. was also a helicopter pilot and was shot down; he was rescued by his father, Michael Sr. A week later the favor was returned when Michael Jr. rescued his father, who had been shot down. CWO Novosel, Sr. flew 2,543 missions during his Viet Nam tours. CWO4 Michael J. Novosel, Sr. died on 02 April 2006. His son Michael Jr. died on 10 December 2009. Michael Novosel’s autobiography is titled: Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator. See paragraph 11.B.(34).
a. http://www.rjsmith.com/IV_Corps_Seven_Sisters_01.html
(02) The following Website lists the names of 1,404 Army medics and 692 Navy corpsmen whose names are on the Wall (date of information: 24 October 2006). My files show that one Army medic was added to the Wall in May 2014.
a. http://www.1stcavmedic.com
F. FOREIGN BORN. Eight MOH recipients were foreign born – three Mexico; one England, UK; one Italy; one Canada; one Austria; and one Hungary. Four received the MOH posthumously and their names are inscribed on the Wall; a fifth Posthumous MOH was awarded to Jesus S. Duran, USA, but he did not die from combat wounds and he is not inscribed on the Wall.
(01) PFC Lewis ALBANESE, USA. Italy. 12E 131.
(02) SSgt. Jon R. CAVAIANI, Jr., USA. England, UK. POW: 05 June 1971-27 March 1973.
a. Obituaries differ whether Jon CAVAIANI was born in Ireland or England, UK.
b. The New York Times obituary states he was born in Murphys, Ireland, and raised in England. The Los Angeles Times obituary says he was born in Royston, England, UK. CMOHS records indicate that he was born in Royston, England, UK.
(03) Sp4 Jesus S. DURAN, USA. Mexico.
(04) LCpl. Jose Francisco JIMENEZ. USMC. Mexico. 18W 002.
(05) Sp4 Peter C. LEMON, USA. Canada.
(06) SSgt. Laszlo RABEL, USA. Hungary. 38W 007.
(07) Sp4 Alfred V. RASCON, USA. Mexico.
(08) Sp4 Leslie Halasz SABO, Jr., USA. Austria. 10W 015.
G. LIVING RECIPIENTS. As of the date of this Wall Note, there are 54 living Viet Nam conflict MOH recipients. Page 7 of 39
H. TOTAL MOH RECIPIENT RANK/RATE BREAKDOWN. Officer: 69 (27%). Warrant Officer: 02 (01%). Enlisted: 186 (72%).
I. MOH BY YEAR.
(01) 1964: 01.
(02) 1965: 12.
(03) 1966: 29.
(04) 1967: 56. Includes POW Leo K. Thorsness.
(05) 1968: 61. Includes POW William D. Port.
(06) 1969: 58.
(07) 1970: 25.
(08) 1971: 07. Includes POW Jon R. Cavaiani.
(09) 1972: 03.
(10) POWs (Multiple Years): 05. Received the MOH for actions as a POW.
(11) Total: 257.
J. MOH RECIPIENTS WHO WERE KILLED ON THE SAME DAY AND DURING THE SAME BATTLE.
(01) 11 April 1966.
a. A1C William Hart PITSENBARGER, USAF. 06E 102.
b. Sgt. James William ROBINSON, Jr., USA. 06E 102.
(02) 20 May 1967.
a. PFC Leslie Allen BELLRICHARD, USA. 20E 054.
b. SSgt. Frankie Zoly MOLNAR, USA. 20E 064.
(03) 21 June 1967.
a. Sp4 Carmel Bernon HARVEY, Jr., USA. 22E 030.
b. Sp5 Edgar Lee McWETHY, USA. 22E 032.
(04) 04 September 1967.
a. Lt. Vincent Robert CAPODANNO, USN. 25E 095.
b. Sgt. Lawrence David PETERS, USMC. 25E 108.
K. A UNIQUE MEDAL OF HONOR STORY.
(01) On 13 April 1972, Navy Lt. (SEAL) Thomas R. Norris, assisted by Vietnamese Navy Petty Officer Nguyen Van Kiet, both disguised as fishermen, rescued deep inside enemy-held territory USAF Lt. Col. Iceal “Gene” Hambleton, “Bat 21B.” Lt. Col. Hambleton was the only surviving crewman of a 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare
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Squadron (TEWS), 388th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) EB-66C Destroyer. The aircraft was shot down by a SA-2 Guideline surface-to-air missile (SAM) on 02 April 1972 during the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive (Nguyen Hue Offensive); five other crewmen were killed. On 10 April 1972, Lt. Norris rescued, deep in enemy territory, USAF 1st Lt. Mark N. Clark, USAF an OV-10A Bronco forward air controller (FAC), who was shot down on 03 April 1972. Lt. Norris was nominated for the MOH for these two actions. Petty Officer Nguyen Van Kiet was awarded the Navy Cross.
a. Lt. Col. Hambleton died on 19 September 2004.
b. 1st Lt. Clark’s crewmate, 1st Lt. William J. Henderson, USAF, became a POW (released on 27 March 1973).
(02) On 31 October 1972, Lt. Norris, EN2 (SEAL) Michael Edwin Thornton, and three Vietnamese Navy SEALs were on a mission deep inside enemy-controlled territory when they were engaged by superior North Vietnamese forces. Lt. Norris received a life-threatening head wound. EN2 Thornton, at great risk to his own life, saved the life of Lt. Norris.
(03) EN2 Thornton received the MOH on 15 October 1973. Lt. Norris spent three years under hospital care and received his MOH on 06 March 1976. A MOH recipient saved the life of a MOH recipient.
(04) A personal note. Both a 1980 book, Bat-21, and a 1988 movie, Bat*21, with Gene Hackman and Danny Glover, for various reasons such as classification and “Hollywood license,” do not tell the complete/accurate story of the Bat-21 saga. The accurate account is told in The Rescue of Bat 21 by Darrel D. Whitcomb (Col. USAFR and Delta Airlines captain). On 03 June 2000, I was at the Wall near the vertex during an extremely busy summer day. I saw a visitor who was wearing a ball cap with the word RAVEN stitched on it. The RAVENs were a highly select group of Air Force FAC pilots who flew aircraft such as the Cessna 0-1 Bird Dog on extremely dangerous/demanding missions in Laos. From his conversation with other visitors, I could tell that the “RAVEN” was very knowledgeable regarding the history of the Southeast Asia conflict. I struck up a conversation and mentioned that I had read extensively the literature regarding the Viet Nam conflict, and I recommended highly The Rescue of Bat 21. A slight smile crossed his face as he passed a business card to me and said, “Thanks for that. I’m the author.” Weeks before, I mentioned the book to USNPS Ranger Gary Outlaw. Gary had bought the book and just happened to have it with him that day. Col. Whitcomb signed the book. See paragraph 11.B.(46). On 15 May 2013, I again met Col. Whitcomb at the single casket funeral for the thirteen servicemen killed off Tang Island (Koh Tang) in the 15 May 1975 USAF Knife-31 CH-53C shoot down. See Wall Notes Nineteen and Twenty.
10. STORIES I LIKE TO TELL. In 1967, General of the Army and former President Dwight David Eisenhower (1890-1969) published a book titled: At Ease: Stories I Like To Tell Friends. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books (Military Classics Series), 1967 (republished 1988). The following are four stories, one for each service, of MOH recipients. No member of the Coast Guard was awarded the MOH, but I have included the story of the most decorated Coast Guard member. You may like to tell one of these stories to Wall visitors.
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A. Capt. STEVEN LOGAN BENNETT, U.S. AIR FORCE. 01W 051
(01) On 30 March 1972 (the Thursday before Easter Sunday), North Viet Nam launched the Nguyen Hue Offensive/North Vietnamese Easter Offensive/Eastertide Offensive against the South; the goal was to conquer South Viet Nam militarily. The invasion eventually was composed of 14 divisions and 26 separate regiments including armor and heavy artillery and was divided into three main thrusts, initially aimed at Quang Tri (I Corps), Kon Tum (II Corps), and An Loc (III Corps). U.S. combat troop withdrawals continued during the “Eastertide Offensive” and by the end of June 1972 only two U.S. Army infantry battalions remained in South Viet Nam, the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry (1/7) of LZ X-Ray fame and the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry (Separate), formerly attached to the 196th Infantry Brigade. All U.S. Marine Corps combat operations had ceased on 07 May 1971, and by 28 June 1971, only about 550 Marines remained in Viet Nam. Some of the Marines were assigned to the 1st Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO). Navy and Marine personnel of the 1st ANGLICO were trained to control the high muzzle velocity and flat trajectory of naval guns, and they flew as naval gunfire observers with Air Force FACs.
(02) On 29 June 1972, USMC Capt. Michael B. Brown, 1st ANGLICO, was flying with USAF pilot Capt. Steven L. Bennett of the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS), 504th Tactical Air Support Group (TASG) in an OV-10A Bronco. The crew directed a naval gunfire mission by the USS Newport News (CA-148) and the USS Robert B. Anderson (DD-786). The ships were firing in support of Vietnamese Marine operations near Quang Tri City. Upon completion of the naval gunfire mission, Capt. Bennett learned that his relief aircraft was delayed and he remained on-station. The OV-10A crew subsequently controlled a strike by two U.S. Navy A-6 Intruders against enemy troops. As the OV-10A was flying back to Da Nang, the crew was directed to aid a Vietnamese Marine unit, which was in heavy contact with North Vietnamese forces. Capt. Bennett and another Bronco pilot, coincidentally, Darrel D. Whitcomb - paragraph 09.K.(04) - made strafing attacks against the enemy forces by employing the four 7.62- mm machine guns on each Bronco. Capt. Bennett’s aircraft received several hits from enemy small arms fire. During his fifth run, Capt. Bennett’s aircraft was hit by a heat-seeking SA-7 Grail (Russian Strela) SAM in the port engine, which resulted in a fire. Most of the port engine was gone and the left landing gear hung in the airstream. Capt. Bennett needed to eject the external fuel tank and the remaining smoke rockets (used to mark targets for jet aircraft). Fearing that the jettisoned fuel tank and rockets might hit friendly forces, Capt. Bennett headed seaward.
(03) After the fuel tank and rockets were jettisoned, the crew prepared to eject from the aircraft. Unfortunately, Capt. Brown’s parachute had been shredded and rendered useless by shrapnel from the SA-7. Capt. Bennett elected to head for Da Nang air base, which had the required crash-landing equipment. But because of the now raging fire, Capt. Bennett knew he would not be able to reach Da Nang. The OV-10A was equipped with two rocket ejection seats and was in “command ejection” mode by which the pilot automatically ejected the observer (backseater) first, followed by the pilot. Capt. Bennett, who had a good chute, elected to try to save the life of Capt. Brown and to ditch the aircraft in the sea knowing that because of the Bronco’s configuration his chance for survival forward in the cockpit was unlikely. The dangling left landing gear hit the water and caused the aircraft to cartwheel and to flip on its back. The aircraft’s cockpit broke up. Capt. Brown was able to escape from the sinking aircraft, but his attempt to find Capt. Bennett was futile. Capt. Brown was picked up by a helicopter from the USS Tripoli (LPH-10). Capt. Bennett was killed.
a. http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3230/bennett-steven-l.php
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b. http://www.rjsmith.com/I-Corps-DMZ-Quang-Tri.html.
c. http://www.rjsmith.com/Quang-Tri-City.html.
(04) On 08 August 1974, Vice President Gerald R. Ford, Jr. (1913-2006) presented Capt. Steven Bennett’s MOH to the hero’s widow and daughter. On 20 November 1997, the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) named one of its Prepositioning Program ships the MV Capt. Steven L. Bennett (T-AK-4296). The ship supported operations in Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
a. Note: On 08 August 1974, President Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) announced that he would resign the presidency on 09 August 1974. I assume that this was the reason the MOH was presented by Vice President Ford. [Spiro T. Agnew (1918-1996) had resigned as Vice President on 10 October 1973.]
