VIETNAM WAR
MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS
(Q-R)
*N.B. An asterisk in the
citation indicates that the award was given posthumously.
*RABEL, LASZLO
Rank and organization: Staff
Sergeant, U.S. Army, 74th Infantry Detachment (Long Range
Patrol), 173d Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Binh Dinh
Province, Republic of Vietnam, 13 November 1968. Entered service
at: Minneapolis, Minn. Born: 21 September 1939, Budapest,
Hungary. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of
duty. S/Sgt. Rabel distinguished himself while serving as leader
of Team Delta, 74th Infantry Detachment. At 1000 hours on this
date, Team Delta was in a defensive perimeter conducting
reconnaissance of enemy trail networks when a member of the team
detected enemy movement to the front. As S/Sgt. Rabel and a
comrade prepared to clear the area, he heard an incoming grenade
as it landed in the midst of the team's perimeter. With complete
disregard for his life, S/Sgt. Rabel threw himself on the
grenade and, covering it with his body, received the complete
impact of the immediate explosion. Through his indomitable
courage, complete disregard for his safety and profound concern
for his fellow soldiers, S/Sgt. Rabel averted the loss of life
and injury to the other members of Team Delta. By his gallantry
at the cost of his life in the highest traditions of the
military service, S/Sgt. Rabel has reflected great credit upon
himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
*RAY, DAVID ROBERT
Rank and organization: Hospital
Corpsman Second Class, U.S. Navy, 2d Battalion, 11th Marines,
1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF. Place and date: Quang Nam
Province, Republic of Vietnam, 19 March 1969. Entered service
at: Nashville, Tenn. Born: 14 February 1945, McMinnville, Tenn.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a
HC2c. with Battery D, 2d Battalion, at Phu Loc 6, near An Hoa.
During the early morning hours, an estimated battalion-sized
enemy force launched a determined assault against the battery's
position, and succeeded in effecting a penetration of the
barbed-wire perimeter. The initial burst of enemy fire caused
numerous casualties among the marines who had immediately manned
their howitzers during the rocket and mortar attack. Undaunted
by the intense hostile fire, HC2c. Ray moved from parapet to
parapet, rendering emergency medical treatment to the wounded.
Although seriously wounded himself while administering first aid
to a marine casualty, he refused medical aid and continued his
lifesaving efforts. While he was bandaging and attempting to
comfort another wounded marine, HC2c. Ray was forced to battle 2
enemy soldiers who attacked his position, personally killing 1
and wounding the other. Rapidly losing his strength as a result
of his severe wounds, he nonetheless managed to move through the
hail of enemy fire to other casualties. Once again, he was faced
with the intense fire of oncoming enemy troops and, despite the
grave personal danger and insurmountable odds, succeeded in
treating the wounded and holding off the enemy until he ran out
of ammunition, at which time he sustained fatal wounds. HC2c.
Ray's final act of heroism was to protect the patient he was
treating. He threw himself upon the wounded marine, thus saving
the man's life when an enemy grenade exploded nearby. By his
determined and persevering actions, courageous spirit, and
selfless devotion to the welfare of his marine comrades, HC2c.
Ray served to inspire the men of Battery D to heroic efforts in
defeating the enemy. His conduct throughout was in keeping with
the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
RAY, RONALD ERIC
Rank and organization: Captain (then
1st Lt.), U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry,
25th Infantry Division. Place and date: la Drang Valley,
Republic of Vietnam, 19 June 1966. Entered service at: Atlanta,
Ga. Born: 7 December 1941, Cordelle, Ga. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Ray
distinguished himself while serving as a platoon leader with
Company A. When 1 of his ambush patrols was attacked by an
estimated reinforced Viet Cong company, Capt. Ray organized a
reaction force and quickly moved through 2 kilometers of
mountainous jungle terrain to the contact area. After breaking
through the hostile lines to reach the beleaguered patrol, Capt.
Ray began directing the reinforcement of the site. When an enemy
position pinned down 3 of his men with a heavy volume of
automatic weapons fire, he silenced the emplacement with a
grenade and killed 4 Viet Cong with his rifle fire. As medics
were moving a casualty toward a sheltered position, they began
receiving intense hostile fire. While directing suppressive fire
on the enemy position, Capt. Ray moved close enough to silence
the enemy with a grenade. A few moments later Capt. Ray saw an
enemy grenade land, unnoticed, near 2 of his men. Without
hesitation or regard for his safety he dove between the grenade
and the men, thus shielding them from the explosion while
receiving wounds in his exposed feet and legs. He immediately
sustained additional wounds in his legs from an enemy
machinegun, but nevertheless he silenced the emplacement with
another grenade. Although suffering great pain from his wounds,
Capt. Ray continued to direct his men, providing the outstanding
courage and leadership they vitally needed, and prevented their
annihilation by successfully leading them from their surrounded
position. Only after assuring that his platoon was no longer in
immediate danger did he allow himself to be evacuated for
medical treatment. By his gallantry at the risk of his life in
the highest traditions of the military service, Capt. Ray has
reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army .
