Posted on Jul 12, 2019
First Marine to receive Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam is killed
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U.S.M.C. Lieutenant Frank Reasoner—who became the first Marine to be awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam—is killed by enemy fire on this day in 1965.
Reasoner and his battalion had been on a sweep of a suspected Viet Cong area to deter any enemy activity aimed at the nearby airbase at Da Nang. He and the five-man point team he was accompanying were cut off from the main body of the company. He ordered his men to lay down a base of fire and then, repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire, killed two Viet Cong, single-handedly wiped out an enemy machine gun emplacement, and raced through enemy fire to rescue his injured radio operator. Trying to rally his men, Reasoner was hit by enemy machine gun fire and was killed instantly.
For this action, Reasoner was nominated for America’s highest award for valor. When Navy Secretary Paul H. Nitze presented the Medal of Honor to Reasoner’s widow and son in ceremonies at the Pentagon on January 31, 1967, he spoke of Reasoner’s willingness to die for his men: “Lieutenant Reasoner’s complete disregard for his own welfare will long serve as an inspiring example to others.”
Lieutenant Reasoner was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam.
Col Carl Whicker PO3 Lynn Spalding LTC (Join to see) PO1 H Gene Lawrence SSG William Jones Maj William W. 'Bill' Price COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. ] Alan K. SGT John " Mac " McConnell LTC (Join to see) Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SPC Douglas Bolton Lt Col Charlie Brown Sgt Randy Wilber MSgt John McGowan Cpl (Join to see) PO3 Bob McCord SPC Margaret Higgins
Reasoner and his battalion had been on a sweep of a suspected Viet Cong area to deter any enemy activity aimed at the nearby airbase at Da Nang. He and the five-man point team he was accompanying were cut off from the main body of the company. He ordered his men to lay down a base of fire and then, repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire, killed two Viet Cong, single-handedly wiped out an enemy machine gun emplacement, and raced through enemy fire to rescue his injured radio operator. Trying to rally his men, Reasoner was hit by enemy machine gun fire and was killed instantly.
For this action, Reasoner was nominated for America’s highest award for valor. When Navy Secretary Paul H. Nitze presented the Medal of Honor to Reasoner’s widow and son in ceremonies at the Pentagon on January 31, 1967, he spoke of Reasoner’s willingness to die for his men: “Lieutenant Reasoner’s complete disregard for his own welfare will long serve as an inspiring example to others.”
Lieutenant Reasoner was the first Marine to receive the Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam.
Col Carl Whicker PO3 Lynn Spalding LTC (Join to see) PO1 H Gene Lawrence SSG William Jones Maj William W. 'Bill' Price COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. ] Alan K. SGT John " Mac " McConnell LTC (Join to see) Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SPC Douglas Bolton Lt Col Charlie Brown Sgt Randy Wilber MSgt John McGowan Cpl (Join to see) PO3 Bob McCord SPC Margaret Higgins
First Marine to receive Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam is killed
Posted from history.com
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 7
Posted 5 y ago
Great history post today Mark- honor and courage. Good RED Friday
LTC Stephen F. SP5 Mark Kuzinski COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Maj William W. 'Bill' PriceCPL Dave Hoover SSG William Jones Sgt Vance Bonds Cpl (Join to see) PO1 H Gene Lawrence Maj Robert Thornton PO3 Bob McCord SPC Douglas Bolton Lt Col Charlie Brown TSgt Joe C. PO3 Craig Phillips CW5 Jack Cardwell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SGT Mark Anderson SPC Margaret Higgins
LTC Stephen F. SP5 Mark Kuzinski COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Maj William W. 'Bill' PriceCPL Dave Hoover SSG William Jones Sgt Vance Bonds Cpl (Join to see) PO1 H Gene Lawrence Maj Robert Thornton PO3 Bob McCord SPC Douglas Bolton Lt Col Charlie Brown TSgt Joe C. PO3 Craig Phillips CW5 Jack Cardwell SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SGT Mark Anderson SPC Margaret Higgins
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