(05) In the December 2004 issue of Air Force magazine, former Marine Capt. Michael Brown is quoted: “Every year on 29 June, I find a quiet place and thank Steve for his sacrifice and say a prayer for him.” See paragraph 11.C.(12).
(06) In the June 1990 issue of Vietnam magazine, Darrell Whitcomb, who watched Capt. Bennett’s last minutes of life, states: “ … although I never met him and would not know him to this day, his final act had always remained with me. I watched him die – you can’t know a man any better than that.” See paragraph 11.C.(59).
a. At the time, Darrell Whitcomb was assigned to the 23rd TASS. The 23rd TASS was normally based in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, but because of the magnitude of the “Eastertide Offensive” in South Viet Nam, the 23rd TASS was temporarily based in Da Nang to support the 20th TASS.
(07) On the early morning of 01 October 1972, the USS Newport News was conducting a naval gunfire mission against People’s Army of Viet Nam (PAVN), also known as North Vietnamese Army (NVA), troops and bunker positions in the vicinity of Quang Tri City when a gun in the number two turret exploded. Twenty sailors were killed and 36 were injured. The names are on Panel 01W Lines 076 to 080.
a. http://www.rjsmith.com/Quang-Tri-City.html.
B. PFC (Posthumous Cpl.) THOMAS WILLIAM BENNETT, U.S. ARMY. 32W 010.
(01) At the start of 1969, there was still a deadlock concerning the shape of the conference table at the now four-party (U.S., North Viet Nam, South Viet Nam, and the National Liberation Front) negotiations in Paris. The American troop buildup continued, although at a much reduced pace, until the American troop presence reached its peak of 543,400 in April 1969; this number did not include Air Force assets in Thailand and Guam and Navy assets offshore. U.S. ground combat unit presence was composed of: seven Army divisions (five infantry, one air cavalry, and one air assault); four separate Army brigades (two airborne, one mechanized, and one light infantry); one Army armored regiment; and two Marine Divisions, one of which was reinforced by a fourth infantry regiment (the other Marine division was temporarily reinforced with another infantry regiment from February-September 1968). (The first troop withdrawals under the aegis of “Vietnamization” began in July 1969.) The May 1969 battle of Ap Page 11 of 39
Bia (Hill 937), also known as “Hamburger Hill,” was in the near future, but in February 1969, the U.S. 4th Infantry Division (“Ivy”) continued its operations in the mountainous regions of II Corps along the Cambodian border. One of the division’s medics was PFC Thomas William Bennett, a conscientious objector.
(02) Tom Bennett enrolled as a freshman at West Virginia University in January 1966. By the end of 1967, he was on academic probation and left school during his second year. It seems that he was fully qualified to complete successfully college-level academics, but he spent most of his free time in student government and ecumenical pursuits. He applied for and received an I-A-O (conscientious objector available for noncombatant service only) Selective Service classification.
(03) A book written by Tom Bennett’s fellow student and friend, Bonnie McKeown - paragraph 11.B. (25) - focuses on Tom Bennett’s inner struggle to reconcile his love of country with his deep-seeded belief that to bear arms against another human was wrong. But he even struggled with the latter belief. After his boyhood friend, LCpl. David Allan Kovac, USMC, 04E 042, was killed in Viet Nam (27 December 1965), Tom told a campus-related minister: “Rifles are for fun … I will never aim a rifle and shoot it at another human being. I don’t care what the circumstances are.” On another occasion, he told his mother that he would probably kill a person to protect his family. While training as a medic and before he received his orders, Tom wrote to his family: “If I am called to Nam, I will go. Out of obligation to a country I love I will go, and possibly die for a cause I vehemently disagree with.”
(04) The following narrative is derived from eye-witness accounts by PFC Bennett’s platoon sergeant and a platoon squad leader. PFC Bennett was a medical aid man assigned to the Second Platoon, Company “B”, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. On 09 February 1969, PFC Bennett’s platoon was conducting a reconnaissance in force operation in the Chu Pa region (click on map below). The platoon came under heavy fire from small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket propelled grenades (RPG) fire from a superior North Vietnamese Army force. Three men were wounded immediately. PFC Bennett unhesitatingly left his position of relative safety and rushed under fire 120-m (131-yd) to the first wounded soldier. After treating this soldier, he again exposed himself to enemy fire and moved 35-m (38-yd) to treat the second soldier. He carried this soldier to a position of relative safety, where he treated the severely bleeding man. As he was negotiating the 60-m (66-yd) to the third casualty, PFC Bennett was knocked to the ground from the concussion of an enemy rocket. He regained his balance and moved to the third soldier who needed immediate life-saving attention. PFC Bennett carried the wounded soldier 25-m (27-yd) to safety. Shortly afterward, PFC Bennett was informed that three more soldiers, to include his platoon leader, were hit by an enemy rocket. Again, without hesitation, PFC Bennett braved intense enemy fire and rushed 50-m (55-yd) to render medical aid. All three soldiers were dead. Still under hostile fire, he carried in turn all three deceased soldiers to an evacuation area. On 11 February 1969, PFC Bennett’s company was again attacked by a superior enemy force. Five soldiers were wounded immediately. PFC Bennett moved 45-m (49-yd) through hostile fire to treat a wounded soldier. As he prepared to move to render aid to another wounded soldier, a squad leader recounted: “I also knew he wouldn’t have one chance in a thousand of making it because enemy emplacements were all around and their grazing fire seemed to be covering every square inch of our area. I called to Private First Class Bennett and told him this and advised him to stay down until the hostile fire had let up. He then yelled back to me that he had to get to the wounded man because the man would die if he didn’t.” PFC Bennett began to advance to the wounded man, but he was hit by small arms fire and was wounded mortally.
(05) The squad leader summed up: “His extreme bravery inspired myself and everyone in the platoon and company in defeating the enemy force. You don’t mind risking your life every now and then when you know you have a medic like PFC Bennett. Because, if you should get hit you know he will come to your aid regardless of enemy fire.” The platoon sergeant stated: “His many acts of heroism inspired us in soundly defeating the numerically superior enemy force. This courageous young soldier should be awarded the Medal of Honor for his selfless actions that eventually resulted in the loss of his life.”
(06) On 07 April 1970, what would have been PFC (posthumous Cpl.) Bennett’s 23rd birthday, President Richard M. Nixon presented Cpl. Bennett’s Posthumous MOH to the hero’s family.
a. http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3231/bennett-thomas-w.pl Page 12 of 39
b. http://www.rjsmith.com/Chu_Pa_Area.html
(07) Two other conscientious objectors (a second Viet Nam recipient and a WW II recipient) were awarded the MOH; both were Army medics.
a. Sp4 Joseph Guy La POINTE, Jr. Viet Nam. 02 June 1969. 23W 045.
b. PFC Desmond T. DOSS, Sr. (1919-2006). 1/307, 77th Infantry Division. Okinawa. 29 April - 21 May 1945.
(08) A landmark 1965 United States Supreme Court Case, United States v. Seeger, 380 U.S. 163 (1965), regarding the issue of conscientious objection may be found on:
a. http://www.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=380&invol=163
C. Lt. VINCENT ROBERT CAPODANNO, Jr. CHC, U.S. NAVY. 25E 095.
(01) In early September 1967, the PAVN moved into the Que Son Basin, southwest of Da Nang. The move corresponded with: (01) the time of national elections in South Viet Nam and (02) preparations for the fall rice harvest. U.S. intelligence assessed that the mission of the PAVN 2nd Division was to disrupt the elections and to seize as much of the rice harvest as possible. The 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division initiated Operation Swift, 04-15 September 1967, to counter the PAVN. The 12-day battle resulted in the awarding of three Medals of Honor and seven Navy Crosses. One of the MOH recipients was Lt. Vincent R. Capodanno, CHC, USN.
a. http://www.rjsmith.com/Hiep_Duc_Que_Son.html
b. Nguyen Van Thieu (1923-2001) was elected president of South Viet Nam and Nguyen Cao Ky (1930-2011) was elected vice president. They received 35% of the total vote.
(02) Vincent Capodanno was the son of Italian immigrant parents who arrived in New York City in 1901. He was born and raised in Staten Island and was ordained a Maryknoll priest on 14 June 1958. Father Capodanno was engaged in missionary work in the Far East from 1958-1965. He then joined the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps (CHC) and from April 1966-April 1967, he served with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (7th Marines) (1/7), 1st Marine Division and with the 1st Medical Battalion. During his tour with 1/7, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V” and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Chaplain (Lt.) Capodanno requested and received a six-month tour extension and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (3/5), 1st Marine Division. On 04 September 1967, the first day of Operation Swift, two platoons of Mike Company 3/5 (“M”/3/5) came under heavy fire from PAVN forces. Chaplain Capodanno left a position of relative safety and moved to the area where the two platoons were heavily engaged. He provided medical aid to the wounded, pulled wounded to safer positions, administered to the dying, and even retrieved a rifle for a wounded Marine. One of the mortally wounded was Sgt. Lawrence D. Peters a “M”/3/5 squad leader. Chaplain Capodanno prayed with Sgt. Peters just before the Marine died. (Sgt. Peters was awarded a Posthumous MOH on 20 April 1970.) Chaplain Capodanno was wounded in the limbs and a portion of his hand was severed. It was now early evening. Moving about the fire-swept battlefield, Chaplain Capodanno next attempted to reach a severely wounded Navy corpsman, HN Armando G. Leal, Jr., who was also being assisted by a Marine. Chaplain Capodanno was killed in a burst of machine gun fire. Page 13 of 39
a. HN Leal was wounded three times over a two-hour period when he exposed himself to heavy fire while he treated wounded Marines and refused evacuation. A fourth wound was fatal. HN Leal was awarded a Posthumous Navy Cross.
(03) On 05 September 1967, the day after his death, a letter from Chaplain Capodanno was delivered to Col. Stanley Davis, the commander of the 5th Marines. It said: “I am due to go home in late November or early December. I humbly request that I stay over Christmas and New Year’s with my men. I am willing to relinquish my thirty days leave …” The U.S. Navy commissioned a frigate, USS Capodanno (FF-1093), on 17 November 1973. On 19 May 2002, a petition for Chaplain Capodanno’s Cause for Canonization (sainthood) was initiated. On 21 May 2006, a Public Decree of Servant of God was issued by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. On 13 October 2013, the Archdiocese of the Military Services opened the case for beatification of Chaplain Capodanno.
a. http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3242/capodanno-vincent-r
b. http://www.vincentcapodanno.org
(04) During Operation Swift, three Medals of Honor (all three posthumous) and seven Navy Crosses (three posthumous) were awarded.
a. Lt. Vincent Robert CAPODANNO, Jr. CHC, USN. Medal of Honor. 25E 095.
b. Sgt. Rodney Maxwell DAVIS, USMC. Medal of Honor. 26E 008.
c. LCpl. Thomas B. DRISCOLL, USMC. Navy Cross.
d. LCpl. Thomas William FISHER, USMC. Navy Cross. 25E 099.
e. HN (HM3) Armando Garza LEAL, Jr., USN. Navy Cross. 25E 103.
f. 1st Lt. John D. MURRAY, USMC. Navy Cross.
g. Sgt. Thomas C. PANIAN, USMC. Navy Cross.
h. Sgt. Lawrence David PETERS, USMC. Medal of Honor. 25E 108.
i. 2nd Lt. Dennie Donald PETERSON, USMC. Navy Cross. 26E 015.
j. Maj. David L. ROSS, USMC. Navy Cross.
(05) Note: U.S. Army Capt. Emil Joseph Kapaun (1916-1951), a Roman Catholic chaplain and WW II veteran, who died as a POW during the Korean conflict, has been declared a Servant of God by the Catholic Church. Chaplain Kapaun was serving with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division when he was captured on 02 November 1950; he died on 23 May 1951. He was awarded a Posthumous MOH on 11 April 2013.
Page 14 of 39
D. Capt. (Posthumous Col.) DONALD GILBERT COOK, U.S. MARINE CORPS. 01E 080.
(01) In early 1961, Fleet Marine Force Pacific (FMFPAC) initiated the On-The-Job Training (OJT) Program. The official Marine Corps History states that the purpose of the program was to “allow Marine officers and noncommissioned officers to obtain firsthand knowledge of the complex nature of the conflict being waged in South Vietnam. Beginning in May 1961 small groups of officers and noncommissioned officers from various FMFPAC commands were sent each month to observe the counterguerilla techniques being developed and employed in Vietnam.” At that time there were about five Marines assigned to the Military Assistance Advisory Group Viet Nam (MAAG-V).
(02) In May 1964, MAAG-V was disestablished and was absorbed into the Military Assistance Command Viet Nam (MACV), which had been established on 08 February 1962. The integrated organization created the Naval Advisory Group (NAG), MACV, which was headed by a U.S. Navy captain; a Marine Advisory Unit, headed by a Marine colonel, became a component of NAG. The Marine Advisory Unit permanent personnel complement was 24 officers and six enlisted men. One of the missions of the Marine Advisory Unit was to advise the Vietnamese Marine Brigade.
(03) By mid-1964, the Vietnamese Marine Brigade was composed of four infantry battalions and supporting units and the authorization of a fifth battalion, for an authorized strength of 6,555. (The Marine Brigade reached division status in 1968.) Some U.S. Marines from NAG’s Marine Advisory Unit were attached to the Vietnamese Marine battalions. OJT observer Capt. Donald G. Cook had been in Viet Nam just over two weeks when he became a participant in one of the most significant battles between the People’s Liberation Armed Forces (PLAF), also known as the Viet Cong (VC), and elite South Vietnamese military forces, namely Army of the Republic of Viet Nam (ARVN) Rangers and Vietnamese Marines (VNMC), prior to the arrival of U.S. combat units in March 1965. The engagement came to be known as the Battle of Binh Gia.
(04) On the early morning hours of 28 December 1964, elements of the PLAF 9th Division attacked and occupied the village of Binh Gia in Phuoc Tuy (now Baria-Vung Tau) Province. Binh Gia was about 64-km (40-mi) east of Sai Gon (now Ho Chi Minh City). Binh Gia had about 6,000 inhabitants, most of whom were Roman Catholics who came from North Viet Nam after the 1954 Geneva Accords. On the afternoon of 28 December, two companies of ARVN Rangers were airlifted by U.S. Army helicopters to Binh Gia. In the ensuing combat, the rangers were repulsed. On the morning of 29 December, elements of the 30th and 33rd Ranger Battalions attacked the PLAF. Two U.S. Army advisors attached to the 33rd Ranger Battalion were captured. They were Sgt. Harold G. Bennett and his radio telephone operator (RTO), PFC Charles E. Crafts. On 30 December, ARVN Rangers and the 4th Vietnamese Marine Battalion swept the village with no contact. Later on 30 December, a U.S. Army UH-1B Iroquois/Huey was shot down and crashed in a rubber plantation to the east of the village; all four crew members were killed. On 31 December, the 2nd Company of the 4th Marine Battalion initiated a recovery operation. The Vietnamese Marine company was attacked by a vastly superior PLAF force. The Vietnamese Marines suffered heavy casualties and retreated. The other three companies of the 4th Battalion, to include Capt. Donald Cook, moved to the crash site and were ambushed by a superior PLAF force. Capt. Cook received a bullet wound in his lower left thigh and was subsequently captured. Page 15 of 39
a. The official Marine Corps history states that of the 326-man 4th VNMC battalion, 112 were killed (to include 29 of 35 officers), 71 were wounded, and 13 were missing. The ARVN Ranger battalions had about 400 casualties. The enemy force was two regiments of the PLAF 9th Division, the first operational enemy division to appear in South Viet Nam.
(05) The crew of the 68th Aviation Company, 145th Aviation Battalion UH-1B Iroquois/Huey killed on 30 December 1964:
a. WO1 Roy Gordon AZBILL, USA. 01E 079.
b. WO1 Stephen Edward MORGAN, USA. 01E 080.
c. Sgt. Franklin Delano PORTER, USA. 01E 079.
d. PFC Theodore Alan WINOWITCH, USA. 01E 079.
(06) Most of the published books regarding the American POW experience concentrate on those held in the North, primarily in prisons in the Ha Noi area, the most famous being the “Ha Noi Hilton” (Hoa Lo during the “American War” and Maison Centrale during the French period). I have listed a few books in paragraph 11.B. that describe the plight of POWs held in the South. See COMMENT paragraph 11.B.(13)a. regarding POW PFC Robert “Bobby” Garwood, USMC.
(07) Authors Stuart Rochester and Frederick Kiley point out that about 20% of POWs in the South died while in captivity and about 5% of POWs in the North died in captivity. See paragraph 11.B.(39). I make no attempt to compare as to who had it worse, but there were some unique conditions experienced by prisoners in the South and concomitantly, by Capt. Donald Cook.
(08) Prisoners in the South were mostly placed in bamboo cages and therefore were exposed to extremes in the weather from blazing sun to monsoon rains. Many were moved frequently over long distances through inhospitable terrain (sometimes without their boots), while suffering from malaria, dysentery, beriberi, anemia and other maladies. Medical attention was sparse. They endured a near starvation diet. The POWs were subject to being bombed or shelled by Allied forces.
(09) Capt. Cook took an obdurate stance from the very beginning of his three-years as a POW. He refused to fill out a personal history data card that requested information concerning duty assignments, religious and political affiliations, and family members. As punishment, he was put in handcuffs and leg stocks in a barbed-wire cage not much larger than his body and placed on half-rations for a month (“full” rations were barely subsistence level). On a number of occasions, he gave what little medicine he had for treatment of his own maladies to other prisoners. During a 14-day march between camps, the POWs had to carry 70-lb. packs. Capt. Cook had malaria fevers, severe diarrhea, and suffered from night blindness (he could only see about a foot in front of him). He did not allow any other prisoner to carry his pack, nor did he complain about his ordeal. Capt. Cook’s weight dropped from about 200-lbs at capture to about 120-lbs. On one occasion, Capt. Cook vomited live worms. He also suffered from scurvy, beriberi, and hepatitis. Yet he never complained. His leadership abilities were summed up by fellow POW Army Sergeant Sammie Womack, who said that he would gladly follow Capt. Cook into hell armed with only a water pistol. Col. Donald L. Price, USMC (Ret.) has written a very readable biography of Capt. (Col.) Cook; see paragraph 11.B.(38).
(10) On 22 December 1970, the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG), founded in 1969 as a communist alternative to the government of the Republic of Viet Nam, announced that Donald Cook had died of malaria on 08 December 1967. Capt. Cook’s name was also on a Died in Captivity list released by the PRG in January 1973.
a. Died In Captivity. Remains Not Returned.
b. http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3249/cook-donald-gilbert.p
Page 16 of 39
c. http://www.rjsmith.com/IV-Corps-delta-01-east.html
d. http://www.rjsmith.com/Tay_Ninh_Complete_02.html
e. http://www.rjsmith.com/Fish_Hook_Cropped.html
(11) During Capt. Cook’s period of captivity, he spent periods of time with other POWs. Those who returned reported on Capt. Cook’s heroism, which resulted in his being awarded a Posthumous Medal of Honor on 16 May 1980. Donald Cook’s widow christened the USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) an Arleigh Burke class AEGIS guided-missile destroyer on 03 May 1997. The ship was commissioned on 04 December 1998. On 19 March 2003, the USS Donald Cook was the first U.S. Navy combatant to launch Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
(12) Col. Donald Cook’s fellow POWs:
a. Sgt. (SSgt.) Harold George BENNETT, USA. 01E 079.
* Sgt. Bennett was captured on 29 December 1964 with PFC Charles Crafts during the Battle of Binh Gia. He displayed an extremely defiant attitude toward his captors. An NLF broadcast of 25 June 1965 announced that Sgt. Bennett had been executed on 24 June 1965 in retaliation for the South Vietnamese Government’s execution of three NLF members, which included the public execution of Nguyen Van Troi (15 October 1964). Troi was accused of attempting to assassinate Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara (1916-2009) and was the subject of a famous photograph, which shows the execution of Troi.
* Died In Captivity. Remains Not Returned.
b. SFC Issac “Ike” CAMACHO, USA.
* SFC Camacho was captured on 24 November 1963 with three other soldiers (SFC Kenneth M. Roraback, Sgt. George E. Smith, and Sgt. Claude D. McClure) at the Hiep Hoa Special Forces Camp. After receiving permission from Capt. Cook, SFC Camacho made a successful escape on 09 July 1965 and returned to freedom on 13 July 1965.
c. PFC Charles Earle CRAFTS, USA.
* PFC Crafts was captured on 29 December 1964 during the Battle of Binh Gia with Sgt. Bennett. He was released and he returned to U.S. custody on 23 February 1967. PFC Crafts smuggled out a letter from Capt. Cook to U.S. authorities and a letter to Capt. Cook’s wife. A second letter to Capt. Cook’s wife was five pages long and too thick to smuggle out; PFC Crafts memorized it. He also smuggled out a letter from Douglas Ramsey and the wedding ring of Capt. John Schumann.
d. Donald DAWSON.
* Donald Dawson was the civilian brother of Army 1st Lt. Daniel G. Dawson, the pilot of an 0-1F Bird Dog, which did not return from a 06 November 1964 reconnaissance mission. Donald Dawson went to Viet Nam on a mission to find his brother. On 01 April 1965, he and a French-Vietnamese woman, Collette Embarger, (an intriguing story in itself) were captured by the PLAF. The two were released on 24 August 1965.
* 1st Lt. (Capt.) Daniel George DAWSON, USA. 01E 071.
- Killed In Action. Body Not Recovered.
e. Capt. William Henry HARDY, USA.
* Capt. Hardy was captured on 29 June 1967 and released on 12 February 1973.
Page 17 of 39
f. Sgt. Claude D. McCLURE, USA.
* Sgt. McClure was captured at the Hiep Hoa Special Forces Camp on 24 November 1963. He was released with Sgt. Smith on 28 November 1965.
g. Douglas Kent RAMSEY.
* Douglas Ramsey, an Air Force veteran, was a U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officer, who was detailed to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) when he was captured on 17 January 1966. He was released on 12 February 1973. Douglas Ramsey served for a time as an assistant to the legendary John Paul Vann (1924-1972).
h. SFC (MSgt.) Kenneth Mills RORABACK, USA. 01E 034.
* SFC Roraback, a Korean War veteran, was captured at the Hiep Hoa Special Forces Camp on 24 November 1963. SFC Roraback was notably defiant to his captors. He may have been murdered on 26 September 1965. On 26 September 1965, the NLF announced that SFC Roraback and Capt. Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace, USA (captured and held in the Me Cong Delta since 29 October 1963) had been executed in retaliation for the South Vietnamese Government’s execution of three NLF members.
* Died In Captivity. Remains Not Returned.
* Capt. Versace was awarded a Posthumous MOH on 08 July 2002. 01E 033.
i. Capt. (Maj.) John Robert SCHUMANN, USA. 02E 011.
* Capt. Schumann was captured on 16 June 1965. He died in the arms of PFC Crafts on 07 July 1966. PFC Crafts removed Capt. Schumann’s wedding ring and had it with him when he returned to U.S. custody on 23 February 1967.
* Died In Captivity. Remains Not Returned.
j. Sgt. George Edward SMITH, USA.
* Sgt. Smith was captured at the Hiep Hoa Special Forces Camp on 24 November 1963. He was released with Sgt. McClure on 28 November 1965.
k. Sgt. Sammie Norman WOMACK, USA.
* Sgt. Womack was captured on 08 October 1966 and was released and he returned to U.S. custody on 23 February 1967.
