Then Spec. 5 Dwight W. Birdwell took action as North Vietnamese forces launched the opening assault of what would come to be known as the Tet Offensive, marked by coordinated attacks across Vietnam on U.S. troops, South Vietnamese soldiers and their allies. Birdwell’s unit was called on to repel an attack on a major military installation, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, and was ambushed on the way. Birdwell took charge after his tank commander was gravely wounded, laying down suppressive fire as North Vietnamese soldiers shot at him. Birdwell was hit by shrapnel but kept fighting. Eventually, he was ordered to board a helicopter to evacuate, but he crawled out the opposite side of the aircraft and went back to fighting.
Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
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James C. McCloughan
Vietnam War
1969 - Tam Ky, Nui Yon Hill, Vietnam
Clinton L. Romesha
War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
2009 - Outpost Keating, Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
Donald E. Ballard
Vietnam War
1968 - Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam
Michael E. Thornton
Vietnam War
1972 - Republic of Vietnam
Harvey Curtiss "Barney" Barnum Jr.
Vietnam War
1965 - outside the village of Ky Phu, Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam
Clarence E. Sasser
Vietnam War
1968 - Ding Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam