This is a list of Navy Cross recipients for actions of valor carried out during the Vietnam War, awarded by the United States Department of the Navy.
The Vietnam War was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955[a] to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was officially fought between North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union, China, and other communist allies, and South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other anti-communist allies.[2] After the French military withdrawal from Indochina in 1954, the U.S. assumed financial and military support for the South Vietnamese state. U.S. involvement escalated under President John F. Kennedy, from just under a thousand military advisors in 1959 to 23,000 in 1964.[3][4] After the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964, the U.S. Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and gave President Lyndon B. Johnson broad authority to increase the U.S. military presence in Vietnam. Johnson ordered the deployment of combat units for the first time and increased troop levels,[3] reaching a peak of 543,000 in April 1969.[5] The Paris Peace Accords of January 1973 saw all U.S. forces withdrawn.
As of June 2022[update], this list is incomplete, showing 496 Navy Crosses awarded in all service branches for actions of valor during the Vietnam War: 124 to US Navy recipients; 369 to US Marine Corps recipients; one Republic of Vietnam Navy recipient;[6] one Army of the Republic of Vietnam recipient;[7] and one US Army recipient. By partial comparison, as of June 2022[update], the U.S. Department of Defense shows 126 awarded to Navy recipients[8] and 370 to Marines Corps recipients,[9] for acts of valor during the Vietnam War.
A
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lewis H. Abrams † | Marine Corps | Colonel | North Vietnam | October 25, 1967 | A6A Intruder Pilot |
Bobby W. Abshire | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | May 21, 1966 | UH-1E Helicopter Crew Chief |
Richard F. Abshire † | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Trị Province | May 2, 1968 | Platoon sergeant |
John T. Adams † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Hill 488, Quảng Tín Province | June 16, 1966 | Provided covering fire which allowed his Marines to withdraw, and then assaulted the enemy outnumbering enemy force and killed three in hand-to-hand combat before he himself was killed. |
Laurence R. Adams III | Marine Corps | Captain | An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | January 12, 1969 | Helicopter Pilot |
George Ajdukovich | Navy | Chief Boatswain's Mate | Muo Hai Canal | October 7, 1969 | PBR |
Vincent Alfonso | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Dong Ha Airstrip, Quảng Trị Province | July 20, 1966 | Machine gunner |
Yale G. Allen | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | March 5, 1969 | Fire team leader |
Russel V. Almeida † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | December 20, 1965 | Placed his body between fellow Marines and a live grenade |
Timothy D. Alspaugh | Navy | Seaman | Cai Lon River, Kien Giang Province | September 25, 1969 | PBR |
Kenneth A. Altazan | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Nam Province | May 9, 1969 | CH-46 Helicopter crew chief, originally awarded Silver Star which was upgraded in 2015 |
Gerald D. Ambrose | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | January 8, 1970 | Squad leader |
Willet R. Amendola † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | November 2, 1967 | Mortar man |
John J. Anderson | Marine Corps | Sergeant | South Vietnam | October 27, 1965 | Squad leader |
Russell P. Armstrong | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | September 7–8, 1967 | Platoon commander |
Elpidio A. Arquero † | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Quảng Nam Province | May 10, 1967 | Platoon sergeant |
James W. Ashby † | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Quảng Trị Province | June 1, 1967 | Corpsman |
James M. Aston † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Nam Province | March 19, 1969 | Smothered an explosive device with his own body |
Stephen E. Austin † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | June 8, 1968 | Squad leader |
Darrell E. Ayers † | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Quảng Nam Province | March 19, 1970 | Shielded a fellow Marine from enemy fire with his own body, thus saving his life |
B
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
James B. Back | Navy | Lieutenant | South Vietnam | February 28, 1968 | Regimental surgeon, surgically removed a live B-40 rocket from a wounded Marine |
Samuel J. Badnek | Marine Corps | Private | near Chu Lai, Quảng Tín Province | August 18, 1965 | Single-handedly assaulted and killed eight of the enemy, remaining in the fight despite being wounded in the head |
Curtis F. Baggett † | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Village of Phong Luc (1), Quảng Nam Province | February 6, 1968 | Platoon sergeant |
Walter F. Bailey | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Liberty Bridge, Quảng Nam Province | March 21, 1970 | Weapons platoon sergeant |
Harold L. Baker | Navy | Radioman Second Class | South Vietnam | December 20, 1970 | SEAL |
Robert E. Baratko | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | South Vietnam | September 15, 1970 | Attack helicopter aircraft commander |
William B. Barber | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Quảng Trị Province | November 25, 1968 | Corpsman |
Robert C. Barnes | Marine Corps | Corporal | South Vietnam | December 17, 1966 | Squad leader |
Robert L. Barnett | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | May 9, 1969 | Machine gun squad leader |
James J. Barrett | Marine Corps | Corporal | Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | September 19, 1967 | Squad leader |
John J. Barrett | Marine Corps | Captain | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | February 26, 1969 | CH-46 helicopter pilot |
Richard W. Baskin | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Hill 950, Quảng Trị Province | June 6, 1967 | Squad leader |
Gordon D. Batcheller | Marine Corps | Captain | near Huế City, Thừa Thiên Province | January 31, 1968 | Company commander |
Kent C. Bateman | Marine Corps | Major | North Vietnam | October 25, 1967 | A6A Intruder Pilot |
Leo V. Beaulieu † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near Chu Lai, Quảng Tín Province | May 16, 1966 | Machine gunner who was badly wounded during the beginning of an ambush, however he was able to return accurate fire before he was killed |
Van D. Bell Jr. | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | Village of Phong Ho (2) | June 6, 1966 | Second award (first was in Korean War). Led three Ontos to reinforce a besieged Marine platoon, killing 30 of the enemy. He was then wounded during an ambush while returning to his command post, but led his Marines in repelling the attack. |
David G. Bendorf † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | May 20, 1967 | Machine gun team leader who held his position with his gunner, putting heavy fire on the enemy and allowing their platoon to withdraw before they were both killed |
Francis A. Benoit † | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Quảng Trị Province | March 16, 1967 | Corpsman |
Ronald R. Benoit | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | South Vietnam | February 25, 1967 | Platoon commander |
Donald J. Berger | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | South Vietnam | March 11–12, 1966 | Helicopter commander |
Ricardo C. Binns | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 488, Quảng Tín Province | Jun 15–16, 1966 | Despite being wounded in both legs, he directed the fire of seven Marines in his scout team to repulse an NVA battalion throughout the night. |
William C. Bird | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | May 15, 1969 | Rifleman |
Stephen Blann † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | February 16, 1969 | Squad leader who was killed by enemy fire while shielding a wounded Marine with his own body |
Thomas L. Blevins Jr. † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | May 31, 1969 | Squad leader |
Thomas J. J. Blonski | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | May 10, 1972 | Jet pilot |
Richard E. Bogan | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Village of Thon Ha Vinh, Thừa Thiên Province | April 12, 1968 | Fire team leader who smothered an enemy grenade with his own body and was seriously wounded |
Eugene R. Brady | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | May 15, 1969 | Helicopter squadron commander |
Martin L. Brandtner | Marine Corps | Captain | Village of Lan Phouc, Quảng Nam Province | September 3, 1968 | First award, picked up two enemy hand grenades and threw them away from a group of Marines. He shielded them from the blast of the second grenade and was wounded. |
Martin L. Brandtner | Marine Corps | Captain | Village of My Binh, Quảng Nam Province | September 11, 1968 | Second award, led his company in repelling repeated enemy assaults, killing 67 NVA at the cost of one Marine KIA |
Leroy Brantley † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Village of Phu Nhuan, Quảng Nam Province | March 28, 1969 | Squad leader |
Kenneth R. Braun | Navy | Hospital Corpsman Third Class | Hill 70, Quảng Trị Province | March 30–31, 1967 | Corpsman, was not awarded Navy Cross until 2005 |
Thomas D. Brindley † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Hill 881, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | January 20, 1968 | Platoon commander |
Charles E. Brown | Marine Corps | Corporal | Loc Dien Village, Thừa Thiên Province | January 31, 1968 | Squad leader |
David H. Brown † | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Hill 48, Quảng Trị Province | September 10, 1967 | Platoon sergeant |
Randall A. Browning | Marine Corps | Corporal | near the DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | September 10, 1967 | M-50 Ontos commander |
Charles W. Bryan † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 881N, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | January 20, 1968 | Patrol leader |
Jarold O. Bryant | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 21, 1966 | Fire team leader |
Richard W. Buchanan | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Village of Le Bac (1), Quảng Nam Province | May 24, 1968 | Automatic rifleman |
Lyle F. Bull | Navy | Lieutenant | Hanoi, North Vietnam | October 30, 1967 | Bombardier/Navigator A-6 |
John R. Burke † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 950, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | June 6, 1967 | Sniper team leader |
Robert W. Burnand Jr. | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | October 12–16, 1966 | Commander of a search and rescue helicopter |
Thomas R. Burnham | Marine Corps | Corporal | Nong Son, Quảng Nam Province | October 1, 1967 | Fire team leader who threw himself on an enemy grenade which failed to detonate |
Dewey R. Burns Jr. † | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Village of An Phong, Quảng Ngãi Province | September 13, 1969 | Corpsman |
Leon R. Burns | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | July 2, 1967 | Platoon commander |
James B. Busey IV | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | Hanoi, North Vietnam | August 21, 1967 | Pilot |
C
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lawrence B. Caine III | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quế Sơn Valley | May 13, 1967 | Weapons squad leader |
John C. Calhoun † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Nuoc Ngot Village, Thừa Thiên Province | January 7, 1968 | Automatic rifleman |
Kenneth R. Cameron † | Navy | Captain | North Vietnam | May 18, 1967 – October 4, 1970 | POW |
Joseph T. Campbell † | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Quảng Nam Province | June 15, 1968 | Company executive officer |
James J. Carroll † | Marine Corps | Captain | DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | September 27 – October 5, 1966 | Company commander |
Marshall N. Carter | Marine Corps | Captain | Quảng Nam Province | January 14, 1967 | Company commander |
Henry C. Casebolt † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Thừa Thiên Province | February 28, 1966 | Squad leader |
Michael J. Casey † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Thừa Thiên Province | March 18, 1968 | Platoon commander |
Robert M. Casey † | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Quảng Nam Province | May 16, 1968 | Corpsman |
Thomas M. Casey Jr. † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | February 16, 1969 | Fire team leader |
William Castillo | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Fire Support Base Russell, Quảng Trị Province | February 25, 1969 | Ammunition man |
Thomas J. Cavanaugh † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | September 19, 1968 | Platoon sergeant |
Ernest C. Cheatham Jr. | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | Huế City, Thừa Thiên Province | February 3–March 3, 1968 | Battalion commander |
Paul R. Cheatwood | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Huế City, Thừa Thiên Province | February 16, 1968 | Mortar man |
Paul K. Christensen | Marine Corps | Corporal | South Vietnam | November 19, 1967 | Machine gunner |
William J. Christman III † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | A Shau Valley, Quảng Trị Province | February 22, 1969 | Platoon commander |
George R. Christmas | Marine Corps | Captain | Huế City, Thừa Thiên Province | February 5, 1968 | Company commander |
Kenneth L. Christy Jr. | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | January 18, 1968 | awarded 26 yrs later |
Roy Cisneros † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 461, Quảng Trị Province | September 11, 1968 | Squad leader |
Raymond D. Clay | Navy | Hospitalman | Quảng Trị Province | September 24, 1966 | Corpsman who shielded a wounded Marine from an enemy grenade |
Edward A. Claybin | Marine Corps | Private First Class | South Vietnam | June 20, 1966 | Cannoneer who threw himself on an enemy grenade which failed to detonate |
Paul F. Cobb † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Quảng Nam Province | May 16, 1968 | Platoon commander |
Robert F. Cochran Jr. | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | near Chu Lai, Quảng Tín Province | August 18, 1965 | |
Clovis C. Coffman Jr. | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | near Long Bihn, Quảng Ngãi Province | October 10, 1966 | Platoon leader |
George T. Coker | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | Hanoi, North Vietnam | October 12, 1967 | POW who attempted to escape |
Bryant C. Collins | Marine Corps | Corporal | South Vietnam | July 12, 1965 | Scout team leader |
Bryan W. Compton Jr. | Navy | Commander | Hanoi, North Vietnam | August 21, 1967 | Strike leader |
Fred J. Cone | Marine Corps | Major | North Vietnam | October 25, 1967 | A6A Intruder pilot |
Milton W. Confer | Navy | Engineman First Class | South Vietnam | February 13, 1970 | PBR |
Richard F. Conklin | Marine Corps | Corporal | Ngok Tavak, Quảng Tín Province | May 10, 1968 | Field artillery batteryman who held off an enemy attack with a machine gun. He threw several enemy grenades out of his position and was wounded and lost consciousness. When he regained consciousness, he returned to his weapon before he collapsed. |
James J. Connell † | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | North Vietnam | April 1968 – June 1969 | POW |
Matthew J. Connelly III | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | May 10, 1972 | Jet pilot |
Clarence L. Cook | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | North Vietnam | June 19, 1968 | Search and rescue helicopter co-pilot |
James J. Coolican | Marine Corps | Captain | Huế City, Thừa Thiên Province | January 31, 1968 | Military Assistance Command, Vietnam |
Harry J. Corsetti | Marine Corps | Corporal | near Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | August 15 & 17, 1968 | Recon team leader |
Merritt T. Cousins † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | July 8, 1967 | Radio operator |
Joseph F. Covella † | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | Quảng Nam Province | January 3, 1966 | Light Weapons Infantry Advisor to ARVN |
Robert L. Cover | Marine Corps | Master Sergeant | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | March 17, 1969 | Aerial gunner |
Charles J. Cox | Navy | Lieutenant | Ben Tre River, Kien Hoa Province | September 15–16, 1968 | Mobile Riverine Force |
Charles H. Crawford † | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Hill 174, Quảng Trị Province | May 29, 1967 | Corpsman |
Joseph R. Crockett Jr. | Marine Corps | Sergeant | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | April 23, 1969 | Recon team leader |
James D. Cruse † | Navy | Hospitalman | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | June 15, 1968 | Corpsman |
Roger W. Cummings † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Thoung Duc area, Quảng Nam Province | April 20, 1968 | Rifleman |
Randall H. Cunningham | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | May 10, 1972 | Jet ace |
Ronald T. Curley | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Trị Province | May 16, 1967 | Squad leader |
Russell W. Curtis | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | South Vietnam | August 21, 1967 | For smothering a grenade with his own body |
D
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
William H. Dabney | Marine Corps | Captain | Hill 881S, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | January 21 — April 14, 1968 | Commanded two Marine rifle companies in the defense of Hill 881S during a 77 day siege where they sustained nearly 100% casualties. Dabney was the son-in-law of Chesty Puller, and was belatedly awarded his Navy Cross in 2005. |
Robert G. Dalton | Marine Corps | Corporal | near the DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | May 25, 1969 | Squad leader |
David J. Danner | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Gio Linh, Quảng Trị Province | May 8, 1967 | Tank maintenance man and crewman |
William T. Dannheim | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | Song Ong Doc | October 20, 1970 | PBR |
Dana C. Darnell † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | April 24, 1967 | 60-mm. mortar ammunition carrier |
Dennis D. Davis † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Nam Province | August 28, 1969 | Rifleman |
John R. Dawson † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Thừa Thiên Province | October 27, 1967 | Shielded his wounded commanding officer from enemy fire with his own body and returned fire before he was killed. |
Edward Day † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near the Rockpile, Quảng Trị Province | August 26, 1968 | After killing an enemy machine gun crew, he was attempting to assist a wounded Marine when he was killed. |
Andrew D. Debona | Marine Corps | Captain | near Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | September 10, 1967 | Company commander |
Dieter Dengler | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | Laos | June 30, 1966 | POW Escapee |
Jeremiah A. Denton | Navy | Commander | North Vietnam | February – May 1966 | POW |
Mark E. Deplanche | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | January 13–14, 1966 | Fire team leader |
Marvin H. Devries | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | near the DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | August 10, 1969 | Platoon commander |
Edward A. Dickson † | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | February 7, 1965 | Jet attack pilot |
Grover L. Dickson † | Marine Corps | Corporal | DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | November 11, 1966 | Squad leader |
Henry C. Dillard | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 174, Quảng Trị Province | May 29, 1967 | 3.5 inch rocket gunner |
Harry H. Dinsmore | Navy | Captain | Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | October 1, 1966 | Chief Surgeon at U.S. Naval Support Activity. He volunteered to surgically remove a live 60-mm. mortar round from the chest of a wounded South Vietnamese soldier. He successfully removed the mortar and the patient survived. |
Carl R. Dittman | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 461, Quảng Trị Province | November 14, 1968 | Intelligence section scout |
Billy M. Donaldson | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | near Dong Ha, Quảng Trị Province | August 8, 1966 | Recon team leader who observed an enemy hand grenade land in a Marine's foxhole, jumped into the foxhole, and threw the grenade out. He was wounded when the grenade exploded shortly after he threw it. |
Joseph P. Donovan | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | near Nam O Bridge, Quảng Nam Province | February 22, 1969 | First award, despite being wounded and his CH-46 helicopter being badly damaged while extracting a wounded Marine, he returned to another landing zone under heavy fire and landed twice to evacuate additional casualties. |
Joseph P. Donovan | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | near Liberty Bridge, Quảng Nam Province | April 21, 1969 | Second award, landed his CH-46 helicopter under heavy fire to extract wounded Marines, during which the front of his helicopter was damaged by machine gun fire. He then commandeered a second helicopter and returned to the LZ under heavy fire. |
Claude H. Dorris † | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Nuoc Ngot Village, Thừa Thiên Province | January 7, 1968 | Squad leader/advisor in a combined action platoon |
John A. Dowd † | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | Quảng Nam Province | August 12–13, 1969 | Battalion commander |
Talmadge A. Downing | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 5, 1966 | Weapons platoon sergeant |
Thomas B. Driscoll | Marine Corps | Corporal | South Vietnam | September 4 & 6, 1967 | Forward air controller |
William P. Driscoll | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | North Vietnam | May 10, 1972 | Radar intercept officer in F-4J Phantom credited with five victories |
Barry W. Duff † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | May 21, 1966 | Fire team leader |
Richard F. Duncan † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | November 8, 1967 | Machine gun squad leader |
Carroll E. Dutterer Jr. | Navy | Boatswain's Mate First Class | Mekong Delta region | September 15, 1967 | Mobile Riverine Force |
E–F
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lawrence M. Eades | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | South Vietnam | February 2, 1968 | Combined action platoon |
Terry J. Ebbert | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Village of Phu Tay (1) | December 24, 1966 | Company commander |
Craig A. Edwards | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | South Vietnam | August 20, 1970[10] | Company commander who kicked an enemy hand grenade away from wounded Marines. He was wounded as he shielded the casualties from the resulting explosion. |
Lowell F. Eggert | Navy | Commander | North Vietnam | May 10, 1972 | Jet pilot |
Joseph J. Ennis | Navy | Engineman Second Class | Mekong Delta region | April 4, 1968 | Mobile Riverine Force |
Barry W. Enoch | Navy | Chief Gunner's Mate | Long Phu District, Ba Xuyen Province | April 9, 1970 | SEAL |
John C. Ensch | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | May 23, 1972 | Radar intercept officer who assisted his pilot in shooting down two enemy aircraft. He later became a POW on August 25, 1972. |
Manuel A. Estrada | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | August 24–25, 1968 | Recon squad leader |
Richard A. Evans Jr. † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Nam Province | August 29, 1968 | Fire team leader |
Rupert E. Fairfield Jr. | Marine Corps | Captain | near Quảng Ngãi, Quảng Ngãi Province | August 19, 1967 | UH-1E helicopter co-pilot |
Robert G. Fante † | Marine Corps | Corporal | near the Thu Ben River, Quảng Nam Province | August 6, 1968 | Squad leader |
Robert A. Federowski † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Thừa Thiên Province | May 24, 1968 | Squad leader who was killed as he attempted to throw an enemy hand grenade away from his Marines |