E. Lt. JACK COLUMBUS RITTICHIER, U.S. COAST GUARD. 58W 014.
Page 18 of 39
(01) No member of the U.S. Coast Guard was awarded the MOH during the Viet Nam conflict. The contribution of the Coast Guard vis-à-vis Viet Nam seems to be mostly unknown and unheralded. However, the smallest of the military services made a valuable contribution in Viet Nam. Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General and former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft stated: “Cutters and patrol boats conducted coastal interdiction operations with the Navy, port security and explosive loading detachments served with the Army, and Coast Guard helicopter pilots flew combat rescue missions with the Air Force. Coast Guard units and personnel supported merchant vessel operations and provided and manned a chain of electronic navigation stations in Vietnam and Thailand that provided highly accurate positioning data to support U.S. air operations.” See paragraph 11.B.(19).
(02) Jack C. Rittichier, a graduate of Kent State University, began his military career as a U.S. Air Force officer, and flew the Boeing B-47 Stratojet for the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He left the Air Force and a short time later he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and was trained to fly helicopters. After assignments in the U.S., which included citations for daring rescue missions, Lt. Rittichier volunteered to become an exchange pilot with the USAF 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (37th ARRS) based in Da Nang. He arrived in South Viet Nam on 08 April 1968. On 09 June 1968, he was the command pilot of a USAF HH-3E Jolly Green Giant (Jolly Green 23) that was involved in the rescue attempt of downed USMC pilot 1st Lt. Walter R. Schmidt, Jr.
(03) 1st Lt. Schmidt was flying a Douglas A-4E Skyhawk (call sign Hellborne 215) assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 121 (VMA-121), Marine Air Group 12 (MAG-12), Chu Lai. He was shot down during a morning ground attack mission in the A Shau Valley area. 1st Lt. Schmidt survived the ejection but broke his leg and landed near a major PAVN infiltration route; he was almost immediately surrounded by enemy soldiers. During the rescue attempt, USAF and USN tactical aircraft and USMC helicopter gunships provided suppressive fire under the control of USAF 0-2 Skymaster FAC aircraft. USAF HC-130 Hercules aircraft acted as mission controllers. A HH-3E (Jolly Green 22) made several failed attempts to rescue 1st Lt. Schmidt. Jolly Green 22 was hit by ground fire and eventually had to leave the area because of low fuel. Lt. Rittichier’s first attempt failed because of heavy ground fire. During his second try, which included an attempt to land, Jolly Green 23 was hit and exploded into a ball of flame. The rescue attempt of 1st Lt. Schmidt continued into the evening without success.
(04) Lt. Jack C. Rittichier was in Viet Nam for two-months and one-day. During that period, he was awarded one Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, and three Air Medals. He had previously received an Air Medal for a daring rescue at sea operation in the U.S.
a. http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/RittichierJackDecorations.asp
b. http://www.rjsmith.com/A_Shau_Valley_Southeast_01.html
(05) The crew of Jolly Green 23.
a. SSgt. Elmer Larry HOLDEN, USAF. Flight Engineer. 58W 009.
* Remains Returned 14 February 2003. Remains Identified 10 September 2003.
b. Sgt. James Douglas LOCKER, USAF. Pararescueman. 58W 010.
* Remains Returned 14 February 2003. Remains Identified 17 September 2003.
c. Lt. Jack Columbus RITTICHIER, USCG. 58W 014.
* Remains Returned 14 February 2003. Remains Identified 11 September 2003.
d. Capt. Richard Carolinus YEEND, Jr., USAF. Co-pilot. 58W 017.
* Remains Returned 14 February 2003. Remains Identified 12 September 2003.
(06) The pilot of Hellborne 215.
Page 19 of 39
a. 1st Lt. (Capt.) Walter Roy SCHMIDT, Jr., USMC. 58W 014.
* Presumptive Finding of Death (PFOD). MOH RECIPIENTS ON THE WALL AS OF 15 FEBRUARY 2015
(01) Ranks and Rates are those held at the time of action or capture. (02) Known past or present U.S. Navy (USN) or Military Sealift Command (MSC) Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force (NFAF) ships named for Wall-inscribed MOH recipients are shown. Please let me know if I missed any. Some of the USN/MSC ship classifications may have changed (e.g., DE to FF or SS to USNS).
NAME UNIT ACTION DATE LOCATION
001. Maj. William Edward ADAMS, USA “A”/227 AHB 1st AVN BDE 25 May 1971 03W 054
002. PFC Lewis ALBANESE, USA “B”/5/7 1st AIR CAV DIV 01 December 1966 12E 131
003. Sp4 Leonard L. ALVARADO, USA “D”/2/12 1st AIR CAV DIV 12 August 1969 19W 007
A. Presented 18 March 2014.
004. PFC James ANDERSON, Jr., USMC “F”/2/3 3rd MARDIV 28 February 1967 15E 112
A. MV PFC James Anderson Jr. (T-AK-3002)
005. LCpl. Richard Allen ANDERSON, USMC “E”/3rd RECON 3rd MARDIV 24 August 1969 19W 110
006. SFC Eugene ASHLEY, Jr., USA DET A-101/”C”/5th SF GRP 06-07 February 1968 37E 077
A. See Wall Note Sixteen paragraph 07.I. regarding the PAVN attack on the Lang Vei Special Forces Camp.
007. PFC Oscar Palmer AUSTIN, USMC “E”/2/7 1st MARDIV 23 February 1969 32W 088
A. USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79)
008. LCpl. Jedh Colby BARKER, USMC “F”/2/4 3rd MARDIV 21 September 1967 26E 099
009. PFC John Andrew BARNES, III, USA “C”/1/503 173rd ABN BDE 12 November 1967 29E 084
010. Sgt. Ted BELCHER, USA “C”/1/14 25th INF DIV 19 November 1966 12E 086
011. PFC Leslie Allen BELLRICHARD, USA “C”/1/8 4th INF DIV 20 May 1967 20E 054
012. Capt. Steven Logan BENNETT, USAF 20th TASS 504th TASG 29 June 1972 01W 051
A. MV Capt. Steven L. Bennett (T-AK-4296)
013. PFC Thomas William BENNETT, USA “B”/1/14 4th INF DIV 09-11 February 1969 32W 010
014. Sp4 Michael Reinert BLANCHFIELD, USA “A”/4/503 173rd ABN BDE 03 July 1969 21W 050
015. 2nd Lt. John Paul BOBO, USMC “I”/3/9 3rd MARDIV 30 March 1967 17E 070
A. USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo (T-AK-3008)
016. Sgt. Hammett Lee BOWEN, Jr., USA “C”/2/14 25th INF DIV 27 June 1969 21W 021 Page 20 of 39
017. PFC Daniel Dean BRUCE, USMC “H&S”/3/5 1st MARDIV 01 March 1969 31W 099
018. SFC William Maud BRYANT, USA DET B-36 “A”/5th SF GRP 24 March 1969 28W 024
019. Sgt. Brian Leroy BUKER, USA DET B-55 5th SF GRP 05 April 1970 12W 096
020. PFC Robert Charles BURKE, USMC “I”/3/27 1st MARDIV 17 May 1968 61E 024
021. Lt. Vincent Robert CAPODANNO, Jr., USN “H&S”/3/5 1st MARDIV 04 September 1967 25E 095
A. USS Capodanno (FF-1093)
022. HM3 Wayne Maurice CARON, USN “H&S”/3/7 1st MARDIV 28 July 1968 50W 022
A. USS Caron (DD-970)
023. PFC Bruce Wayne CARTER, USMC “H”/2/3 3rd MARDIV 07 August 1969 20W 107
024. PFC Ronald Leroy COKER, USMC “M”/3/3 3rd MARDIV 24 March 1969 28W 024
025. SSgt. Felix M. CONDE-FALCON, USA “D”/1/505 82nd ABN DIV 04 April 1969 27W 009
A. Presented 18 March 2014.
026. SSgt. Peter Spencer CONNOR, USMC “F”/2/3 3rd MARDIV 25 February 1966 05E 129
A. Died 08 March 1966.
027. Capt. Donald Gilbert COOK, USMC NAVADVGRP MACV 31 Dec 1964-08 Dec 1967 01E 080
A. Presented 16 May 1980.
B. POW. Date of death 08 December 1967 as reported by the PRG.
C. USS Donald Cook (DDG-75)
028. Sp4 Ardie Ray COPAS, USA “C”/1/5 25th INF DIV 12 May 1970 10W 023
A. Presented 18 March 2014.
029. LCpl. Thomas Elbert CREEK, USMC “I”/3/9 3rd MARDIV 13 February 1969 32W 025
030. PFC Michael Joseph CRESCENZ, USA “A”/4/31 196th INF BDE 23rd ID (AMC) 20 November 1968 38W 016
031. Sp4 Nicholas Joseph CUTINHA, USA “C”/4/9 25th INF DIV 02 March 1968 42E 030
032. Sp4 Larry Gilbert DAHL, USA “359”/27 TRANS 8th GRP 1st LOG 23 February 1971 05W 132
A. USNS Dahl (T-AKR-312)
033. Sgt. Rodney Maxwell DAVIS, USMC “B”/1/5 1st MARDIV 06 September 1967 26E 008
034. LCpl. Emilio A. De La GARZA Jr., USMC “E”/2/1 1st MARDIV 11 April 1970 12W 121
035. Sp4 Edward Allen De VORE, Jr., USA “B”/4/39 9th INF DIV 17 March 1968 45E 020
A. Died 18 March 1968.
036. PFC Ralph Ellis DIAS, USMC “D”/1/7 1st MARDIV 12 November 1969 16W 063 Page 21 of 39
037. PFC Douglas Eugene DICKEY, USMC “C”/1/4 3rd MARDIV 26 March 1967 17E 050
038. 1st Lt. Stephen Holden DOANE, USA “B”/1/5 25th INF DIV 25 March 1969 28W 034
039. 2nd Lt. Harold Bascom DURHAM, Jr., USA “C” BTY/6/15th ARTY 1st INF DIV 17 October 1967 28E 020
040. SSgt. Glenn Harry ENGLISH, Jr., USA “E”/3/503 173rd ABN BDE 07 September 1970 07W 044
041. Lt. Cdr. Michael John ESTOCIN, USN VA-192 USS TICONDEROGA (CVA-14) 20 and 26 April 1967 18E 092
A. USS Estocin (FFG-15)
042. CMSgt. Richard Loy ETCHBERGER, USAF 1043rd RADAR EVAL SQD 7th AF 11 March 1968 44E 015
A. Presented 21 September 2010.
B. See Wall Note Nineteen paragraph 08.C. regarding the PAVN attack on Lima Site 85 in Laos.
043. Sp4 Donald Ward EVANS, Jr., USA “HHC”/2/12 4th INF DIV 27 January 1967 14E 085
044. Sgt. Rodney John EVANS, USA “D”/1/12 1st AIR CAV DIV 18 July 1969 20W 014
045. Sp4 Daniel FERNANDEZ, USA “C”/1/5 MECH 25th INF DIV 18 February 1966 05E 046
046. Sgt. Charles Clinton FLEEK, USA “C”/1/27 25th INF DIV 27 May 1969 24W 116
047. PFC Michael Fleming FOLLAND, USA “D”/2/3 199th INF BDE 03 July 1969 21W 051
048. Sgt. Paul Hellstrom FOSTER, USMC “H” BTY/3/12 3rd MARDIV 14 October 1967 27E 108
049. 1st Lt. Douglas Bernard FOURNET, USA “B”/1/7 1st AIR CAV DIV 04 May 1968 54E 033
050. PFC James William FOUS, USA “E”/4/47 9th INF DIV 14 May 1968 60E 011
051. PFC Frank Rocco FRATELLENICO, USA “B”/2/502 101st ABN DIV 19 August 1970 08W 124
052. 1st Lt. James Alton GARDNER, USA “HHC”/1/327 101st ABN DIV 07 February 1966 05E 011
A. Killed on his birth date: 07 February 1943
053. SSgt. John Gary GERTSCH, USA “E”/1/327 101st ABN DIV 15 to 19 July 1969 20W 019
054. Sgt. Alfredo GONZALEZ, USMC “A”/1/1 1st MARDIV 04 February 1968 37E 021
A. USS Gonzalez (DDG-66)
055. Capt. James Albert GRAHAM, USMC “F”/2/5 1st MARDIV 02 June 1967 21E 046
A. Some sources (DD 1300) list date of death as 03 June 1967.
056. PSgt. Bruce Alan GRANDSTAFF, USA “B”/1/8 4th INF DIV 18 May 1967 20E 028
057. 1st Lt. Joseph Xavier GRANT, USA “A”/1/14 25th INF DIV 13 November 1966 12E 067
058. 2nd Lt. Terrence Collinson GRAVES, USMC 3rd RECON BN 3rd MARDIV 16 February 1968 39E 071
A. DD 1300 lists date of death as 17 February 1968 – the date remains recovered. See paragraph 11.B.(18).
059. Sp4 Peter Mathew GUENETTE, USA “D”/2/506 101st ABN DIV 18 May 1968 62E 018 Page 22 of 39
060. 1st Lt. Loren Douglas HAGEN, USA TF-1 AE 5th SF GRP MACV-SOG 07 August 1971 03W 125
061. Sgt. Robert Willard HARTSOCK, USA 44th SCOUT DOG PLT 25th INF DIV 23 February 1969 31W 003
062. Sp4 Carmel Bernon HARVEY, Jr., USA “B”/1/5 1st AIR CAV DIV 21 June 1967 22E 030
063. 2nd Lt. Robert John HIBBS, USA “B”/2/28 1st INF DIV 05 March 1966 05E 118
064. Sgt. John Noble HOLCOMB, USA “D”/2/7 1st AIR CAV DIV 03 December 1968 37W 032
065. SFC Charles Ernest HOSKING, Jr., USA DET A-302 “A”/5th SF GRP 21 March 1967 17E 005
066. LCpl. James Donnie HOWE, USMC “I”/3/7 1st MARDIV 06 May 1970 11W 113
067. Sp4 George Alan INGALLS, USA “A”/2/5 1st AIR CAV DIV 16 April 1967 18E 035
068. PFC Robert Henry JENKINS, Jr., USMC “C”/3 RECON 3rd MARDIV 05 March 1969 30W 046
069. LCpl. Jose Francisco JIMENEZ, USMC “K”/3/7 1st MARDIV 28 August 1969 18W 002
070. PFC Ralph Henry JOHNSON, USMC “A”/1 RECON 1st MARDIV 05 March 1968 43E 008
071. Sp4 Donald Ray JOHNSTON, USA “D”/1/8 1st AIR CAV DIV 21 March 1969 29W 104
072. 1st Lt. Stephen Edward KAROPCZYC, USA “A”/2/35 25th INF DIV 12 March 1967 16E 069
073. PFC Terry Teruo KAWAMURA, USA 173rd ENG CO 173rd ABN BDE 20 March 1969 29W 090
074. Sp5 John James KEDENBURG, USA 5th SF GRP MACV-SOG 13 June 1968 57W 017
A. Date of death reported as 14 June 1968. Remains were recovered by a Bright Light Team (See paragraph 11.B.(37).
075. LCpl. Miguel KEITH, USMC CAP 1-3-2 1st CA GRP III MAF 08 May 1970 11W 132
076. PFC Garfield McConnell LANGHORN, USA “C” TRP/7 SQD/17 CAV 1st AVN BDE 15 January 1969 34W 009
077. Sp4 Joseph Guy La POINTE, Jr., USA “HHT” TRP/2/17 CAV 101st ABN DIV 02 June 1969 23W 045
078. PFC Billy Lane LAUFFER, USA “C”/2/5 1st AIR CAV DIV 21 September 1966 10E 129
079. Sp4 Robert David LAW, USA “I”/75 (RANGER) 1st INF DIV 22 February 1969 32W 077
080. PFC Milton Arthur LEE, USA “B”/2/502 101st ABN DIV 26 April 1968 52E 021
081. 2nd Lt. Robert Ronald LEISY, USA “B”/1/8 1st AIR CAV DIV 02 December 1969 15W 018
082. SFC Matthew LEONARD, USA “B”/1/16 1st INF DIV 28 February 1967 15E 119
083. Sgt. Donald Russell LONG, USA “C” TRP/1 SQD/4 CAV 1st INF DIV 30 June 1966 08E 112
084. PFC Carlos James LOZADA, USA “A”/2/503 173rd ABN BDE 20 November 1967 30E 045
085. Lt. Col. Andre Cavaro LUCAS, USA 2/506 101st ABN DIV 01-23 July 1970 08W 046
086. PFC Gary Wayne MARTINI, USMC “F”/2/1 1st MARDIV 21 April 1967 18E 061
087. Cpl. Larry Leonard MAXAM, USMC “D”/1/4 3rd MARDIV 02 February 1968 36E 078
088. PFC Phill Gene McDONALD, USA “A”/1/14 4th INF DIV 07 June 1968 59W 026 Page 23 of 39
089. Sp4 Ray McKIBBEN, USA “B” TRP/7 SQD/17 CAV 1st AVN BDE 06 December 1968 37W 052
A. Coffelt Group records show that Sp4 McKibben died on 06 December 1968. VVMF Directory of Names shows 06 December 1968. CMOHS citation and Edward F. Murphy (paragraph 11.B.(31) list date as 08 December 1968.
090. Sp4 Thomas Joseph McMAHON, USA “A”/2/1 196th INF BDE 23rd ID (AMC) 19 March 1969 29W 081
091. Sp5 Edgar Lee McWETHY, Jr., USA “B”/1/5 1st AIR CAV DIV 21 June 1967 22E 032
092. Sp4 Don Leslie MICHAEL, USA “C”/4/503 173rd ABN BDE 08 April 1967 17E 125
093. 1st Lt. Gary Lee MILLER, USA “A”/1/28 1st INF DIV 16 February 1969 32W 045
094. SSgt. Frankie Zoly MOLNAR, USA “B”/1/8 4th INF DIV 20 May 1967 20E 064
095. PFC James Howard MONROE, USA “HHC”/1/8 1st AIR CAV DIV 16 February 1967 15E 048
096. Cpl. William David MORGAN, USMC “H”/2/9 3rd MARDIV 25 February 1969 31W 054
097. SSgt. Robert Charles MURRAY, USA “B”/4/31 196th INF BDE 07 June 1970 09W 024
098. PFC David Paul NASH, USA “B”/2/39 9th INF DIV 29 December 1968 35W 006
099. PFC Melvin Earl NEWLIN, USMC “F”/2/5 1st MARDIV 04 July 1967 23E 005
100. LCpl. Thomas Patrick NOONAN, Jr., USMC “G”/2/9 3rd MARDIV 05 February 1969 33W 067
101. PFC Milton Lee OLIVE, III, USA “B”/2/503 173rd ABN BDE 22 October 1965 02E 131
102. Sp4 Kenneth Lee OLSON, USA “A”/5/12 199th INF BDE 13 May 1968 59E 028
103. SN David George OUELLET, USN PBR-124 RIVSEC 532 TF-116 06 March 1967 16E 030
A. USS Ouellet (FF-1077)
104. LCpl. Joe Calvin PAUL, USMC “H”/2/4 3rd MARDIV 18 August 1965 02E 063
A. Died 19 August 1965.
B. USS Paul (FF-1080)
105. Cpl. William Thomas PERKINS, Jr., USMC “SVC”/HQ BN 3rd MARDIV 12 October 1967 27E 097
106. Sgt. Lawrence David PETERS, USMC “M”/3/5 1st MARDIV 04 September 1967 25E 108
107. Sp4 Danny John PETERSEN, USA “B”/4/23 25th INF DIV 09 January 1970 14W 020
108. PFC Jimmy Wayne PHIPPS, USMC “B”/1st ENG BN 1st MARDIV 27 May 1969 23W 002
109. Sgt. Larry Stanley PIERCE, USA “HHC”/1/503 173rd ABN BDE 20 September 1965 02E 091
110. A1C William Hart PITSENBARGER, USAF DET 6 38th ARRS 3rd ARRG 11 April 1966 06E 102
A. Presented 08 December 2000.
B. MV A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (T-AK-4638)
111. Capt. Riley Leroy PITTS, USA “C”/2/27 25th INF DIV 31 October 1967 28E 105
Page 24 of 39
112. PFC William David PORT, USA “C”/5/7 1st AIR CAV DIV 12 January 1968 34E 039
A. POW. Date of death estimated as 28 November 1968 as per a January 1973 PRG document.
113. 1st Lt. Robert Leslie POXON, USA “B” TRP/1 SQD/9 CAV 1st AIR CAV DIV 02 June 1969 23W 046
114. LCpl. William Raymond PROM, USMC “I”/3/3 3rd MARDIV 09 February 1969 32W 002
115. SSgt. Robert Joseph PRUDEN, USA “G”/75 (RANGER) 23rd ID (AMERICAL) 20 November 1969 16W 102
A. Some sources list 29 November 1969.
116. SSgt. Laszlo RABEL, USA 74 INF DET (LRRP) 173rd ABN BDE 13 November 1968 38W 007
A. Initially inscribed on 39W 062 as Laszio Rabel. The VVMF Wall of Faces currently lists location as 38W 005.
117. HM2 David Robert RAY, USN “HQ” BTY/2/11 1st MARDIV 19 March 1969 29W 082
A. USS David R. Ray (DD-971)
118. 1st Lt. Frank Stanley REASONER, USMC “A”/3 RECON 3rd MARDIV 12 July 1965 02E 036
A. USS Reasoner (FF-1063)
119. Sgt. Anund C. ROARK, USA “C”/1/12 4th INF DIV 16 May 1968 61E 018
120. Sgt. James William ROBINSON, Jr., USA “C”/2/16 1st INF DIV 11 April 1966 06E 102
A. The VVMF Wall of Faces currently lists location as 06E 103.
121. Capt. Euripides RUBIO, Jr., USA “HHC”/1/28 1st INF DIV 08 November 1966 12E 044
122. Sp4 Leslie Halasz SABO, Jr., USA “B”/3/506 101st ABN DIV 10 May 1970 10W 015
A. Presented 16 May 2012.
123. Sp4 Hector SANTIAGO-COLON, USA “B”/5/7 1st AIR CAV DIV 28 June 1968 54W 013
124. 1st Lt. Ruppert Leon SARGENT, USA “B”/4/9 25th INF DIV 15 March 1967 16E 086
125. Sp4 William Wayne SEAY, USA 62 TRANS CO/7 TRANS BN 1st LOG 25 August 1967 46W 022
A. USNS Seay (T-AKR-302)
126. PFC Daniel John SHEA, USA “HHC”/3/21 196th INF BDE 23rd ID (AMC) 14 May 1969 24W 012
127. CMA3 Marvin Glen SHIELDS, USN TEAM 1104 NMCB-11 MACV 10 June 1965 02E 007
A. USS Marvin Shields (FF-1066)
128. 1st Lt. Lance Peter SIJAN, USAF 480th TFS 366th TFW 09 November 1967-22 January 1968 29E 062
A. Presented 04 March 1976.
B. Date of death of 22 January 1968 as reported by the North Vietnamese.
129. SSgt. Clifford Chester SIMS, USA “D”/2/501 101st ABN DIV 21 February 1968 40E 056
130. Sgt. Walter Keith SINGLETON, USMC “A”/1/9 3rd MARDIV 24 March 1967 17E 039 Page 25 of 39
131. 1st Lt. George Kenton SISLER, USA FOB-2 CCC 5th SFG MACV-SOG 07 February 1967 15E 007
A. USNS Sisler (T-AKR-311)
132. Sgt. Donald Sidney SKIDGEL, USA “D” TRP/1 SQD/9 CAV 1st AIR CAV DIV 14 September 1969 18W 086
133. Sp4 Donald Paul SLOAT, USA “D”/2/1 196th INF BDE 23rd ID (AMC) 17 January 1970 14W 041
A. Presented 15 September 2014.
134. Cpl. Larry Eugene SMEDLEY, USMC “D”/1/7 1st MARDIV 21 December 1967 32E 040
135. SSgt. Elmelindo Rodrigues SMITH, USA “C”/2/8 4th INF DIV 16 February 1967 15E 051
136. 1st Lt. Russell Albert STEINDAM, USA “B” TRP/3 SQD/4 CAV 25th INF DIV 01 February 1970 14W 088
137. Sgt. Jimmy Goethel STEWART, USA “B”/2/12 1st AIR CAV DIV 18 May 1966 07E 084
138. Sgt. Lester Ray STONE, Jr. USA “B”/1/20 11th INF BDE 23rd INF DIV 03 March 1969 30W 033
139. Sgt. Mitchell William STOUT, USA “C” BTY/1/44 ARTY 108 ARTY GRP I FF 12 March 1970 13W 121
140. Sp4 Robert Francis STRYKER, USA “C”/1/26 1st INF DIV 07 November 1967 29E 045
141. Capt. Jon Edward SWANSON, USA “B” TRP/1 SQD/9 CAV 1st AIR CAV DIV 26 February 1971 04W 007
A. Presented 01 May 2002.
142. SSgt. Karl Gorman TAYLOR, Sr., USMC “I”/3/26 1st MARDIV 08 December 1968 37W 070
143. Capt. Humbert Roque VERSACE, USA DET A-23 5th SFG 29 Oct 63-26 Sep 65 01E 033
A. POW. Date of death 26 September 1965 as reported by the NLF.
B. Presented 08 July 2002.
144. 1st Lt. John Earl WARREN, Jr., USA “C”/2 (MECH)/22 25th INF DIV 14 January 1969 34W 003
145. Maj. Charles Joseph WATTERS, USA “A”/173 SUPPT BN 173rd ABN BDE 19 November 1967 30E 036
146. Sp4 Dale Eugene WAYRYNEN, USA “B”/2/502 101st ABN DIV 19 May 1967 20E 052
A. Some sources list the date of action and date of death as 18 May 1967.
147. LCpl. Lester William WEBER, USMC “M”/3/7 1st MARDIV 23 February 1969 31W 029
148. LCpl. Roy Mitchell WHEAT, USMC “K”/3/7 1st MARDIV 11 August 1967 24E 101
A. USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK-3016)
149. Cpl. Jerry Wayne WICKAM, USA “F” TRP/2 SQD 11 ARMD CAV RGT 06 January 1968 33E 062
150. Capt. Hilliard Almond WILBANKS, USAF 21st TASS 504th TASG 24 February 1967 15E 088
151. PFC Louis Edward WILLETT, USA “C”/1/12 4th INF DIV 15 February 1967 15E 037
152. PFC Dewayne Thomas WILLIAMS, USMC “H”/2/1 1st MARDIV 18 September 1968 43W 025
A. USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK-3009) Page 26 of 39
B. Killed on his birthdate.
153. PFC Alfred Mac WILSON, USMC “M”/3/9 3rd MARDIV 03 March 1969 30W 035
154. PFC David Francis WINDER, USA “HHC”/3/1 11th INF BDE 23rd INF DIV 13 May 1970 10W 037
155. LCpl. Kenneth Lee WORLEY, USMC “L”/3/7 1st MARDIV 12 August 1968 48W 001
156. 1st Sgt. Maximo YABES, USA “A”/4/9 25th INF DIV 26 February 1967 15E 102
157. SSgt. Rodney James Takashi YANO, USA AIR CAV TRP 11th ARMD CAV RGT 01 January 1969 35W 018
A. USNS Yano (T-AKR-297)
158. Sgt. Gordon Douglas YNTEMA, USA DET A-431 “D” CO 5th SFG 16-18 January 1968 34E 073
159. Sgt. Marvin Rex YOUNG, USA “C”/1 MECH/5 25th INF DIV 21 August 1968 47W 024
(Note: WW II MOH recipient Maj. Gen. Keith Lincoln WARE, USA 1st Infantry Division 13 September 1968 44W 055.)
LIVING VIET NAM CONFLICT MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS AS OF 15 FEBRUARY 2015
NAME SERVICE DATE OF ACTION
01. Bennie G. ADKINS Army 09-12 March 1966
A. Presented 15 September 2014.
02. John P. BACA Army 10 February 1970
03 Donald E. BALLARD Navy 16 May 1968
04. Harvey C. BARNUM, Jr. Marine Corps 18 December 1965
05. Gary B. BEIKIRCH Army 01 April 1970
06. Patrick H. BRADY Army 06 January 1968
07. Paul W. BUCHA Army 16-19 March 1968
08. Bruce CRANDALL Army 14 November 1965
A. Presented 28 February 2007.
09. Sammy L. DAVIS Army 18 November 1967
10. Drew D. DIX Army 31 January-01 February 1968
11. Roger H. C. DONLON Army 06 July 1964
12. Santiago J. EREVIA Army 21 May 1969
A. Presented 18 March 2014.
Page 27 of 39
13. Frederick E. FERGUSON Army 31 January 1968
14. Michael J. FITZMAURICE Army 23 March 1971
15. James P. FLEMING Air Force 26 November 1968
16. Robert F. FOLEY Army 05 November 1966
17. Wesley L. FOX Marine Corps 22 February 1969
18. Harold A. FRITZ Army 11 January 1969
19. Charles C. HAGMEISTER Army 20 March 1967
20. Frank A. HERDA Army 29 June 1968
21. Robert R. INGRAM Navy 28 March 1966
A. Presented 10 July 1998.
22. Joe M. JACKSON Air Force 12 May 1968
23. Jack H. JACOBS Army 09 March 1968
24. Don J. JENKINS Army 06 January 1969
25. Thomas G. KELLEY Navy 15 June 1969
26. Allan J. KELLOGG, Jr. Marine Corps 11 March 1970
27. Joseph R. “Bob” KERREY Navy 14 March 1969
28. Thomas J. KINSMAN Army 06 February 1968
29. Howard V. LEE Marine Corps 08-09 August 1966
30. Peter C. LEMON Army 01 April 1970
31. Angelo J. LITEKY Army 06 December 1967
A. Now known as Charles James “Charley” LITEKY.
32. Gary L. LITTRELL Army 04-08 April 1970
33. James E. LIVINGSTON Marine Corps 02 May 1968
34. Allen J. LYNCH Army 15 December 1967
35. Walter J. “Joe” MARM, Jr. Army 14 November 1965
36. Robert J. MODRZEJEWSKI Marine Corps 15-18 July 1966
37. Melvin MORRIS Army 17 September 1969
A. Presented 18 March 2014.
38. Thomas R. NORRIS Navy 10-13 April 1972
A. Presented 06 March 1976. Page 28 of 39
39. Robert E. O’MALLEY Marine Corps 18 August 1965
40. Robert M. PATTERSON Army 06 May 1968
41. Richard A. PITTMAN Marine Corps 24 July 1966
42. Alfred V. RASCON Army 16 March 1966
A. Presented 08 February 2000.
43. Ronald E. RAY Army 19 June 1966
44. Gordon R. ROBERTS Army 11 July 1969
45. Jose RODELA Army 01 September 1969
A. Presented 18 March 2014.
46. Clarence E. SASSER Army 10 January 1968
47. James M. SPRAYBERRY Army 25 April 1968
48. Kenneth E. STUMPH Army 25 April 1967
49. James A. TAYLOR Army 09 November 1967
50. Brian M. THACKER Army 31 March 1971
51. Michael E. THORNTON Navy 31 October 1972
52. Leo K. THORSNESS Air Force 19 April 1967
53. Jay R. VARGAS Marine Corps 30 April-02 May 1968
54. Gary G. WETZEL Army 08 January 1968
VIET NAM CONFLICT MOH RECIPIENTS NOT ON THE WALL AND NOT LIVING AS OF 15 FEBRUARY 2015
NAME SERVICE DATE OF ACTION DATE OF DEATH
01. Webster ANDERSON Army 15 October 1967 30 August 2003
02. Nicky D. BACON Army 26 August 1968 17 July 2010
03. John F. BAKER, Jr. Army 05 November 1966 20 January 2012
04. Roy P. BENAVIDEZ Army 02 May 1968 29 November 1998
A. Presented 24 February 1981.
B. USNS Benavidez (T-AKR-306)
05. James L. BONDSTEEL Army 24 May 1969 09 April 1987
Page 29 of 39
06. Jon R. CAVAIANI Army 04-05 June 1971 29 July 2014
07. Raymond M. CLAUSEN, Jr. Marine Corps 31 January 1970 30 May 2004
08. George E. “Bud” DAY Air Force 26 August 1967- 27 July 2013
14 March 1973
A. Air Force Cross. Silver Star. Distinguished Flying Cross. Four Bronze Stars. Four Purple Hearts. Ten Air Medals.
B. Served in the USMC (WW II), USAR, USANG, and USAF.
09. Merlyn H. DETHLEFSEN Air Force 10 March 1967 14 December 1987
10. David C. DOLBY Army 21 May 1966 06 August 2010
11. Kern W. DUNAGAN Army 13-14 May 1969 27 December 1991
12. Jesus S. DURAN Army 10 April 1969 17 February 1977
A. Received Posthumous MOH on 18 March 2014. Did not die from combat wounds.
13. Bernard F. FISHER Air Force 10 March 1966 16 August 2014
A. MV Maj. Bernard F. Fisher (T-AK-4396)
14. Ed W. FREEMAN Army 14 November 1965 20 August 2008
A. Presented 16 July 2001.
15. Candelario GARCIA Army 08 December 1968 10 January 2013
A. Received Posthumous MOH on 18 March 2014. Did not die from combat wounds.
16. Joe R. HOOPER Army 21 February 1968 06 May 1979
17. Jimmie E. HOWARD Marine Corps 16 June 1966 12 November 1993
18. Robert L. HOWARD Army 30 December 1968 23 December 2009
A. Two Distinguished Service Crosses. Silver Star. Four Bronze Stars. Eight Purple Hearts. Four Air Medals Seven Army Commendation Medals.
19. Delbert O. JENNINGS Army 27 December 1966 16 March 2003
20. Lawrence JOEL Army 08 November 1965 04 February 1984
21. Dwight H. JOHNSON Army 15 January 1968 30 April 1971
22. William A. JONES, III Air Force 01 September 1968 15 November 1969
A. Received Posthumous MOH on 06 August 1970. Did not die of combat wounds.
23. Kenneth M. KAYS Army 07 May 1970 29 November 1991
24. Leonard B. KELLER Army 02 May 1967 18 October 2009
25. Paul R. LAMBERS Army 20 August 1968 01 December 1970 Page 30 of 39
26. George C. LANG Army 22 February 1969 16 March 2005
27. Clyde E. LASSEN Navy 19 June 1968 01 April 1994
A. USS Lassen (DDG-82)
28. John L. LEVITOW Air Force 24 February 1969 08 November 2000
29. Finnis D. McCLEERY Army 14 May 1968 11 July 2002
30. John J. McGINTY, III Marine Corps 18 July 1966 17 January 2014
31. David H. McNERNEY Army 22 March 1967 10 October 2010
32. Franklin D. MILLER Army 05 January 1970 30 June 2000
33. Charles B. MORRIS Army 29 June 1966 22 August 1996
34. Michael J. NOVOSEL Army 02 October 1969 02 April 2006
35. Richard A. PENRY Army 31 January 1970 09 May 1994
36. Stephen W. PLESS Marine Corps 19 August 1967 20 July 1969
A. USNS Maj. Stephen W. Pless (AK-3007)
37. Louis R. ROCCO Army 24 May 1970 31 October 2002
38. Charles C. ROGERS Army 01 November 1968 21 September 1990
39 James B. STOCKDALE Navy 04 September 1969- 05 July 2005
12 February 1973
A. USS Stockdale (DDG-106)
40. Charles Q. WILLIAMS Army 09-10 June 1965 15 October 1982
41. James E. WILLIAMS Navy 31 October 1966 13 October 1999
A. Navy Cross. Two Silver Stars. Three Bronze Stars. Three Purple Hearts. Two Navy and Marine Corps Medals.
B. USS James Williams (DDG-95)
42. Raymond R. WRIGHT Army 02 May 1967 24 September 1999
43. Gerald O. YOUNG Air Force 09 November 1967 06 June 1990
44. Fred W. ZABITOSKY Army 19 February 1968 18 January 1996
Page 31 of 39
11. SELECTED REFERENCES. The names of MOH recipients and others, which are the subject of a specific reference are bolded. Many of the magazine articles are available on-line.
A. GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS.
(01) Bergsma, Cdr. Herbert L, CHC, USN. Chaplains with Marines in Vietnam, 1962-1971. Washington, DC: History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1985.
(02) Telfer, Maj. Gary L., USMC and Lt. Col. Lane Rogers, USMC and V. Keith Fleming, Jr. U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese, 1967. Washington, DC: History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1984.
(03) Schneider, Maj. Donald K., USAF. Air Force Heroes in Vietnam. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, 1985. (Reprinted from a 1976 edition originally issued by the Air University.)
(04) Solis, Lt. Col. Gary D., USMC. Marines and Military Law In Vietnam: Trial By Fire. Washington, DC: History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1989.
(05) Tilford, Earl H., Jr. Search and Rescue in Southeast Asia. Center for Air Force History, 1992.
(06) USM 626 281419Z JUN 65 “The South Viet Nam Liberation Armed Forces Command Gives Order to Execute Harold George Bennett.” (Harold G. Bennett)
(07) USM 626 291430Z SEP 65 “The South Vietnam Liberation Armed Forces Command (SVNLAFC) Gives Order to Execute Humbert R. Versace and Sergeant Kenneth M. Roraback.” (Humbert R. Versce - Kenneth M. Roraback)
(08) USM 626 122345Z DEC 65 “Two Released American Prisoners Claim Humane Treatment.” (Claude D. McClure – George E. Smith)
(09) Whitlow, Capt. Robert H., USMCR. U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Advisory & Combat Assistance Era, 1954-1964. Washington, DC: History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1977 (Reprinted 1982).
B. BOOKS.
(01) Anderson, William C. Bat-21. New York: Bantam Books, 1983. (Originally published by Prentice Hall in 1980.)
(02) Andrade, Dale. Trial by Fire: The 1972 Easter Offensive, America’s Last Vietnam Battle. New York: Hippocrene Books, 1995.
(03) Billac, Pete. The Last Medal of Honor. (Roy Benavidez) New York: Swan Publishers, 1990.
(04) Castle, Timothy N. One Day Too Long: Top Secret Site 85 and the Bombing of North Vietnam. (Richard L. Etchberger) New York: Columbia University Press, 1999.
(05) Clark, George B., (ed.). United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor Recipients. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2005.
(06) Coram, Robert. American Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day. (George E. Day) New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2007.
(07) De Long, Kent. War Heroes: True Stories of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1993.
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(08) Donlon, Col. Roger H.C., USA (Ret.). Beyond Nam Dong. (Roger H. C. Donlon) Leavenworth, KS: R*N Publishers, 1998.
(09) Drake, Hal (ed.). Vietnam Front Pages. New York: Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, 1986.
(10) Flores, John W. When The River Dreams: The Life of Marine Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez. (Freddy Gonzalez) Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2006.
(11) Gilberg, Gail Hosking. Snake’s Daughter: The Roads of War. (Charles E. Hoskins, Jr.) Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa Press, 1997.
(12) Grant, Zalin. Survivors: American POWS in Vietnam. New York: Berkley Books, 1985.
(13) Groom, Winston and Duncan Spencer. Conversations with the Enemy: The Story of PFC Robert Garwood. New York: P. G. Putnam, 1983.
a. COMMENT: Much has been written regarding Robert “Bobby” Garwood with opinions ranging from traitor (who bore arms against his fellow Americans) to near hero. See also: Marines and Military Law in Vietnam: Trial by Fire; this book contains a short summary of PFC Garwood’s court martial for: “(01) desertion, (02) soliciting American forces to refuse to fight and to defect, (03) maltreatment of two American prisoners he was guarding, and (04) communicating with the enemy by wearing their uniform, carrying their arms, and accepting a position as interrogator/indoctrinator in the enemy’s forces” - paragraph 11.A.(04).
(14) Hubbell, John G. P.O.W.: A Definitive History of the American Prisoner-of-War Experience in Vietnam, 1964-1973. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.com, Inc., 2000 (Originally published in 1976 by Reader’s Digest Press).
(15) Jacobs, Col. Jack, USA (Ret.) and Douglas Century. If Not Now, When? Duty and Sacrifice in America’s Time of Need. (Jack H. Jacobs) New York: Berkley Caliber, 2008.
(16) Kayser, Hugh. The Spirit of America. Palm Springs, CA: ETC Publications, 1982.
(17) Lang, George and Raymond L. Collins and Gerard F. White. Medal of Honor Recipients, 1863-1994: Vol. II, World War II to Somalia. New York: Facts on File, 1995.
(18) Lanning, Michael Lee and Ray William Stubbe. Inside Force Recon: Recon Marines in Vietnam. (Terrence C. Graves) New York: Ivy Books, 1989.
(19) Larzelere, Alex. The Coast Guard at War: Vietnam 1965-1975. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1997.
(20) Lehrack, Otto. The First Battle: Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt In Vietnam. (Joe C. Paul) Haverton, PA: Casemate, 2004.
(21) Maitland, Terrance and Peter McInerney. The Vietnam Experience: A Contagion of War. Boston: Boston Publishing Company, 1983.
(22) Manning, Robert, Editor-in-Chief. Above and Beyond: A History of the Medal from the Civil War to Vietnam. Boston: Boston Publishing Company, 1985.
(23) Maraniss, David. They Marched Into Sunlight: War And Peace. Vietnam and America. October 1967. (Harold B. Durham, Jr.) New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003.
(24) Marshall, S.L.A. Two Vietnam Battle Narratives: Ambush and Bird. (Lewis Albanese - Delbert O. Jennings) Garden City, NY: Nelson Doubleday, 1969 and 1968.
(25) McKeown, Bonnie. Peaceful Patriot: The Story of Tom Bennett. (Thomas W. Bennett) Charleston, WV: Mountain State Press, 1980.
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(26) Mikaelian, Allen. Medal of Honor: Profiles of America’s Military Heroes from the Civil War to the Present. New York: Bill Adler Books, Inc., 2002.
(27) Mode, Rev. Daniel L. The Grunt Padre. (Vincent Capodanno) Oak Lawn, IL: CMJ Marian Publishers, 2000.
(28) Moore, Lt. Gen. Harold G., U.S. Army (Ret.) and Joseph L. Galloway. We Were Soldiers Once … And Young: Ia Drang, The Battle That Changed The War In Vietnam. (Bruce Crandall - Ed Freeman - Walter J. Marm) New York: Random House, 1992.
(29) Murphy, Edward F. Dak To: The 173rd Airborne Brigade in South Vietnam’s Central Highlands, June-November 1967. (John A. Barnes - Carlos J. Lozada - Charles J. Watters) Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1993.
(30) Murphy, Edward F. The Hill Fights: The First Battle of Khe Sanh. (James Anderson, Jr.) New York: Ballantine Books, 2003.
(31) Murphy, Edward F. Vietnam Medal of Honor Heroes. New York: Ballantine Books, 1987, 2005.
(32) Myers, William L. Honor The Warrior: The United States Marine Corps In Vietnam. Lafayette, LA: Redoubt Press, 2000.
(33) Nolan, Keith W. Ripcord: Screaming Eagles Under Siege, Vietnam 1970. (Andre C. Lucas – Frank R. Fratellencio) New York: Ballantine Books, 2000.
(34) Novosel, Michael. Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator. (Michael J. Novosel) Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1999.
(35) Phillips, William R. Night of the Silver Stars: The Battle of Lang Vei. (Eugene Ashley, Jr.) Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1997.
(36) Philpot, Tom. Glory Denied: The Saga of Vietnam Veteran Jim Thompson, America’s Longest-Held Prisoner of War. New York: Plume, 2002.
(37) Plaster, John L. SOG: The Secret Wars of America’s Commandos in Vietnam. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997.
(38) Price, Col. Donald L., USMC (Ret.). The First Marine Captured in Vietnam. (Donald G. Cook) Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2007.
(39) Rochester, Stuart I. and Frederick Kiley. Honor Bound: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, 1961-1973. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1999.
(40) Rowe, Maj. James N., U.S. Army. Five Years to Freedom. (Humbert R. Versace) Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1971.
(41) Scotti, CWO-4 Paul C., USCG (Ret.). Coast Guard in Vietnam: Stories of Those Who Served. Central Point, OR: Hellgate Press, 2000.
(42) Stockdale, Jim and Sybil. In Love and War. (Revised And Updated.) (James B. Stockdale) Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1990. (Originally published by Harper & Rowe, 1984).
(43) Thorsness, Leo. Surviving Hell: A POW’s Journey. (Leo Thorsness) New York: Encounter Books, 2008.
(44) Veith, George J. Code-Name Bright Light: The Untold Story of U.S. POW Rescue Efforts During the Vietnam War. New York: The Free Press, 1998.
(45) Vistica, Gregory L. The Education of Lieutenant Kerrey. (Joseph R. Kerrey) New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2003.
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(46) Whitcomb, Darrel D. The Rescue of Bat 21. (Thomas R. Norris) Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1998.
C. MAGAZINE ARTICLES.
(01) Barrett, Richard. “POW Hero Bud Day.” (George E. Day) Vietnam, June 2007.
(02) Bell, Kelly. “A Hill too Far.” (Jimmie E. Howard) Vietnam, April 2002.
(03) Bell, Kelly. “Fighting Forces: James Elliot Williams.” (James E. Williams) Vietnam, June 2006.
(04) Bernstein, Marc. “Operation Dewey Canyon.” (William D. Morgan) Vietnam, 2007.
(05) Bernstein, Marc. “The Other Dewey Canyons.” (Wesley L. Fox) Vietnam, August, 2007.
(06) Bone, Margaret. “Worn with Pride.” The Retired Officer Magazine, August 1998.
(07) Borch, Fred L. “Tribute: Richard Etchberger.” (Richard L. Etchberger) Vietnam, February 2011.
(08) Calhoun, Col. Christopher D., U.S. Army (Ret.). “Identifying the Unknown Soldier.” (Michael J. Blassie) Vietnam, June 1999.
(09) Camp, Richard. “Rescue in Death Valley.” (Bernard F. Fisher) Vietnam, April 2012.
(10) Coan, James P. “Tet Attack at Cam Lo.” (Larry L. Maxam) Vietnam, February 2004.
(11) Coleman, Ronald O. “Personality: Riley Pitts.” (Riley L. Pitts) Vietnam, June 1998.
(12) Correll, John T. “Impossible Odds in SAM Alley.” (Steven L. Bennett) Air Force, December 2004.
(13) Correll, John T. “One Could Live.” (Steven L. Bennett) Air Force, February 1983.
(14) Crawford, Duane. “’A Marine Hero’s Legacy: ‘His Family Remembers.’” (Karl G. Taylor, Sr.) Leatherneck, December 2008.
(15) Cutler, LCdr. Thomas J., USN (Ret.). “Lest We Forget: James Elliot Williams.” (James E. Williams) Proceedings, September 2003.
(16) Cutler, LCdr. Thomas J. USN (Ret.). “Lest We Forget: Thornton & Norris.” (Michael E. Thornton – Thomas R. Norris) Proceedings, February 2012.