*REASONER, FRANK S.
Rank and organization: First
Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 3d Reconnaissance
Battalion, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: near Da Nang,
Republic of Vietnam, 12 July 1965. Entered service at: Kellogg,
Idaho. Born: 16 September 1937, Spokane, Wash. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty. The reconnaissance patrol led
by 1st Lt. Reasoner had deeply penetrated heavily controlled
enemy territory when it came under extremely heavy fire from an
estimated 50 to 100 Viet Cong insurgents. Accompanying the
advance party and the point that consisted of 5 men, he
immediately deployed his men for an assault after the Viet Cong
had opened fire from numerous concealed positions. Boldly
shouting encouragement, and virtually isolated from the main
body, he organized a base of fire for an assault on the enemy
positions. The slashing fury of the Viet Cong machinegun and
automatic weapons fire made it impossible for the main body to
move forward. Repeatedly exposing himself to the devastating
attack he skillfully provided covering fire, killing at least 2
Viet Cong and effectively silencing an automatic weapons
position in a valiant attempt to effect evacuation of a wounded
man. As casualties began to mount his radio operator was wounded
and 1st Lt. Reasoner immediately moved to his side and tended
his wounds. When the radio operator was hit a second time while
attempting to reach a covered position, 1st Lt. Reasoner
courageously running to his aid through the grazing machinegun
fire fell mortally wounded. His indomitable fighting spirit,
valiant leadership and unflinching devotion to duty provided the
inspiration that was to enable the patrol to complete its
mission without further casualties. In the face of almost
certain death he gallantly gave his life in the service of his
country. His actions upheld the highest traditions of the Marine
Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.
*ROARK, ANUND C.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S.
Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry
Division. Place and date: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam,
16 May 1968. Entered service at: Los Angeles, Calif. Born: 17
February 1948, Vallejo, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Roark distinguished
himself by extraordinary gallantry while serving with Company C.
Sgt. Roark was the point squad leader of a small force which had
the mission of rescuing 11 men in a hilltop observation post
under heavy attack by a company-size force, approximately 1,000
meters from the battalion perimeter. As lead elements of the
relief force reached the besieged observation post, intense
automatic weapons fire from enemy occupied bunkers halted their
movement. Without hesitation, Sgt. Roark maneuvered his squad,
repeatedly exposing himself to withering enemy fire to hurl
grenades and direct the fire of his squad to gain fire
superiority and cover the withdrawal of the outpost and
evacuation of its casualties. Frustrated in their effort to
overrun the position, the enemy swept the hilltop with small
arms and volleys of grenades. Seeing a grenade land in the midst
of his men, Sgt. Roark, with complete disregard for his safety,
hurled himself upon the grenade, absorbing its blast with his
body. Sgt. Roark's magnificent leadership and dauntless courage
saved the lives of many of his comrades and were the inspiration
for the successful relief of the outpost. His actions which
culminated in the supreme sacrifice of his life were in keeping
with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect
great credit on himself and the U.S. Army .
ROBERTS, GORDON R.
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then
Sp4c.), U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry,
101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Thua Thien Province,
Republic of Vietnam, 11 July 1969. Entered service at:
Cincinnati, Ohio. Born: 14 June 1950, Middletown, Ohio.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at
the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt.
Roberts distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in
Company B, during combat operations. Sgt. Roberts' platoon was
maneuvering along a ridge to attack heavily fortified enemy
bunker positions which had pinned down an adjoining friendly
company. As the platoon approached the enemy positions, it was
suddenly pinned down by heavy automatic weapons and grenade fire
from camouflaged enemy fortifications atop the overlooking hill.
Seeing his platoon immobilized and in danger of failing in its
mission, Sgt. Roberts crawled rapidly toward the closest enemy
bunker. With complete disregard for his safety, he leaped to his
feet and charged the bunker, firing as he ran. Despite the
intense enemy fire directed at him, Sgt. Roberts silenced the
2-man bunker. Without hesitation, Sgt. Roberts continued his
l-man assault on a second bunker. As he neared the second
bunker, a burst of enemy fire knocked his rifle from his hands.