Donald L. Feerrar | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | March 20, 1967 | Threw an enemy hand grenade from his position, saving the lives of two Marines |
Samuel L. Felton Jr. | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | June 11, 1969 | Fire team leader |
Michael P. Finley † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | May 8, 1967 | Grenadier |
Thomas W. Fisher † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Hill 63, Quảng Tín Province | September 4, 1967 | Fire team leader |
William C. Fitzgerald † | Navy | Lieutenant | Quảng Ngãi Province | August 7, 1967 | Senior advisor to South Vietnamese Navy |
Jimmy E. Floren † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | November 6, 1967 | Fire team leader |
Patrick O. Ford † | Navy | Gunner's Mate Second Class | Định Tường Province | June 21, 1968 | PBR |
Earl W. Fowler | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 28, 1966 | Squad leader |
John W. Frederick Jr. † | Marine Corps | Chief Warrant Officer | North Vietnam | June 1967 – August 1968 | POW |
Terrence J. Freund † | Navy | Radarman Second Class | near An Lac Thon Village | October 26, 1966 | PBR |
Roy A. Fryman | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Phu Loc Valley, Thừa Thiên Province | April 29, 1968 | Platoon commander. He was later killed in action on October 24, 1969, during his second tour. |
John L. Fuller Jr. † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Village of Dai Khuong 1, Quảng Nam Province | March 23, 1967 | Platoon leader |
Robert B. Fuller | Navy | Captain | Hỏa Lò Prison, Hanoi, North Vietnam | October 1967 | POW |
G
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bobby F. Galbreath † | Marine Corps | Captain | near Dong Ha, Quảng Trị Province | February 16, 1968 | UH-1E helicopter pilot who attempted to evacuate wounded Marines, but his helicopter was shot down and he was killed. |
Alvin R. Gale † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Nam Province | January 28, 1969 | Radio operator |
Gary G. Gallagher | Navy | Yeoman Third Class | Mekong Delta region | October 10–11, 1968 | SEAL |
Patrick Gallagher | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | July 18, 1966 | Kicked a grenade out of his machine gun position, and then covered a second grenade with his body which failed to detonate. He was later killed in action on March 30, 1967. |
Robert T. Gallagher | Navy | Senior Chief Interior Communications Electrician | South Vietnam | March 13, 1968 | SEAL |
Michael L. Gates | Navy | Engineman Third Class | Vam Co Dong River | July 10, 1969 | PBR |
Brian J. Gauthier † | Marine Corps | Corporal | near Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | July 11, 1965 | Squad leader |
Alan R. Gerrish † | Navy | Hospitalman Second Class | near Da Nang Airfield, Quảng Nam Province | August 23, 1968 | Shielded a wounded Marine from enemy fire with his own body and was applying first aid when he was killed. |
Michael P. Getlin † | Marine Corps | Captain | Quảng Trị Province | March 30, 1967 | Company commander who threw one enemy grenade from his position, and was attempting to throw out two more when he was killed. |
George R. Gibson | Marine Corps | Corporal | near Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | August 8, 1966 | Automatic rifleman |
Richard M. Gilleland | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Nam Province | February 23, 1969 | Platoon sergeant |
Martin L. Gillespie Jr. † | Navy | Hospitalman Second Class | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 21, 1966 | Rendered life-saving first aid to a wounded Marine while exposed to enemy fire. When he was moving the Marine to cover, he was mortally wounded. |
Richard K. Gillingham † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | May 19, 1967 | Squad leader |
Kevin Gillotte | Navy | Engineman Third Class | South Vietnam | January 11, 1969 | Mobile Riverine Force |
Ernesto Gomez | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Hill 881, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | January 25, 1968 | CH-46 helicopter crew chief |
Daniel G. Gonzales | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | June 7, 1969 | 60-mm. mortar section leader |
William J. Goodsell † | Marine Corps | Major | Quảng Tín Province | June 16, 1966 | UH-1F helicopter pilot |
Gollie L. Grant † | Navy | Hospitalman Second Class | Gia Binh Village, Quảng Trị Province | September 19, 1966 | Despite being wounded twice, he continued applying first aid to a wounded Marine and was killed when shot a third time. |
George E. Gray | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | February 2, 1968 | He was wounded three times while knocking out an enemy mortar position. He then carried a wounded Marine to safety and shielded him from an exploding mortar round using his own body. He continued fighting the enemy and was wounded a fifth time. |
John S. Green | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | Quế Sơn Valley | June 2, 1967 | Led a frontal assault across 800 meters of rice paddies and knocked out a machine gun position, personally accounting for 10 enemies killed. |
Maurice O. V. Green | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Quảng Nam Province | October 27, 1968 | Intelligence officer |
Robert B. Gregory Jr. | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Village of Hoa Huong, Quảng Nam Province | February 23 & 25, 1969 | Rifleman in a combined action platoon |
Michael E. Gresham | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Nam Province | September 11, 1968 | Squad leader |
Richard W. Gresko | Marine Corps | Sergeant | South Vietnam | March 11, 1970 | Smothered an enemy hand grenade with his own body and was seriously wounded. |
John G. Griffith † | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | February 24, 1968 | Bombardier/Navigator |
Paul E. Grimes Jr. | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Thanh Hieu (1), Quảng Ngãi Province | March 4, 1967 | Rifleman |
Donald B. Groce | Navy | Chief Boatswain's Mate | South Vietnam | September 4, 1970 | Mobile Riverine Force |
Nicholas E. Grosz Jr. | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Hamlet of Ky Phy, Quảng Tín Province | December 18, 1965 | Company commander |
Timothy S. Guarino | Marine Corps | Private First Class | South Vietnam | June 1, 1969 | Shielded a Corpsman and a wounded Marine from an enemy hand grenade blast and was seriously wounded. |
Robert P. Guay | Marine Corps | Major | An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | March 19, 1966 | UH-34D helicopter pilot |
Victor J. Guerra | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | South Vietnam | October 27, 1969 | Covered an enemy grenade with his body, and then managed to throw it away, saving the lives of three Marines. |
H
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael R. Hall | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | Hanoi, North Vietnam | February 24, 1968 | Bombardier/Navigator |
Lee M. Halstead † | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | near Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | August 29, 1968 | UH-1E helicopter pilot |
Gregory O. Hampton | Navy | Seaman | Vam Co Dong River | August 20, 1969 | Threw an enemy hand grenade off of his PBR and then put suppressive fire on the enemy with a machine gun |
Eugene S. Hancock † | Navy | Hospitalman Second Class | near La Chau (2), Quảng Nam Province | February 24, 1969 | After rendering life saving aid to four Marines, he was killed when running towards a fifth casualty. |
Anthony C. Hanson | Navy | Aviation Electronics Technician Second Class | North Vietnam | July 2, 1967 | Combat aircrewman who descended 150 feet from his helicopter into the jungle and rescued a wounded USAF pilot |
Myron C. Harrington | Marine Corps | Captain | Huế City, Thừa Thiên Province | February 23, 1968 | Company commander |
David E. Hartsoe † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Trị Province | May 20, 1967 | Machine gunner who held his position with his team leader, putting heavy fire on the enemy and allowing their platoon to withdraw before they were both killed |
William E. Hayenga Jr. | Navy | Fireman | Rach Hong Nhu River | February 4, 1968 | PBR |
Daniel J. Hayes | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | South Vietnam | November 28, 1968 | Squad leader |
Vincil W. Hazelbaker | Marine Corps | Major | near Ban Hieu | August 8, 1966 | UH-1E helicopter pilot |
Ronald B. Helle | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Combat Base Baldy, Quảng Nam Province | January 28, 1971 | Covered an enemy hand grenade with his body and threw it out of the compound before it exploded |
Billy K. Henderson | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | South Vietnam | July 17, 1969 | Squad leader |
Robert L. Hendricks | Marine Corps | Corporal | South Vietnam | February 19, 1968 | Threw himself on an enemy hand grenade which failed to detonate |
Daniel B. Henry | Navy | Hospitalman First Class | near Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | August 27, 1967 | Volunteered to assist a surgeon in a 45 minute operation to amputate a wounded man's leg which had a live 2.75 inch rocket imbedded in it. Was later killed in action on January 31, 1968. |
Robert S. Herbert | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | Bo De river | August 11, 1970 | Gunboat weapons officer |
Felipe Herrera † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near Thoung Due, Quảng Nam Province | September 20, 1968 | Halted a hostile advance by killing six enemy and continued pouring accurate machine gun fire on the enemy before he was killed. |
Alfred J. Herring † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Song Bong River, Quảng Nam Province | September 20, 1970 | Single-handedly held off three enemy assaults despite multiple wounds when every other member of his patrol was killed or wounded |
Lee R. Herron † | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | A Shau Valley, Quảng Trị Province | February 22, 1969 | Assumed command of a platoon and single-handedly destroyed a nine of the enemy in a bunker before he was killed while assaulting a second bunker |
William L. Hickey | Navy | Hospitalman Second Class | South Vietnam | July 4, 1966 | Rendered aid to several Marines despite being wounded three times |
John J. W. Hilgers | Marine Corps | Captain | Thon Son Lam area, Quảng Trị Province | August 23–24, 1966 | Battalion operations officer |
Lamont D. Hill † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Village of Tan Lich, Quảng Trị Province | March 6, 1967 | Despite being fatally wounded during the beginning of an ambush, he delivered devastating machine gun fire, allowing his platoon to kill 20 enemy soldiers. |
John Hoapili | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | Quảng Trị Province | May 9, 1968 | Platoon commander |
Guy M. Hodgkins † | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | September 3, 1966 | Platoon sergeant |
John R. Hoff Jr. | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | near Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | April 7, 1970 | Platoon commander |
Billie D. Holmes | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Hill 488, Quảng Tín Province | June 15–16, 1966 | Twice shielded wounded Marines from enemy grenades and continued rendering aid throughout the night despite being wounded. |
Walter C. Holmes | Marine Corps | Sergeant | near Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | December 27, 1965 | 60-mm. mortar section leader |
James E. Honeycutt † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | February 16, 1968 | |
Michael E. Hopkins † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Nam Province | July 4, 1966 | Deliberately exposed himself to draw enemy fire away from the wounded |
Kenneth J. Houghton | Marine Corps | Colonel | Quế Sơn Valley | May 26 – June 5, 1967 | Regimental commander |
Charles A. House | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | A Shau | March 9–10, 1966 | Squadron commander |
Billy Howard † | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 21, 1966 | Company gunnery sergeant |
