VIETNAM WAR
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS
(G-H)
*N.B. An asterisk in the
citation indicates that the award was given posthumously.
*GARDNER,
JAMES
A.
Rank
and
organization:
First
Lieutenant,
U.S.
Army,
Headquarters
and
Headquarters
Company,
1st
Battalion
(Airborne),
327th
Infantry,
1st
Brigade,
101st
Airborne
Division.
Place
and
date:
My
Canh,
Vietnam,
7
February
1966.
Entered
service
at:
Memphis,
Tenn.
Born:
7
February
1943,
Dyersburg,
Tenn.
Citation:
For
conspicuous
gallantry
and
intrepidity
in
action
at
the
risk
of
his
life
above
and
beyond
the
call
of
duty.
1st
Lt.
Gardner's
platoon
was
advancing
to
relieve
a
company
of
the
1st
Battalion
that
had
been
pinned
down
for
several
hours
by
a
numerically
superior
enemy
force
in
the
village
of
My
Canh,
Vietnam.
The
enemy
occupied
a
series
of
strongly
fortified
bunker
positions
which
were
mutually
supporting
and
expertly
concealed.
Approaches
to
the
position
were
well
covered
by
an
integrated
pattern
of
fire
` including
automatic
weapons,
machine
guns
and
mortars.
Air
strikes
and
artillery
placed
on
the
fortifications
had
little
effect.
1st
Lt.
Gardner's
platoon
was
to
relieve
the
friendly
company
by
encircling
and
destroying
the
enemy
force.
Even
as
it
moved
to
begin
the
attack,
the
platoon
was
under
heavy
enemy
fire.
During
the
attack,
the
enemy
fire
intensified.
Leading
the
assault
and
disregarding
his
own
safety,
1st
Lt.
Gardner
charged
through
a
withering
hail
of
fire
across
an
open
rice
paddy.
On
reaching
the
first
bunker
he
destroyed
it
with
a
grenade
and
without
hesitation
dashed
to
the
second
bunker
and
eliminated
it
by
tossing
a
grenade
inside.
Then,
crawling
swiftly
along
the
dike
of
a
rice
paddy,
he
reached
the
third
bunker.
Before
he
could
arm
a
grenade,
the
enemy
gunner
leaped
forth,
firing
at
him.
1st
Lt.
Gardner
instantly
returned
the
fire
and
killed
the
enemy
gunner
at
a
distance
of
6
feet.
Following
the
seizure
of
the
main
enemy
position,
he
reorganized
the
platoon
to
continue
the
attack.
Advancing
to
the
new
assault
position,
the
platoon
was
pinned
down
by
an
enemy
machine
gun
emplaced
in
a
fortified
bunker.
1st
Lt.
Gardner
immediately
collected
several
grenades
and
charged
the
enemy
position,
firing
his
rifle
as
he
advanced
to
neutralize
the
defenders.
He
dropped
a
grenade
into
the
bunker
and
vaulted
beyond.
As
the
bunker
blew
up,
he
came
under
fire
again.
Rolling
into
a
ditch
to
gain
cover,
he
moved
toward
the
new
source
of
fire.
Nearing
the
position,
he
leaped
from
the
ditch
and
advanced
with
a
grenade
in
one
hand
and
firing
his
rifle
with
the
other.
He
was
gravely
wounded
just
before
he
reached
the
bunker,
but
with
a
last
valiant
effort
he
staggered
forward
and
destroyed
the
bunker,
and
its
defenders
with
a
grenade.
Although
he
fell
dead
on
the
rim
of
the
bunker,
his
extraordinary
actions
so
inspired
the
men
of
his
platoon
that
they
resumed
the
attack
and
completely
routed
the
enemy.
1st
Lt.
Gardner's
conspicuous
gallantry
were
in
the
highest
traditions
of
the
U.S.
Army.
*GERTSCH,
JOHN
G.
Rank
and
organization:
Staff
Sergeant,
U.S..
Army,
Company
E,
1st
Battalion,
327th
Infantry,
101st
Airborne
Division.
Place
and
date:
A
Shau
Valley,
Republic
of
Vietnam,
15
to
19
July
1969.
Entered
service
at:
Buffalo,
N.Y.
Born:
29
September
1944,
Jersey
City,
N.J.:
Citation:
S/Sgt.
Gertsch
distinguished
himself
while
serving
as
a
platoon
sergeant
and
platoon
leader
during
combat
operations
in
the
A
Shau
Valley.
During
the
initial
phase
of
an
operation
to
seize
a
strongly
defended
enemy
position,
S/Sgt.
Gertsch's
platoon
leader
was
seriously
wounded
and
lay
exposed
to
intense
enemy
fire.
Forsaking
his
own
safety,
without
hesitation
S/Sgt.
Gertsch
rushed
to
aid
his
fallen
leader
and
dragged
him
to
a
sheltered
position.
He
then
assumed
command
of
the
heavily
engaged
platoon
and
led
his
men
in
a
fierce
counterattack
that
forced
the
enemy
to
withdraw.
Later,
a
small
element
of
S/Sgt.
Gertsch's
unit
was
reconnoitering
when
attacked
again
by
the
enemy.
S/Sgt.
Gertsch
moved
forward
to
his
besieged
element
and
immediately
charged,
firing
as
he
advanced.
His
determined
assault
forced
the
enemy
troops
to
withdraw
in
confusion
and
made
possible
the
recovery
of
2
wounded
men
who
had
been
exposed
to
heavy
enemy
fire.
Sometime
later
his
platoon
came
under
attack
by
an
enemy
force
employing
automatic
weapons,
grenade,
and
rocket
fire.
S/Sgt.
Gertsch
was
severely
wounded
during
the
onslaught
but
continued
to
command
his
platoon
despite
his
painful
wound.
While
moving
under
fire
and
encouraging
his
men
he
sighted
an
aidman
treating
a
wounded
officer
from
an
adjacent
unit.
Realizing
that
both
men
were
in
imminent
danger
of
being
killed,
he
rushed
forward
and
positioned
himself
between
them
and
the
enemy
nearby.
While
the
wounded
officer
was
being
moved
to
safety
S/Sgt.
Gertsch
was
mortally
wounded
by
enemy
fire.
Without
S/Sgt.
Gertsch's
courage,
ability
to
inspire
others,
and
profound
concern
for
the
welfare
of
his
men,
the
loss
of
life
among
his
fellow
soldiers
would
have
been
significantly
greater.
His
conspicuous
gallantry,
extraordinary
heroism,
and
intrepidity
at
the
cost
of
his
life,
above
and
beyond
the
call
of
duty,
are
in
the
highest
traditions
of
the
U.S.
Army
and
reflect
great
credit
on
him
and
the
Armed
Forces
of
his
country.
*GONZALEZ,
ALFREDO
Rank
and
organization:
Sergeant,
U.S.
Marine
Corps,
Company
A,
1st
Battalion,
1st
Marines,
1st
Marine
Division
(Rein),
FMF.
Place
and
date:
Near
Thua
Thien,
Republic
of
Vietnam,
4
February
1968.
Entered
service
at:
San
Antonio,
Tex.
Born:
23
May
1946,
Edinburg
Tex.
Citation:
For
conspicuous
gallantry
and
intrepidity
at
the
risk
of
his
life
above
and
beyond
the
call
of
duty
while
serving
as
platoon
commander,
3d
Platoon,
Company
A.
On
31
January
1968,
during
the
initial
phase
of
Operation
Hue
City,
Sgt.
Gonzalez'
unit
was
formed
as
a
reaction
force
and
deployed
to
Hue
to
relieve
the
pressure
on
the
beleaguered
city.
While
moving
by
truck
convoy
along
Route
No.
1,
near
the
village
of
Lang
Van
Lrong,
the
marines
received
a
heavy
volume
of
enemy
fire.
Sgt.
Gonzalez
aggressively
maneuvered
the
marines
in
his
platoon,
and
directed
their
fire
until
the
area
was
cleared
of
snipers.
Immediately
after
crossing
a
river
south
of
Hue,
the
column
was
again
hit
by
intense
enemy
fire.
One
of
the
marines
on
top
of
a
tank
was
wounded
and
fell
to
the
ground
in
an
exposed
position.
With
complete
disregard
for
his
safety,
Sgt.
Gonzalez
ran
through
the
fire-swept
area
to
the
assistance
of
his
injured
comrade.
He
lifted
him
up
and
though
receiving
fragmentation
wounds
during
the
rescue,
he
carried
the
wounded
marine
to
a
covered
position
for
treatment.
Due
|