Sgt. Roberts picked up a rifle dropped by a comrade and
continued his assault, silencing the bunker. He continued his
charge against a third bunker and destroyed it with well-thrown
hand grenades. Although Sgt. Roberts was now cut off from his
platoon, he continued his assault against a fourth enemy
emplacement. He fought through a heavy hail of fire to join
elements of the adjoining company which had been pinned down by
the enemy fire. Although continually exposed to hostile fire, he
assisted in moving wounded personnel from exposed positions on
the hilltop to an evacuation area before returning to his unit.
By his gallant and selfless actions, Sgt. Roberts contributed
directly to saving the lives of his comrades and served as an
inspiration to his fellow soldiers in the defeat of the enemy
force. Sgt. Roberts' extraordinary heroism in action at the risk
of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the
military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his
unit, and the U.S. Army.
*ROBINSON, JAMES W., JR.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S.
Army, Company D, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry
Division. Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 11 April 1966.
Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 30 August 1940,
Hinsdale, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond
the call of duty. Company C was engaged in fierce combat with a
Viet Cong battalion. Despite the heavy fire, Sgt. Robinson moved
among the men of his fire team, instructing and inspiring them,
and placing them in advantageous positions. Enemy snipers
located in nearby trees were inflicting heavy casualties on
forward elements of Sgt. Robinson's unit. Upon locating the
enemy sniper whose fire was taking the heaviest toll, he took a
grenade launcher and eliminated the sniper. Seeing a medic hit
while administering aid to a wounded sergeant in front of his
position and aware that now the 2 wounded men were at the mercy
of the enemy, he charged through a withering hail of fire and
dragged his comrades to safety, where he rendered first aid and
saved their lives. As the battle continued and casualties
mounted, Sgt. Robinson moved about under intense fire to collect
from the wounded their weapons and ammunition and redistribute
them to able-bodied soldiers. Adding his fire to that of his
men, he assisted in eliminating a major enemy threat. Seeing
another wounded comrade in front of his position, Sgt. Robinson
again defied the enemy's fire to effect a rescue. In so doing he
was himself wounded in the shoulder and leg. Despite his painful
wounds, he dragged the soldier to shelter and saved his life by
administering first aid. While patching his own wounds, he
spotted an enemy machinegun which had inflicted a number of
casualties on the American force. His rifle ammunition expended,
he seized 2 grenades and, in an act of unsurpassed heroism,
charged toward the entrenched enemy weapon. Hit again in the
leg, this time with a tracer round which set fire to his
clothing, Sgt. Robinson ripped the burning clothing from his
body and staggered indomitably through the enemy fire, now
concentrated solely on him, to within grenade range of the enemy
machinegun position. Sustaining 2 additional chest wounds, he
marshaled his fleeting physical strength and hurled the 2
grenades, thus destroying the enemy gun position, as he fell
dead upon the battlefield. His magnificent display of leadership
and bravery saved several lives and inspired his soldiers to
defeat the numerically superior enemy force. Sgt. Robinson's
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, at the cost of his life,
are in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Army and
reflect great credit upon the 1st Infantry Division and the U.S.
Armed Forces.
ROCCO, LOUIS R.
Rank and organization: Warrant
Officer (then Sergeant First Class), U.S. Army, Advisory Team
162, U.S. Military Assistance Command. Place and date: Northeast
of Katum, Republic of Vietnam, 24 May 1970. Entered service at:
Los Angeles, Calif. Born: 19 November 1938, Albuquerque, N. Mex.
Citation: WO Rocco distinguished himself when he volunteered to
accompany a medical evacuation team on an urgent mission to
evacuate 8 critically wounded Army of the Republic of Vietnam
personnel. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it
became the target for intense enemy automatic weapons fire.
Disregarding his own safety, WO Rocco identified and placed
accurate suppressive fire on the enemy positions as the aircraft
descended toward the landing zone. Sustaining major damage from
the enemy fire, the aircraft was forced to crash land, causing
WO Rocco to sustain a fractured wrist and hip and a severely
bruised back. Ignoring his injuries, he extracted the survivors
from the burning wreckage, sustaining burns to his own body.
Despite intense enemy fire, WO Rocco carried each unconscious
man across approximately 20 meters of exposed terrain to the
Army of the Republic of Vietnam perimeter. On each trip, his
severely burned hands and broken wrist caused excruciating pain,
but the lives of the unconscious crash survivors were more
important than his personal discomfort, and he continued his
rescue efforts. Once inside the friendly position, WO Rocco
helped administer first aid to his wounded comrades until his
wounds and burns caused him to collapse and lose consciousness.
His bravery under fire and intense devotion to duty were
directly responsible for saving 3 of his fellow soldiers from
certain death. His unparalleled bravery in the face of enemy
fire, his complete disregard for his own pain and injuries, and
his performance were far above and beyond the call of duty and
were in keeping with the highest traditions of self-sacrifice
and courage of the military service.
ROGERS, CHARLES CALVIN
Rank and organization: Lieutenant
Colonel, U.S . Army, 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery, 1st Infantry
Division. Place and date: Fishhook, near Cambodian border,
Republic of Vietnam, 1 November 1968. Entered service at:
Institute, W Va. Born: 6 September 1929, Claremont, W Va.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at
the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col.
Rogers, Field Artillery, distinguished himself in action while
serving as commanding officer, 1st Battalion, during the defense
of a forward fire support base. In the early morning hours, the
fire support base was subjected to a concentrated bombardment of
heavy mortar, rocket and rocket propelled grenade fire.
Simultaneously the position was struck by a human wave ground
assault, led by sappers who breached the defensive barriers with
bangalore torpedoes and penetrated the defensive perimeter. Lt.
Col. Rogers with complete disregard for his safety moved through
the hail of fragments from bursting enemy rounds to the
embattled area. He aggressively rallied the dazed artillery
crewmen to man their howitzers and he directed their fire on the
assaulting enemy. Although knocked to the ground and wounded by
an exploding round, Lt. Col. Rogers sprang to his feet and led a
small counterattack force against an enemy element that had
penetrated the howitzer positions. Although painfully wounded a
second time during the assault, Lt. Col. Rogers pressed the
attack killing several of the enemy and driving the remainder
from the positions. Refusing medical treatment, Lt. Col. Rogers
reestablished and reinforced the defensive positions. As a
second human wave attack was launched against another sector of
the perimeter, Lt. Col. Rogers directed artillery fire on the
assaulting enemy and led a second counterattack against the
charging forces. His valorous example rallied the beleaguered
defenders to repulse and defeat the enemy onslaught. Lt. Col.
Rogers moved from position to position through the heavy enemy
fire, giving encouragement and direction to his men. At dawn the
determined enemy launched a third assault against the fire base
in an attempt to overrun the position. Lt. Col. Rogers moved to
the threatened area and directed lethal fire on the enemy
forces. Seeing a howitzer inoperative due to casualties, Lt.
Col. Rogers joined the surviving members of the crew to return
the howitzer to action. While directing the position defense,
Lt. Col. Rogers was seriously wounded by fragments from a heavy
mortar round which exploded on the parapet of the gun position.
Although too severely wounded to physically lead the defenders,
Lt. Col. Rogers continued to give encouragement and direction to
his men in the defeating and repelling of the enemy attack. Lt.
Col. Rogers' dauntless courage and heroism inspired the
defenders of the fire support base to the heights of valor to
defeat a determined and numerically superior enemy force. His
relentless spirit of aggressiveness in action are in the highest
traditions of the military service and reflects great credit
upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
*RUBIO, EURIPIDES
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S.
Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 28th
Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, RVN. Place and date: Tay Ninh
Province, Republic of Vietnam, 8 November 1966. Entered service
at: Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. Born: 1 March 1938, Ponce,
Puerto Rico. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of
duty. Capt. Rubio, Infantry, was serving as communications
officer, 1st Battalion, when a numerically superior enemy force
launched a massive attack against the battalion defense
position. Intense enemy machinegun fire raked the area while
mortar rounds and rifle grenades exploded within the perimeter.
Leaving the relative safety of his post, Capt. Rubio received 2
serious wounds as he braved the withering fire to go to the area
of most intense action where he distributed ammunition,
re-established positions and rendered aid to the wounded.
Disregarding the painful wounds, he unhesitatingly assumed
command when a rifle company commander was medically evacuated.
Capt. Rubio was wounded a third time as he selflessly exposed
himself to the devastating enemy fire to move among his men to
encourage them to fight with renewed effort. While aiding the
evacuation of wounded personnel, he noted that a smoke grenade
which was intended to mark the Viet Cong position for air
strikes had fallen dangerously close to the friendly lines.
Capt. Rubio ran to reposition the grenade but was immediately
struck to his knees by enemy fire. Despite his several wounds,
Capt. Rubio scooped up the grenade, ran through the deadly hail
of fire to within 20 meters of the enemy position and hurled the
already smoking grenade into the midst of the enemy before he
fell for the final time. Using the repositioned grenade as a
marker, friendly air strikes were directed to destroy the
hostile positions. Capt. Rubio's singularly heroic act turned
the tide of battle, and his extraordinary leadership and valor
were a magnificent inspiration to his men. His remarkable
bravery and selfless concern for his men are in keeping with the
highest traditions of the military service and reflect great
credit on Capt. Rubio and the U.S. Army.
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