Gatlin J. Howell † | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | July 2–7, 1967 | Intelligence officer |
Robert W. Hubbard † | Marine Corps | Captain | Huế City, Thừa Thiên Province | January 31 – February 4, 1968 | Advisor to the Revolutionary Development Cadre |
William H. Huffcut II | Marine Corps | Major | near DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | September 28, 1969 | Pilot |
Michael A. Huggins | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near Fire Support Base Sierra, Quảng Trị Province | June 27, 1969 | Assaulted an enemy held hill and threw an enemy grenade away from another Marine |
Stanley S. Hughes | Marine Corps | Colonel | Huế City, Thừa Thiên Province | February 3, 1968 | Second award (first was in World War II) |
Hubert H. Hunnicutt III | Marine Corps | Sergeant | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | April 16–18, 1968 | Squad leader |
Charles B. Hunter | Navy | Commander | Hanoi, North Vietnam | October 30, 1967 | Pilot |
I–K
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Richard L. Jaehne | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Que Son-Hiep Due Valley, Quảng Nam Province | August 28, 1969 | Platoon leader |
Alan C. James | Navy | Hospitalman Second Class | Mutter's Ridge area, Quảng Trị Province | September 9, 1968 | Corpsman |
George V. Jmaeff † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 484, Quảng Trị Province | March 1, 1969 | Platoon sergeant who single-handedly assaulted enemy emplacements, knocking out one position despite being wounded. When he was being given first aid, he left his position of safety to assist his Marines during a mortar barrage when he was killed. |
James L. Johnson Jr. | Marine Corps | Corporal | A Shau Valley | February 17, 1969 | Squad leader |
Clement B. Johnston Jr. † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near Xuan Ngoc Village, Quảng Ngãi Province | April 28, 1966 | Shielded a Marine and Corpsman from a grenade blast |
Philip B. Jones † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Quảng Nam Province | January 28, 1969 | Platoon commander |
John W. Joys † | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | August 26, 1966 | Platoon sergeant |
Mark W. Judge † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Trị Province | September 21, 1967 | Rifleman |
Richard D. Kaler † | Marine Corps | Corporal | near Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | July 21–22, 1966 | Despite being wounded while assaulting enemy positions, he destroyed one position before he was killed. |
David M. Kaufman † | Marine Corps | First Sergeant | Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | June 15, 1969 | Assisted numerous casualties to safety and offered words of encouragement to his Marines before he was mortally wounded |
Russell F. Keck † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Tín Province | May 18, 1967 | Machine gun squad leader who provided covering fire, allowing his gunner to withdraw |
Edwin C. Kelley Jr. | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Landing Zone Sierra, Quảng Trị Province | March 13–14, 1969 | Led his company in the destruction of five bunker complexes and then held the objective despite NVA assaults throughout the night |
James R. Kelly III † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Village of An Hoa, Quảng Trị Province | March 24, 1967 | For single-handedly assaulting and destroying an enemy bunker and then fighting off six enemies who attempted to flank the platoon, killing three and causing the remainder to flee |
Robert A. Kelly | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | South Vietnam | September 3 & 5, 1966 | Despite being wounded, he manned a machine gun on an M50 Ontos, was wounded three more times and lost consciousness. |
Marwick L. Kemp | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 21, 1966 | Took command of his platoon during an ambush and was instrumental in leading his Marines in killing 60 Viet Cong. He was later killed in action on February 18, 1969. |
Benjamin A. Kenison † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | September 16, 1966 | Was killed while attempting to carry a seriously wounded Marine to safety |
Johnnie M. Kennedy | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | near Thang Binh, Quảng Tín Province | April 19, 1965 | Light weapons infantry advisor who prevented the capture of 75 South Vietnamese Rangers and personally killed or wounded 25 of the enemy |
William M. Keys | Marine Corps | Captain | Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | March 2, 1967 | After repelling repeated enemy attacks for four hours, he led his company in killing more than 200 NVA soldiers and taking eight prisoners |
Terrence E. Kierznowski † | Navy | Hospitalman Second Class | near Elliot Combat Base, Quảng Trị Province | September 12, 1969 | Saved the life of a wounded Marine from three mortar rounds by shielding him with his own body |
Donel C. Kinnard | Navy | Chief Hospital Corpsman | Ca Mau Peninsula | January 20–21, 1970 | UDT |
Donald E. Koelper † | Marine Corps | Major | Saigon | February 16, 1964 | Warned theater patrons to take cover when he discovered a bomb in the lobby and was killed by the subsequent explosion |
Glenn E. Kollmann † | Navy | Commander | North Vietnam | February 24, 1968 | Squadron commander |
Leonard Koontz | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 542, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | May 27, 1968 | Single-handedly assaulted two enemy bunkers, delivered suppressive fire against additional positions, and assisted two wounded Marines to safety. |
Kenneth A. Korkow | Marine Corps | Corporal | Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | March 30, 1968 | Directed his mortar section in destroying four enemy bunkers, single-handedly destroyed an enemy mortar position, and assisted several wounded Marines to an aid station before he was wounded. |
William Kowalyk | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | August 26, 1966 | Despite being seriously wounded by an enemy grenade, he continued fighting from his foxhole and killed an enemy in hand-to-hand combat. |
Roger W. Krueger | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | March 24, 1968 | A-6A bombardier/navigator |
Marc J. Kuzma † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | April 26, 1968 | For knocking out two bunkers and killing five of the enemy before he himself was killed while trying to assist wounded Marines |
L
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bobby D. Lain | Marine Corps | Captain | Quảng Nam Province | February 19, 1967 | Led his company in an assault which inflicted 250 casualties on the enemy before suffering the loss of both of his legs from a land mine. |
Albert Lankford III | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | South Vietnam | April 21, 1969 | Rallied his men and led them in a counterattack against sappers which penetrated the wire |
Alvin S. LaPointe | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 28, 1966 | Single-handedly assaulted and entered enemy bunker and tunnel system, silencing an anti-aircraft weapon. |
Alfred P. LaPorte Jr. | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Fire Support Base Neville, Quảng Trị Province | February 25, 1969 | Removed a live 81-mm. mortar round which had landed near the command post with his bare hands, suffering severe burns. |
William D. Laraway † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Cau Hai Hamlet, Thừa Thiên Province | April 11, 1967 | Suppressed the enemy with machine gun fire, and then shielded a wounded Corpsman from multiple enemy hand grenades, throwing two and kicking the rest of the grenades away |
David R. Larsen | Navy | Gunner's Mate Third Class | Saigon River | August 2, 1969 | Led his PBR crew ashore to assist a six-man patrol which was engaged with an enemy platoon |
Charles R. Lauer † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 11, Quảng Nam Province | June 18, 1967 | Remained at the machine gun on top of an amphibian tractor to provide covering fire for the wounded |
Lawrence J. Lazaro | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | September 19, 1966 | Assumed command of his squad during an ambush and fought his was to the wounded |
Armando G. Leal Jr. † | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Quảng Tín Province | September 4, 1967 | Rendered aid to wounded Marines for two hours despite multiple wounds, and then shielded a Marine from enemy fire using his own body |
Claude G. Lebas | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | April 2, 1966 | Single-handedly destroyed an enemy mortar position and then retrieved a machine gun 100 meters forward of his platoon |
Walter R. Ledbetter Jr. | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | Quảng Nam Province | January 31, 1970 | Landed his helicopter a minefield while taking sniper fire to extract wounded Marines |
Kenneth Ledford Jr. | Army | First Lieutenant | South Vietnam | September 15, 1970 | Medical evacuation pilot who landed his helicopter under heavy fire to extract the crews of two crashed Navy helicopters |
Alan C. Lefler | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | March 17, 1969 | Delivered devastating machine gun fire from his door gun for four hours, and then left his helicopter on four occasions to assist wounded Marines back to it |
William G. Leftwich Jr. | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | Hoai An Village, Binh Dinh Province | March 9, 1965 | Led a Vietnamese Marine Brigade in the successful assault of a village despite being wounded multiple times. He was later killed in a helicopter crash in Quảng Nam Province on November 18, 1970. |
David H. Lewis | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | South Vietnam | September 24, 1969 | Surgically removed an armed grenade launcher round which was imbedded in the thigh of a wounded Marine. The operation was successful and he saved the life of the Marine. |
James B. Linder | Navy | Commander | North Vietnam | September 28, 1967 | Planned, led, and directed 31 aircraft in an attack against the heavily defended Haiphong rail way/high way bridge, successfully destroying it without the loss of a single aircraft. |
Jerry E. Lineberry † | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Que Son Mountains, Quảng Nam Province | February 12, 1970 | When his platoon was badly ambushed, he rallied the men in evacuating the casualties and was directing artillery fire when he was killed. |
Lawrence H. Livingston | Marine Corps | Captain | near Quảng Trị City, Quảng Trị Province | July 11, 1972 | Led Vietnamese Marines in an assault against enemy trenches in a landing zone before carrying a wounded man to safety. |
Melvin M. Long | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Tín Province | June 2, 1967 | Led his squad in several assaults against enemy positions despite being wounded |
Steven D. Lopez | Marine Corps | Corporal | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | May 9–10, 1967 | Saved the lives of several Marines in his patrol by calling in air support and fighting off an enemy platoon despite being wounded multiple times |
Jose G. Lopez | Marine Corps | Sergeant | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | September 2, 1967 | When his small recon team encountered a large enemy force, he killed several of the enemy and called in close air support |
John J. Lord Jr. | Marine Corps | Sergeant | South Vietnam | July 28, 1968 | Took command of his company when all leadership was incapacitated during an ambush. Originally awarded the Bronze Star, he was awarded the Navy Cross in 2018. |
John L. Loweranitis † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | March 30, 1967 | Covered the withdraw of his command group during an NVA attack, personally killing five of the enemy |
Steven M. Lowery | Marine Corps | Corporal | Fire Support Base Argonne, Quảng Trị Province | March 5, 1969 | Despite being severely wounded at the beginning of an NVA assault, he personally killed several of the enemy and directed artillery support |