(17) DeLong, Dr. Kent. “Personality: Fred W. Zabitosky.” (Fred W. Zabitosky) Vietnam, February 1996.
(18) Downey, F. Gerald. “Beret Team’s Brave Stand.” (Roger Donlon) Vietnam, Winter 1988.
(19) Fass, Horst as Told to Hal Buell. “Images of Hell at Dong Xoai.” (Marvin G. Shields) Vietnam, 2001.
(20) Flores, John W. “Marine’s Sacrifice in the Battle of Hue.” (Alfredo Gonzalez) Vietnam, February 1999.
(21) “Forces.” (William H. Pitsenbarger – Gerald O. Young) Vietnam, Winter 1988.
(22) Frisbee, John L. “Bank Shot.” (James P. Fleming) Air Force, August 1984.
(23) Frisbee, John L. “The Tiger and the Hummingbird.” (Hilliard A. Willbanks) Air Force, February 1985.
(24) Frisbee, John L. “Wild, Wild, Weasel.” (Leo K. Thorsness) Air Force, April 1985.
(25) Frisbee, John L. “A Hillside Near Khe Sanh.” (Gerald O. Young) Air Force, July 1985.
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(26) Frisbee, John L. “Deliverance at Kham Duc.” (Joe M. Jackson) Air Force, November 1985.
(27) Frisbee, John L. “A Triumph of Will.” (William A. Jones, III) Air Force, January 1986.
(28) Frisbee, John L. “The Practice of Professionalism.” (Merlyn Dethlefsen) Air Force, August 1986.
(29) Frisbee, John L. “A Gift of Life.” (Steven L. Bennett) Air Force, August 1998.
(30) Frisbee, John L. “Lance Sijan’s Incredible Journey.” (Lance P. Sijan) Air Force, December 1998.
(31) Frederic, Duane E. “Jungle Prisoners of the Viet Cong.” (Humbert R. Versace) Vietnam, April 2001.
(32) Gary-Annis, Claudia. “Reflections on the Ia Drang.” (Ed Freeman - Walter J. Marm) Vietnam, August 2006.
(33) Giberson, Art. “Personality: Michael J. Novosel.” (Michael J. Novosel) Vietnam, December 2003.
(34) Hawkins, A.W.R., III and Ross Creek, Jr. “Personality: Thomas Creek.” (Thomas Creek) Vietnam, April 2008.
(35) Hearn, Phil. “You Never Know Until You Try.” (Roy M. Wheat) Vietnam, October 2001.
(36) Heaton, Colin D. “Valor at Dai Do.” (James E. Livingston - Jay R. Vargas) Vietnam, June 2014.
(37) “Interview: Wesley Fox.” (Wesley L. Fox) Vietnam, April 2012.
(38) Kroll, Commander Doug, CHC, USNR. “The Coast Guard Flies in Vietnam.” (Jack C. Rittichier) Naval History, October 1996.
(39) Katz, Judd. “Personality: John Levitow.” (John L. Levitow) Vietnam, August 2001.
(40) Laurence, Pete. “Personality: Jon Cavaiani.” (Jon R. Cavaiani) Vietnam, October 1997.
(41) Lehrack, Lt. Col. Otto J., USMC (Ret.). “Operation Swift: Continuing Operations in the Que Son Valley, Part I.” (Vincent R. Capodanno – Rodney M. Davis – Lawrence D. Peters) Leatherneck, September 2007.
(42) Lehrack, Lt. Col. Otto J., USMC (Ret.). “Operation Swift: Continuing Operations in the Que Son Valley, Part II.” (Vincent R. Capodanno – Rodney M. Davis – Lawrence D. Peters) Leatherneck, October, 2007.
(43) Lehrack, Lt. Col. Otto J., USMC (Ret.). “Bobby and Tommy: Two Boyhood Friends-Two Medals of Honor.” (Robert E. O’Malley - Thomas P. Noonan) Leatherneck, July 2008.
(44) “Letter from Vietnam: Gordon Ray Roberts.” (Gordon R. Roberts) Vietnam, August 2007.
(45) Lynn, Robert A. and Albert Hemingway. “Ordeal on the Van Tuong.” (Robert E. O’Malley) Vietnam, October 1989.
(46) McCrary, Lacy Dean. “The Bravest Man I Have Ever Known.” (William H. Pitsenbarger) Vietnam, June 2002.
(47) Mersky, Peter. “Posted at Yankee Station.” (Michael J. Estocin) Vietnam, Winter 1988.
(48) Morin, Eddie. “Issac ‘Ike’ Camacho: Escaped from Captivity During the Vietnam War.” (Issac Camacho) Vietnam, June 2000.
(49) Murphy, Edward F. “Personality: Thomas W. Bennett.” (Thomas W. Bennett) Vietnam, June 2003.
(50) Perini, Capt. Michael B., USAF. “Uncommon Gallantry.” (Bernard R. Fisher) Air Force, April 1983.
(51) “Personality.” (Leonard B. Keller – Raymond R. Wright) Vietnam, June 2001.
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(52) “Personality.” (Vincent R. Capodanno – Charles J. Watters) Vietnam, June 2008.
(53) Rascon, Alfred (As told by.). “A Case of Forgotten Valor.” (Lawrence Joel - Larry S. Pierce - Alfred V. Rascon) Vietnam, October 2000.
(54) “Rendezvous With the Rattlesnake.” (Leo K. Thorsness) The Airman Magazine, December 1974.
(55) Sasser, Charles. “Long Night on Hill 488.” (Jimmie E. Howard) Vietnam, June 2013.
(56) Shepherd, Mike D. “Rescue at Kham Duc.” (Joe M. Jackson) Vietnam, June 2014.
(57) Smith, Col. Robert Barr, USA (Ret.). “A Lousy Place to Fight a War.” (Charles J. Watters - Carlos J. Lozada - John A. Barnes, III) Vietnam, October 2005.
(58) Yablonka, Marc. “Indomitable Spirit at the Hanoi Hilton.” (James B. Stockdale) Vietnam, August 2006.
(59) Whitcomb, Darrel D. “Air Force Captain Steven Bennett was Posthumously Awarded the Medal of Honor at Quang Tri.” (Steven L. Bennett) Vietnam, June 1990.
(60) Whitcomb, Darrel D. “Rescuing Bat 21.” (Thomas R. Norris) Naval History, April 1998.
D. NEWSPAPER ARTICLES.
(01) “American Searching for Brother In Vietnam Reported a Captive.” (Donald D. Dawson) The New York Times, May 9, 1965.
(02) “Bloodshed is Ended in Binh Gia.” The Washington Post-Times Herald, January 3, 1965.
(03) Browne, Malcolm. “New Troops Ferried to Viet Battle.” The Washington Post-Times Herald, January 2, 1965.
(04) Cannon, Lou. “President Awards Medal, Says Troops Weren’t Permitted to Win in Vietnam.” (Roy P. Benavidez) The Washington Post, February 25, 1981.
(05) “Execution of U.S. Pair Denounced.” (Kenneth Roraback – Humbert Versace) The Washington Post-Times Herald, September 28, 1965.
(06) Faas, Horst. “Refugees Tell of Fists-and-Feet Battle for Vietnamese Village.” The Washington Post-Times Herald, December 31, 1964.
(07) “Fight in Vietnam Rages for 3rd Day.” The New York Times, December 30, 1964.
(08) Grose, Peter. “Vietcong Tactics May Be Shifting.” The New York Times, January 2, 1965.
(09) Langguth, Jack. “Saigon Suffers Heavy Loss.” The New York Times, May 11, 1965.
(10) Levoy, Jill. “Jon Cavaiani Dies at 70; Desperate Stand in ’71 Led to Medal of Honor.” (Jon Cavaiani) The Los Angeles Times, August 2, 2014.
(11) Maffre, John. “Little Catholic Town of Binh Gia Still Paying Dearly for Its Faith.” The Washington Post-Times Herald, January 2, 1965.
(12) Malloy, Michael T. “U.S. Casualties Rise in Viet-Nam Battle.” The Washington Post-Times Herald, January 1, 1965.
(13) Malloy, Michael T. “New Phase Expected in Viet War.” The Washington Post-Times Herald, January 7, 1965.
(14) “Missing Man’s Wife Gets Note.” (Donald D. Dawson) The New York Times, May 12, 1965.
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(15) “Officer Vietcong Shot Was Almost Due Home.” (Humbert R. Versace – Kenneth M. Roraback) The Washington Post-Times Herald, September 28, 1965.
(16) “Public Executions.” (Humbert R. Versace) The (Baltimore) Sun, September 29, 1965.
(17) “Six-Day Battle at Binh Gia Ends in Defeat for Saigon.” The New York Times, January 3, 1965.
(18) Sheehan, Neil. “Reds’ Execution of 2 Americans Assailed By U.S.” (Kenneth M. Roraback – Humbert R. Versace) The New York Times, September 28, 1965.
(19) Slotnik, Daniel E. “Jon Cavaiani, Medal of Honor Recipient In 1974, Dies at 70”. (Jon Cavaiani) The New York Times, August 3, 2014.
(20) “3 Copters Shot Down by Viet Cong.” The Washington Post-Times Herald, December 30, 1965.
(21) “U.S. Sergeant, Executed by Viet Cong, Died Defiant.” (Harold G. Bennett) The New York Times, September 5, 1965.
12. PREVIOUS WALL NOTES.
A. (NUMBER – TITLE - DATE OF INFORMATION).
(01) WALL NOTE ONE. The Mayaguez Incident. 25 March 2007.
(02) WALL NOTE TWO. The Fall of Sai Gon: 30 April 1975. 06 May 2008.
(03) WALL NOTE THREE. The Search and Rescue Mission of 08 October 1963. 05 September 2008.
(04) WALL NOTE FOUR. U.S. Unaccounted For in Southeast Asia and East Asia. 06 March 2009.
(05) WALL NOTE FIVE. Arrangement of Names on the Wall: Sp5 Charles R. Lose and the ‘Lost Platoon’. 15 April 2009.
(06) WALL NOTE SIX. The Incident of 08 July 1959. 14 July 2009.
(07) WALL NOTE SEVEN. Wall Names Associated With the People’s Republic of China. 19 November 2009.
(08) WALL NOTE EIGHT. U.S. Unaccounted For in Southeast Asia and East Asia (Update One). 27 February 2010.
(09) WALL NOTE NINE. 2010 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Interventions. 01 July 2010.
(10) WALL NOTE TEN. The Ia Drang/Plei Ku/Plei Me Campaign. In preparation.
(11) WALL NOTE ELEVEN. Medal of Honor Recipients on The Wall. 01 August 2011.
(12) WALL NOTE TWELVE. U.S. Unaccounted For in Southeast Asia and East Asia (Update Two). 10 March 2011.
(13) WALL NOTE THIRTEEN. 2011 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Interventions. 25 May 2011.
(14) WALL NOTE FOURTEEN. Billie Joe Williams. 07 October 2013.
(15) WALL NOTE FIFTEEN. U.S. Unaccounted For in Southeast Asia and East Asia (Update Three). 09 February 2012.
(16) WALL NOTE SIXTEEN. 2012 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Interventions. 23 May 2012.
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(17) WALL NOTE SEVENTEEN. The Mayaguez Incident (Update One). In Preparation.
(18) WALL NOTE EIGHTEEN. U.S. Unaccounted For in Southeast Asia and East Asia (Update Four). 11 March 2013.
(19) WALL NOTE NINETEEN. 2013 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Interventions. 19 July 2013.
(20) WALL NOTE TWENTY. Status of Names Associated With The 12-15 May 1975 Mayaguez Incident. 16 May 2013.
(21) WALL NOTE TWENTY-ONE. 2014 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Interventions. In Preparation.
(22) WALL NOTE TWENTY-TWO. U.S. Unaccounted For in Southeast Asia and East Asia (Update Five). 30 June 2013.
END
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