David E. Lownds | Marine Corps | Colonel | Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | August 1967 – March 1968 | As the commanding officer of Khe Sanh Combat Base, he established outposts on Hills 881S, 861, and 950, led the defense of Khe Sanh during the Ten Offensive, and coordinated and led Operation Scotland. |
Joseph Luca | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 5, 1967 | Provided covering fire from an exposed position, allowing the wounded to be evacuated |
Donald W. Lumbard | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | July 4, 1966 | Mounted the exposed machine guns of several amphibian tractors during an ambush, and despite being wounded himself, he assisted other wounded Marines to safety |
Glen T. Lunsford † | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Phu Son (2), Quảng Nam Province | February 3, 1968 | Entered a tunnel complex three times, killing an enemy and taking two prisoners despite being wounded |
M
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Francis W. Mack † | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Cam Lo River Valley, Quảng Trị Province | August 17, 1966 | Rendered aid to numerous wounded Marines during an ambush before he was killed |
Matthew C. MacVane | Marine Corps | Corporal | Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | August 14, 1967 | Helped repulse a one hour long NVA assault on his compound |
George M. Malone Jr. | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | A Shau Valley, Quảng Trị Province | February 22, 1969 | Led his platoon in an assault against an NVA bunker complex, and despite being wounded twice, he single-handedly destroyed a machine gun position and six of the enemy |
Bennie H. Mann Jr. | Marine Corps | Major | Quảng Tín Province | March 31, 1965 | Flew his helicopter into a landing zone under heavy five multiple times, offloading Vietnamese Marines before rescuing the crew of a downed helicopter |
Karl A. Marlantes | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | near the Rockpile, Quảng Trị Province | March 1–6, 1969 | Led several platoons in the assault of an NVA held hill, personally destroying four bunkers despite being wounded, and refusing evacuation when he learned all other officers and NCOs were casualties |
Cecil H. Martin | Navy | Mineman First Class | Mekong Delta region | November 21, 1968 | Led his PBR to rescue another boat crew during an ambush |
Raymond C. Martin † | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Nam Province | March 18, 1966 | Led his squad in an assault across rice paddies against a Viet Cong battalion, silencing an enemy machine gun position before shielding wounded Marine from mortar fire with his own body |
James A. Mayton | Navy | Hospitalman First Class | South Vietnam | May 21, 1966 | Made eight trips from his medical evacuation helicopter, rescuing 23 wounded Marines under heavy fire |
Carlos K. McAfee | Marine Corps | Captain | South Vietnam | June 12, 1966 | When all other advisors were killed during an enemy assault, he took command of a Vietnamese Marine Brigade for three hours before leading them in a counterattack |
Bertram W. McCauley | Marine Corps | Major | near Phu Tay, Quảng Nam Province | September 5, 1966 | When his first helicopter was badly damaged while rescuing wounded Marines under heavy fire, he commandeered a second helicopter and returned to the action to retrieve additional casualties |
Michael P. McCormick † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Fire Support Base Argonne, Quảng Trị Province | March 20, 1969 | Led his platoon against an enemy bunker complex overlooking the landing zone, destroying several enemy positions. He was attempting to assist the wounded point man when he was killed. |
Eugene P. McDaniel | Navy | Captain | North Vietnam | June 14–29, 1969 | POW who accepted responsibility for an escape attempt and was severely tortured |
James V. McDaniel | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Koh Tang Island, Cambodia | May 15, 1975 | Landing on the beach in the first helicopter of the first wave during the Mayaguez incident, he led a patrol forward which sustained heavy casualties. Despite being wounded himself, he carried two Marines to safety and established a defensive perimeter. |
Thomas C. McDonald | Marine Corps | Captain | near Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | March 28, 1971 | Illuminated several large groups of enemy troops with his helicopter searchlight despite heavy fire, resulting in the deaths of many of the enemy. |
Robert M. McEwen | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | Hanoi, North Vietnam | March 30, 1968 | A-6 Bombardier/Navigator who precisely dropped several bombs on a heavily defended port facility |
William D. McHenry | Marine Corps | Corporal | Phu Loc District Headquarters | February 1, 1968 | Assumed command of a reaction force during an ambush, moved several wounded Marines to safety, and provided covering fire despite being wounded himself, allowing the force to withdraw |
Gerald C. McKeen † | Navy | Hospitalman | Quảng Trị Province | September 24, 1966 | Despite being wounded twice, he continued to provide aid to wounded Marines for three hours |
Ronald E. McKeown | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | North Vietnam | May 23, 1972 | Shot down two enemy fighter jets in a single action |
Arthur G. McRae | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 16, 1967 | Led four wounded Marines to safety after being cut-off for over one hour |
James E. McWhorter † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | August 22, 1969 | Despite being wounded, he carried two wounded Marines to safety and was attempting to assist a third when he was killed |
Terrance L. Meier † | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | near Ca Lu, Quảng Trị Province | July 21, 1967 | Assumed command of his platoon during an ambush and was covering the evacuation of the wounded when he was killed |
Angel Mendez † | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 16, 1967 | Carried his wounded platoon commander to safety across 75 meters of open rice paddies under heavy fire and was mortally wounded as they reached safety |
William I. Mercer † | Navy | Hospitalman Second Class | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | June 15, 1968 | Rendered first aid to several wounded Marines, shielding them on two occasions from enemy fire using his own body before he was killed |
John R. Meuse † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | May 3, 1967 | Reported accurate information over the radio for over one hour despite being wounded during an NVA attack, and was later found with five dead enemies in front of his position |
Harold D. Meyerkord † | Navy | Lieutenant | Ninh Thuận Province | November 30, 1964, January 13 & 24, 1965, March 16, 1965 | Naval advisor to the River Force Vietnamese Navy who was involved in more than 30 combat operations |
Paul L. Milius † | Navy | Captain | Laos | February 27, 1968 | Remained at the controls of his crippled aircraft, allowing seven of his nine crew members to bail out and be rescued shortly after |
Cleatus A. Miller Jr. | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Que Son District, Quảng Nam Province | October 25, 1969 | Despite being wounded in the leg at the beginning of an ambush, he dragged himself to an exposed position when he fired his machine gun at the enemy until he lost consciousness |
Robert G. Mitchell | Marine Corps | Major | near Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | November 29, 1968 | Extracted several groups of Marines with his CH-46 helicopter while under heavy fire |
Robert E. Moe | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Quảng Tín Province | December 9, 1965 | Led his platoon in an assault against a Viet Cong battalion, saving the lives of approximately 40 South Vietnamese soldiers |
Richard E. Moffit | Marine Corps | Sergeant | near the DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | May 16–17, 1967 | Single-handedly assaulted enemy positions on two consecutive days, killing several of the enemy |
Frederick G. Monahan | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near Hill 881, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | May 3, 1967 | Single-handedly attacked and engaged an NVA force which had penetrated the wire in hand-to-hand combat and, despite being wounded, continued fighting for another two hours |
Robert E. Monahon † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | May 28, 1967 | After assisting one wounded Marine to safety, he ran 75 meters to assist two more wounded Marines and was wounded before he fired a machine gun into an NVA bunker and killed three of the enemy |
Robert L. Montgomery | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | South Vietnam | June 8, 1969 | Single-handedly assaulted two enemy machine gun positions despite being wounded |
Freddie L. Moore | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | South Vietnam | August 12, 1969 | Assumed command of part of his platoon and led an assault to rescue several cut-off Marines |
Ronald A. Moore † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Dai Loc District, Quảng Nam Province | July 19, 1967 | Despite being wounded, he provided covering fire to allow his fire team to withdraw, killing four Viet Cong |
Christopher K. Mosher | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | South Vietnam | May 13, 1967 | Directed precise air strikes from an exposed position for five hours before he was seriously wounded |
Joseph E. Muir † | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | Quảng Ngãi Province | August 18–24, 1965 | Led his battalion in killing more than 200 of the enemy |
James E. Mulloy Jr. | Marine Corps | Sergeant | near Chu Lai, Quảng Tín Province | August 18, 1965 | Single-handedly defended an amphibian tractor that was stuck in a rice paddy for 20 hours |
David R. Murphy | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | North Vietnam | October 12–16, 1966 | Rescued a downed Navy pilot, and later successfully flew his helicopter to the coast and ditched it in the sea after it was badly damaged and all crew members wounded |
James E. Murphy | Marine Corps | Captain | near Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | October 26, 1967 | When he observed a helicopter crash 150 meters from his position, he single-handedly ran to the helicopter, pulled two men from the helicopter, and held off a large enemy force for over an hour |
John D. Murray | Marine Corps | Captain | Quảng Tín Province | September 4, 6 & 10, 1967 | Led his company to relieve several beleaguered companies |
William H. Myers † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near Que Son, Quảng Tín Province | May 12, 1967 | Twice ran 150 meters across an open rice paddy to pour devastating machine gun fire on the enemy |
N–Q
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael I. Neil | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Phouc Ninh (2), Quảng Nam Province | December 20, 1967 | Platoon commander |
James R. Nelson | Navy | Lieutenant | Hai Muoi Tarn Canal, Định Tường Province | August 18, 1968 | Mobile Riverine Force |
Nguyễn Văn Kiệt | Republic of Vietnam Navy | Petty Officer Third Class | Quảng Trị Province | Apr 13, 1972 | Lone Vietnam Navy Sea Commando to join lone US Navy SEAL Thomas R. Norris in ignoring "hold position" orders to complete the rescue of a downed US Air Force navigator |
Thomas E. Noel | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | near Ca Lu, Quảng Trị Province | March 1, 1969 | Platoon commander |
Patrick J. Noon Jr. | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Trị Province | August 24, 1966 | Platoon guide |
James A. Norris † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | August 13, 1969 | Fire team leader |
John J. Norton | Marine Corps | Captain | near Huế, Thừa Thiên Province | April 21, 1968 | Company commander who threw himself on a grenade which failed to detonate |
George O. Norwood | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 4, 1966 | Fire team leader |
John L. Oakley | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | August 22, 1966 | Squad leader |
Joseph J. O'Brien | Marine Corps | Captain | Quảng Trị Province | September 17–23, 1967 | Originally awarded the Bronze Star which was upgraded in 2006 |
Martin E. O'Connor | Marine Corps | Major | South Vietnam | November 5, 1969 | Senior Marine advisor to Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps |
John W. O’Kelley | Navy | Seaman | Ong Huong River, Kien Hoa Province | May 26, 1968 | Mobile Riverine Force |
Samuel G. Orlando † | Navy | Hospitalman | Quảng Ngãi Province | March 4, 1966 | Corpsman |
Frederick F. Palmer | Navy | Commander | North Vietnam | June 29, 1966 | Led a strike force against the heavily defended Hai Phong petroleum and oil storage area |
Thomas C. Panian | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Quảng Tín Province | September 6, 1967 | When half of his platoon was killed or wounded in just five minutes, he took charge and led his platoon in repulsing three enemy attacks over the next eight hours, during which he was wounded three times. |
Lee R. Parrott | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | South Vietnam | August 10, 1969 | When his platoon's defensive perimeter was penetrated by sappers, he charged and killed several of the enemy, assisted wounded Marines to the rear, and led his platoon in repelling several more attacks. |
Anthony Paskevich Jr. | Marine Corps | Captain | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | March 17, 1969 | He refueled and rearmed his helicopter seven times during a four hour period, attacked enemy positions with rockets and machine guns, and landed his helicopter four times to evacuate wounded Marines from a rice paddy despite his helicopter being severely damaged by enemy fire. |
James W. Pate Jr. | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | March 24, 1968 | Pilot of the A-6A night all-weather attack against the heavily defended Kinh No railroad yard |
Joseph S. Peczeli | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | March 24, 1967 | Defeated an enemy ambush and evacuated wounded Marines despite being wounded himself |
William L. Peters Jr. † | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Quảng Nam Province | April 12, 1969 | Extracted a reconnaissance team while under heavy fire, during which his CH-46 helicopter sustained extensive damage |
Dennie D. Peterson † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Quảng Tín Province | September 6, 1967 | Moved to an exposed position for two hours to call in artillery fire by himself and was wounded. Once the enemy was repulsed, he assisted wounded Marines back to the company perimeter, where he was wounded five more times. |
John G. Phelps | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near Quảng Ngãi, Quảng Ngãi Province | August 19, 1967 | When his UH-1E helicopter landed to extract four soldiers from a downed helicopter, he killed many enemy with his machine gun, and left the helicopter twice to help carry wounded men to the helicopter, killing one Viet Cong at close range with his pistol. |
John C. Phillips | Navy | Hospitalman | South Vietnam | December 19, 1968 | Threw his body across a wounded Marine to protect him from an exploding enemy hand grenade and continued rendering aid despite being painfully wounded. |
Louis R. Piatt | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Bo Ban area, Quảng Nam Province | February 23–24, 1969 | Led his platoon against an NVA battalion, accounting for 48 enemies killed |
Louis A. Pichon Jr. † | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | near Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | March 24, 1967 | Single-handedly attacked an NVA bunker complex, destroying one bunker before he was killed while advancing on a second. |
Herbert E. Pierpan | Marine Corps | Major | Fire Support Base Argonne, Quảng Trị Province | March 20–22, 1969 | Assaulted and knocked out an enemy bunker, personally killing two NVA soldiers, and assumed command of the battalion when his commanding officer was killed. |
Roy E. Pitts † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near Vandegrift Combat Base, Quảng Trị Province | February 17, 1969 | After crawling 20 meters to a wounded Marine and stopping the bleeding, he was in the process of dragging the man back to cover when he was mortally wounded. |
James A. Popp † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Nam Province | April 8, 1967 | Despite being wounded twice during an ambush, he continued to fire his grenade launcher at the enemy, personally killing six before he was hit a third time. |
Robert O. Porter | Navy | Chief Gunner's Mate | Giang Thanh River | June 10, 1970 | Threw an enemy hand grenade out of his PBR, and then directed suppressive fire on the attacking enemy despite being wounded. |
Leroy N. Poulson | Marine Corps | Gunnery Sergeant | near Quảng Ngãi, Quảng Ngãi Province | August 19, 1967 | When his UH-1E helicopter landed to extract four soldiers from a downed helicopter, he made multiple trips under heavy fire to rescue three wounded soldiers. |
Charles T. Powell † | Marine Corps | Sergeant | near Dong Ha, Quảng Trị Province | May 31, 1968 | Led a fire team in an assault of an NVA mortar position, personally killing two enemies, and then provided suppressive fire allowing his wounded Marines to withdraw, silencing a machine gun before he was killed. |
Richard L. Powell † | Navy | Hospitalman | Hill 55, Quảng Nam Province | August 29, 1968 | Continued to aid multiple wounded Marines despite being shot himself in the arm, and was rendering first aid to a Marine just 15 meters from an enemy machine gun when he was killed. |
Trent R. Powers † | Navy | Captain | North Vietnam | October 31, 1965 | Led eight jet attack aircraft over 600 miles to bomb a heavily defended area, during which he was shot down and captured as a POW. |
Francis S. Prendergast | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | North Vietnam | March 9, 1967 | Was shot down and captured as a POW, but soon escaped that same day and was rescued by a helicopter. |
Robert L. Quick † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near Gio Linh, Quảng Trị Province | February 7, 1968 | Rifleman who was mortally wounded while attempting to throw an enemy grenade away from his fellow Marines |
R
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Warren H. Ralya Jr. † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Cua Viet River, Quảng Trị Province | January 20, 1968 | Destroyed three enemy positions with his grenade launcher during an ambush |
Donald R. Rash † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | March 30, 1968 | Assaulted and silenced five enemy positions during an ambush |
Darrell T. Ray † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Phu Thu Peninsula, Thừa Thiên Province | February 29, 1966 | Despite being wounded three times while assaulting an enemy machine gun position, he persisted in the assault until he silenced the position |
John M. Reid † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | May 10, 1967 | Grabbed a machine gun and moved to exposed ground to provide covering fire |
Donald J. Reilly † | Marine Corps | Major | Quảng Tín Province | December 9, 1965 | Was mortally wounded and made a crash landing while attempting to evacuate wounded Marines under heavy fire at night with a heavy overcast |
James R. Reilly † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | March 17, 1966 | Smothered an enemy hand grenade with his own body, saving the life of a fellow Marine |
Tiago Reis † | Marine Corps | Corporal | near Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | September 21, 1967 | When every other member of his squad was wounded, he dragged each Marine to cover and treated their wounds. He continued exposing himself to enemy fire searching for additional casualties when he was killed |
Marvin D. Reynolds | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | near Hanoi, North Vietnam | July 17, 1967 | A4E pilot who located a fellow pilot who was shot down and escorted the rescue helicopter to successfully extract the man, silencing multiple enemy anti-aircraft positions along the way |
Francis E. Rhodes Jr. | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | Mekong Delta region | September 15, 1967 | Led his riverine assault craft in killing more than 200 of the enemy and destroying 600 bunkers |
Thomas A. Richards | Marine Corps | Corporal | South Vietnam | June 5–6, 1969 | Regrouped his platoon and led the Marines in fighting off the enemy throughout the night, before manning a machine gun and personally killing eight of the enemy |
Harold A. Riensche | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | near Dong Ha, Quảng Trị Province | March 24, 1969 | Single-handedly held off an NVA attack on his disable M51 Tank Retriever |
John W. Ripley | Marine Corps | Captain | Quảng Trị Province | April 2, 1972 | On five occasions, he dangled under a bridge to place explosives while under enemy fire. He then destroyed the bridge with the explosives he had placed, stopping an enemy assault. |
José L. Rivera | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | March 26, 1969 | While occupying a listening post, he covered an enemy hand grenade with his helmet, two flak jackets, and his own body. Despite being wounded, he covered the withdrawal of six Marines. |
Miguel Rivera-Sotomayor | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | July 29, 1967 | Delivered devastating fire on the enemy using a grenade launcher, a machine gun and a rifle despite being seriously wounded |
Jettie Rivers Jr. † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Quảng Trị Province | May 14–15, 1967 | While the Company First Sergeant, he rallied his Marines in repulsing numerous NVA attacks[11] |
James J. Roberson | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Quảng Nam Province | March 24, 1967 | Led two amphibian tractors in gaining fire superiority over the enemy during an ambush and evacuating wounded Marines |
David B. Robinson | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | Bo De River | August 11, 1970 | Despite being seriously wounded at the beginning of an ambush, he directed the fire of his patrol gunboat and defeated the enemy |
Joe G. Rodrigues Jr. † | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Fire Base Pete, Quảng Trị Province | February 22 – March 3, 1969 | Assumed command of his platoon when the platoon leader was killed, and later placed his own body between his wounded Marines and the enemy and provided covering fire |
Gerald W. Rogers | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | Hanoi, North Vietnam | March 30, 1968 | Flew his A-6 in a single-plane night attack against a heavily defended port facility and successfully bombed the target |
Raymond G. Rogers Jr. | Marine Corps | First Sergeant | near the DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | March 30, 1967 | Led his company in repulsing an NVA attack, accounting for 62 enemy soldiers killed |
John R. Roland Jr. | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | Ham Luong River, Kien Hoa Province | January 28, 1969 | Placed his patrol craft between two fellow Sailors who were blown from another boat into the river and enemy positions and successfully rescued them |
Robert T. Roller | Marine Corps | Sergeant | near the DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | October 13, 1966 | Directed the evacuation of the wounded and then led the assault on an enemy position despite being wounded multiple times |
Wayne E. Rollings | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Quảng Nam Province | September 18, 1969 | Place himself between his point man and the enemy and was wounded while delivering suppressive fire. He then led an assault against the enemy position |
Richard E. Romine | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | South Vietnam | June 3–4, 1967 | After crash-landing his helicopter away from enemy troops, he led his crew in fighting through enemy positions, before calling in precision air strikes for the next 24 hours |
Roger D. Rosenberger † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | near Dong Ha, Quảng Trị Province | June 17, 1969 | Single-handedly assaulted an enemy position under heavy fire |
David L. Ross | Marine Corps | Major | South Vietnam | September 4, 1967 | When he was forced to crash land his helicopter in a landing zone, and then directed airstrikes to support a besieged Marine company |
Donald L. Rudd † | Navy | Hospitalman Second Class | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | March 3, 1969 | Rendered first aid to numerous wounded Marines, picking up weapons to fire back at the enemy. While shielding a Marine with his own body and firing at an enemy position, he was killed. |
Robert C. Rusher † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Nuoc Ngot Village, Thừa Thiên Province | January 7, 1968 | After killing two sappers who threw satchel charges at him and a fellow Marine, he placed his own body between the Marine and the satchel charges and was killed. |
Timothy W. Russell | Marine Corps | Corporal | Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | February 2, 1968 | Refused medical evacuation after being seriously wounded in order to direct the fire of his Marines and pinpoint enemy positions for five hours as the enemy assaulted Cam Lo District Headquarters |
William E. Russell | Marine Corps | Captain | Quảng Trị Province | May 28–31, 1968 | Led his company up a ridgeline in which they killed 65 of the enemy, and then directed his company in repulsing an NVA assault despite being wounded, killing another 140 of the enemy |
John E. Rusth | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 110, Suoi Cho Valley | May 10, 1967 | Led his Marines in an assault against NVA positions, and then assisted 10 wounded Marines to safety before collapsing from wounds and heat exhaustion |
S
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles D. Sadler | Marine Corps | Corporal | South Vietnam | May 21, 1966 | After his platoon sustained heavy casualties while being deployed in a landing zone, he consolidated the survivors into a defensive position as he delivered devastating machine gun fire on the enemy |
Gerald H. Sampson † | Marine Corps | Captain | near Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | August 28, 1969 | When his company faced a savage assault by an NVA force, he moved to the point of heaviest contact to rally his Marines and direct their fire |
Thomas Sanders † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Tinh, Quảng Nam Province | May 10, 1967 | Placed himself between enemy troops and wounded Marines and poured deadly machine gun fire on the enemy |
George T. Sargent Jr. † | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | Quảng Nam Province | March 20–21, 1969 | Led his battalion in a helicopter assault, single-handedly assaulting an enemy machine gun position. He was killed the following day while leading the final assault against the enemy. |
Robert J. Schley † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 881, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | April 30, 1967 | Placed his machine gun team in a position where they could deliver the most effective fire on the enemy. After he was wounded twice, he continued to fire his machine gun alone. |
Klaus D. Schreiber | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Thừa Thiên Province | October 14, 1967 | Born in Germany. After his recon patrol was ambushed, he rescued a mortally wounded Marine under heavy fire and then called in danger close air strikes for eight hours. |
Henry M. Schunck | Marine Corps | Corporal | Ngok Tavak, Quảng Tín Province | May 10, 1968 | When an NVA battalion attempted to overrun his camp, he fired an 81-mm. mortar at the enemy and assisted a wounded comrade to safety despite being wounded twice |
Donald W. Scott | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Village of Gia Binh | September 18, 1966 | When his platoon was badly ambushed, he ran through enemy fire six times to assist three wounded Marines to safety and recover the bodies of three Marines despite being wounded twice |
Ned E. Seath | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | July 16, 1966 | Assembled an M-60 machine gun using the pieces of two disabled ones, and then used it to deliver devastating fire on the enemy |
Roger D. See | Marine Corps | Corporal | South Vietnam | June 8–9, 1969 | Silenced an enemy bunker and continually patrolled the defensive perimeter of his recon team despite being wounded |
Charles T. Sexton | Marine Corps | Corporal | A Shau Valley | February 5, 1970 | When his recon team was ambushed and all members wounded or killed except him, he directed the fire of his two remaining Marines and called in air strikes for several hours |
Harry E. Sexton | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | South Vietnam | September 11–14, 1970 | Inserted and extracted a friendly force into a landing zone under heavy fire |
Merlyn A. Sexton | Marine Corps | Captain | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | June 19 – July 8, 1968 | Rallied his company in the defense of a ridgeline and directed air strikes, ultimately accounting for the deaths of 212 NVA soldiers |
Burton H. Shepherd | Navy | Commander | Hanoi, North Vietnam | October 26, 1967 | Led an 18-plane strike group in successfully bombing a heavily defended thermal power plant. He then searched for a missing pilot for one hour until low fuel forced him to retire |
Andrew M. Sherman † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | near Cam Lo, Quảng Trị Province | August 8, 1966 | When his platoon was attacked by an overwhelming enemy force and sustained 50% casualties, he rallied his Marines and led a counterattack |
Conrad A. Sipple † | Marine Corps | Corporal | near An Tuyet, Quảng Ngãi Province | March 6, 1966 | Exposed himself to enemy fire on four occasions to assist wounded Marines to safety |
Michael A. Sirousa † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Nam Province | February 12, 1970 | After directing the fire of his squad, he single-handedly assaulted enemy positions across a stream |
David W. Skibbe † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Quảng Nam Province | March 2, 1970 | Skillfully directed air strikes on the enemy which allowed the wounded to be extracted by a medical evacuation helicopter |
Jeff C. Skweres | Marine Corps | Corporal | South Vietnam | June 1, 1970 | Aerial gunner who spent one hour evacuating wounded Marines from a mine field while under fire |
Albert C. Slater Jr. | Marine Corps | Captain | near Con Thien, Quảng Trị Province | July 6–7, 1967 | Led two companies to a strategic position and repulsed two attacking NVA battalions, killing approximately 200 of the enemy with few losses among his own men |
Robert M. S. Slater | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | South Vietnam | January 5–11, 1968 | Gathered valuable intelligence from enemy territory on three occasions |
Duncan B. Sleigh † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Hill 55, Quảng Nam Province | November 6, 1968 | Established a landing zone to evacuate wounded Marines and used his own body to shield a Marine from a rocket propelled grenade |
Dennis M. Sliby | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Phu Bai area, Thừa Thiên Province | March 30–31, 1968 | Smothered an enemy hand grenade with his own body and was critically wounded |
Chester B. Smith | Navy | Signalman First Class | Mekong River | December 11, 1966 | Led his PBR in a four hour battle which killed 15 of the enemy and destroyed 28 sampans and an ammunition cache |
Homer L. Smith † | Navy | Captain | Hanoi and Bac Giang, North Vietnam | May 19–20, 1967 | Led a strike force against heavily defended thermal power plants, during which he was shot down, captured and tortured to death |
Ray L. Smith | Marine Corps | Captain | South Vietnam | March 30 – April 1, 1972 | Led 28 Vietnamese Marines to safety after repulsing several NVA battalions |
Stephen F. Snyder † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Thon Son Lam area, Quảng Trị Province | August 23–24, 1966 | Led his platoon in a night march to relieve another besieged platoon, held off an enemy attack and then led his platoon in a counterattack |
Thomas Soliz † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | September 6, 1967 | Manned a machine gun on top of an amphibian tractor and gained fire superiority over the enemy |
Michael M. Spark † | Marine Corps | Colonel | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | January 15, 1969 | He was observing and directing an assault against enemy positions from a helicopter when it was shot down |
Neil R. Sparks Jr. | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | near Hanoi, North Vietnam | July 17, 1967 | Successfully rescued a pilot who was shot down over enemy territory |
Paul H. Speer | Navy | Commander | North Vietnam | May 19, 1967 | Led six F-8 aircraft in shooting down three MiGs, one of which he shot down himself |
Jonathan N. Spicer † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | March 8, 1968 | Used his own body to shield a wounded Marine from enemy mortar fire |
Steve A. Srsen † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Trị Province | January 27, 1967 | Pushed another Marine to the ground to protect him from an enemy hand grenade |
Clarence H. St. Clair Jr. † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | August 28, 1969 | Destroyed an enemy bunker despite being wounded and was advancing on a second when he was killed |
Mykle E. Stahl | Marine Corps | Captain | Hill 861, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | January 21, 1968 | Single-handedly assaulted an enemy trench and despite multiple wounds, succeeded in killing five of the enemy and capturing three more |
Edward F. Starrett | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Que Son District, Quảng Nam Province | December 9, 1970 | Despite being wounded multiple times, he succeeded in killing several enemy soldiers and prevented further penetration of the perimeter |
Norman B. Stayton | Navy | Aviation Structural Mechanic Third Class | Can Gao Canal, Kien Giang Province | March 26, 1971 | Jumped from his helicopter into a river covered in burning jet fuel to bring a life preserver to a wounded Sailor under enemy fire |
Michael E. Stewart † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Village of Phu An, Quảng Trị Province | May 13, 1967 | Crawled 50 meters to a group of wounded Marines, helped a blinded Marine to safety, and returned to the group and was dragging a second man to safety when he was killed. |
Robert D. Stockman | Marine Corps | Sergeant | South Vietnam | January 14, 1970 | Assaulted and silenced two enemy bunkers and then carried a wounded man to safety before leading the platoon in an assault which caused the enemy to retreat |
James H. Stogner | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | South Vietnam | April 5, 1967 | Was belatedly awarded the Navy Cross in 2019. He killed four enemy soldiers, who had captured and were torturing his machine gun team leader, in hand-to-hand combat |
Guy E. Stone | Navy | Chief Shipfitter | near the Vinh Dien River | January 27, 1970 | UDT member who discovered eight enemy soldiers hidden in the grass and killed six of them and captured the other two |
Gerald M. Strode | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Quảng Ngãi Province | September 4–5, 1967 | While rendering aid to wounded Marines, he fought off the enemy in hand-to-hand combat |
James L. Stuckey | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Trị Province | July 6–7, 1967 | When he threw three enemy hand grenades from his fire team's position, the third grenade exploded and severed his hand. Despite his painful wound, he refused evacuation and continued fighting throughout the night |
Daniel F. Sullivan | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hamlet of Nam Pho Ha, Thừa Thiên Province | April 11, 1966 | Threw himself on an enemy hand grenade and managed to throw it out of his position before it exploded |
George R. Sullivan | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | near Dong Ha, Quảng Trị Province | March 17, 1967 | Assaulted and silenced an enemy machine gun position and carried two wounded Marines to safety before he was wounded |
T–V
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
David A. Taft | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | near Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | August 27, 1967 | Surgeon who successfully amputated a wounded man's leg which had an armed 2.75-inch rocket imbedded in it |
Jesse J. Taylor † | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | North Vietnam | November 17, 1965 | Located a pilot who had been shot down and attacked anti-aircraft positions which threatened the search and rescue helicopter before he himself was shot down |
Charles D. Thatcher | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Gio Linh, Quảng Trị Province | May 8, 1967 | Pulled a wounded Marine from a burning tank, rendered aid, and fought off repeated enemy attacks for one hour. He then inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy with a machine gun. |
Michael H. Thomas † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Hill 881S, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | January 20, 1968 | Led his platoon to rescue the crew of a crashed helicopter and reinforce a beleaguered platoon across 500 meters of open terrain. He was then helped move six casualties to safety and was trying to assist two more when he was killed. |
Robert J. Thomas | Navy | Radarman Second Class | Da Dung Mountain | March 23, 1969 | When his helicopter was shot down, he pulled the two pilots from the burning wreckage despite multiple wounds to himself, and then fought off the enemy until they were rescued. |
Brock I. Thompson | Marine Corps | Corporal | Bridge 11, Quảng Nam Province | October 19, 1969 | After assuming command of his squad, he attempted to throw an enemy hand grenade from his position and was seriously wounded by the blast. He then refused medical care and continued to direct his squad. |
Clinton W. Thompson | Marine Corps | Corporal | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | March 13–14, 1969 | Single-handedly assaulted and destroyed four enemy bunkers |
Jerrald R. Thompson † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 488, Quảng Tín Province | June 16, 1966 | Despite being serious wounded by an enemy hand grenade, he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat and killed two of them. |
John C. Thompson | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | South Vietnam | April 30, 1964 | Guided 18 aircraft to a landing zone under heavy fire to evacuate a besieged combat outpost |
Robert H. Thompson | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | Huế City, Thừa Thiên Province | February 12 – March 3, 1968 | Led his battalion in intense close-quarters fighting |
Barry L. Thoryk | Marine Corps | Corporal | Hill 471, Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | April 4, 1968 | Single-handedly assaulted an enemy machine gun position and killed five of the enemy |
Armand R. Thouvenell † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | DMZ, Quảng Trị Province | May 29, 1967 | Provided covering fire which allowed his machine gun team to withdraw |
James M. Timmons † | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Hill 55, Quảng Nam Province | November 6, 1968 | After assisting three wounded Marines to safety, he shielded a man from enemy fire using his own body when he was killed. |
Michael S. Tonkyn | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near An Hoa, Quảng Nam Province | June 11, 1969 | Attacked a trench line captured by the enemy on four occasions, killing six of the enemy and dragging a wounded Marine to safety |
Trần Văn Bảy † | Army of the Republic of Vietnam | Private First Class | Hieu Duc District, Quảng Nam Province | February 19, 1967 | Pushed a Marine from the path of a booby trap, exposing himself to the explosion |
William D. Trent † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | May 8, 1968 | After placing his machine gun teams in positions, he personally manned one of the guns and silenced tow enemy positions and continued firing from his exposed position after he was mortally wounded. |
Quincy H. Truett † | Navy | Chief Boatswain's Mate | Kinh Dong Tien Canal | January 20, 1969 | Provided covering fire from his PBR while five Sailors were rescued from the water |
James N. Tycz † | Marine Corps | Sergeant | near Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị Province | May 9, 1967 | When his small recon team was attacked by an enemy platoon, he directed the fire of his men and called in artillery support. He then attempted to throw an enemy hand grenade away from a wounded Marine when he was critically wounded. |
Willie D. Tyrone † | Marine Corps | Staff Sergeant | Quảng Ngãi Province | May 30–31, 1965 | He assumed the role of senior advisor for a Vietnamese Ranger Battalion, and despite being mortally wounded, he persisted in killing 10 more of the enemy. |
David F. Underwood | Marine Corps | Captain | near Dong Ha, Quảng Trị Province | February 16, 1968 | Pilot who extracted five members of a Marine recon team while under heavy fire, during which his UH-34 helicopter sustained heavy damage |
Phil I. Valdez † | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Da Nang, Quảng Nam Province | January 29, 1967 | Corpsman who was mortally wounded by enemy fire while shielding a wounded Marine with his own body |
Philip V. Vampatella | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | North Vietnam | June 21, 1966 | Fighter pilot who shot down one MIG-17 |
Norman W. Vancor | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near Dong Ha Combat Base, Quảng Trị Province | May 7, 1969 | Radio operator |
Jesus R. Vasquez † | Marine Corps | Sergeant | Khe Sanh Combat Base, Quảng Trị Province | January 30, 1968 | Explosive ordnance disposal technician who attempted to throw a burning 81-mm. mortar round out of an ammunition supply point |
David A. Verheyn | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | South Vietnam | February 3, 1967 | Team leader |
W–Z
editThis along with the †, indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name | Service | Rank | Place of action | Date of action | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
James R. Walker | Navy | Lieutenant | Mekong River | September 14, 1968 | Light helicopter fire team leader |
Ernie W. Wallace | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near Chu Lai, Quảng Tín Province | August 18, 1965 | Machine gunner who personally killed 40 enemy troops |
James C. Ward † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | May 9, 1969 | After knocking out an enemy emplacement during an ambush, he gave first aid to a wounded Marine, and was attempting to carry a second Marine to safety when he was killed. |
Roger O. Warren | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Huế City, Thừa Thiên Province | February 3–10, 1968 | Machine gunner |
Bruce D. Webb † | Marine Corps | Captain | Quảng Ngãi Province | August 18, 1965 | Company commander |
James H. Webb Jr. | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Quảng Nam Province | July 10, 1969 | After knocking out two bunkers, he shielded a Marine from a grenade using his own body. Despite painful wounds, he destroyed a third bunker. |
William Weise | Marine Corps | Lieutenant Colonel | South Vietnam | April 30 – May 2, 1968 | Battalion commander |
Allen E. Weseleskey | Navy | Lieutenant Commander | Mekong Delta region | March 9, 1968 | Attack helicopter fire team leader |
Brian E. Westin | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | North Vietnam | April 27, 1966 | A-6 Bombardier/Navigator[12] |
Warren R. Westphal | Navy | Boatswain's Mate First Class | Mekong River | November 24, 1968 | PBR |
Jeffrie E. Wiant Jr. | Navy | Lieutenant, Junior Grade | North Vietnam | August 30, 1968 | Search and rescue helicopter pilot |
Robert I. Widger | Marine Corps | Corporal | South Vietnam | June 7, 1969 | Machine gun squad leader |
Mack H. Wilhelm † | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Quảng Trị Province | February 19, 1969 | Despite being wounded twice while treating and carrying a Marine to safety, he began assisting a second Marine when he was killed. |
Franklin P. Willeford † | Navy | Hospitalman | Quảng Nam Province | December 14, 1968 | Corpsman |
James E. Williams | Navy | Boatswain's Mate First Class | Mekong River | January 15, 1967 | PBR also received MOH |
Lloyd T. Williams Jr. | Navy | Aircraftman First Class | South Vietnam | April 28, 1969 | Crew chief and door gunner |
Robert S. Williams | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Hill 362, Quảng Trị Province | July 24–25, 1966 | Platoon commander |
Willis C. Wilson | Marine Corps | First Lieutenant | Hamlet of Lap Thuan | April 2, 1966 | Platoon commander |
William C. Wirick † | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Nam Province | December 8, 1968 | Despite already being seriously wounded, he shielded another wounded Marine from sniper fire and was killed. |
Lloyd Woods | Marine Corps | Corporal | Quảng Tín Province | June 2, 1967 | Radio operator |
Warren A. Work Jr. | Navy | Hospitalman Third Class | Quảng Nam Province | April 8, 1967 | Corpsman |
Edward H. Wynn | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Village of Nhi Ha (2), Quảng Trị Province | May 25, 1968 | Radio operator |
Vernon L. Yarber † | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | near the Rockpile, Quảng Trị Province | August 26, 1968 | Provided covering fire which allowed his squad to withdraw from a listening post when attacked by an NVA platoon |
John C. Yates † | Marine Corps | Second Lieutenant | Cua Viet River, Quảng Trị Province | October 17, 1968 | Communications chief who was fatally wounded while attempting to rescue Marines trapped inside a burning amphibian tractor |
Charles R. Yordy | Marine Corps | Private First Class | Quảng Nam Province | May 24, 1968 | For knocking out two enemy bunkers and covering the withdraw of his platoon during an ambush |
William D. Young | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | August 6–7, 1972 | Combat rescue helicopter co-pilot |
William H. Young | Marine Corps | Lance Corporal | Village of Phu Tai, Quảng Trị Province | March 7, 1968 | Radio operator |
Jerrold M. Zacharias | Navy | Commander | Hanoi, North Vietnam | February 24, 1968 | Pilot |
Harry J. Zinser | Navy | Lieutenant | North Vietnam | August 6–7, 1972 | Combat rescue helicopter pilot |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ U.S. government reports cite 1 November 1955 as the commencement date of the "Vietnam Conflict", because this date marked when the U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) in Indochina (deployed to Southeast Asia under President Truman) was reorganized into country-specific units and MAAG Vietnam was established.[1]
References
edit- ^ Lawrence, A.T. (2009). Crucible Vietnam: Memoir of an Infantry Lieutenant. McFarland. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7864-4517-2.
- ^ Friedman, Herbert. "Allies of the Republic of Vietnam". Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Vietnam War Allied Troop Levels 1960–73". Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ Hastings, Max (2018). Vietnam an epic tragedy, 1945–1975. Harper Collins. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-06-240567-8.
- ^ Tucker, Spencer C (2011). The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History. ABC-CLIO. p. xlv. ISBN 978-1-85109-960-3.
- ^ "Nguyen Van Kiet". Military Times.
- ^ "Tran Van Bay". Military Times.
- ^ "U.S. Marine Corps Navy Cross Recipients, Vietnam War, 1956-1975" (PDF). U.S. Department of Defense. 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
- ^ "Full Text Citations for Vietnam War Awards of the Navy Cross". Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ The Navy Cross, Vietnam. Sharp & Dunnigan Publications. 1987. ISBN 0-918495-15-6.
- ^ "Brian Edward Westin, Navy Cross". Military Times. Gannett. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
External links
edit- "Military Awards for Valor - Top 3". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- Top 3 are: Medal of Honor; Distinguished Service Cross / Navy Cross / Air Force Cross; Silver Star
- this US DOD source only reports US Navy and US Marine Corps recipients of the Navy Cross
- "Service Cross". homeofheroes.com. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- this long standing private source believes it is "99.9% complete" for all military, civilian and allied recipients of the Top 2 (above Silver Star)