First Lieutenant George K. Sisler

7 February 1967

U.S. Army

Headquarters and Headquarters Company

5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 1st Special Forces

MACV/SOG Republic of Vietnam

Entered service at: Dexter, Mo.

Born: 19 September 1937, Dexter, Mo.

Citation:

FIRST LIEUTENANT GEORGE K. SISLER, UNITED STATES ARMY, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group, was the platoon leader/advisor to a special U.S./Vietnamese force. On 7 February 1967, while on patrol deep within enemy territory in Laos, Lieutenant Sisler’s platoon was attacked from three sides by a company-sized enemy force. He quickly rallied his men, deploying them to a defensive position, and moved among his men to encourage and direct their efforts. Learning that two men had been wounded and were unable to pull back to the perimeter, Lieutenant Sisler charged from the position through intense enemy fire to assist them. He began carrying one of them back to the perimeter when he was taken under intensive automatic weapon fire. Laying down his wounded comrade, he killed three onrushing soldiers by firing his rifle and then silenced the enemy machine gun with a grenade. As he returned the wounded men to the perimeter, the left flank came under heavy attack by superior enemy forces and several additional men of his platoon were wounded. Realizing the need to prevent his position from being overrun, Lieutenant Sisler picked up some grenades and charged single-handedly into the enemy onslaught, firing and throwing grenades. This heroic action broke up the vicious assault and forced the enemy to begin withdrawing. Despite enemy fire, First Lieutenant Sisler was moving about the battle directing air strikes when he fell mortally wounded. His extraordinary leadership, infinite courage and selfless concern for his men saved the lives of a number of his comrades

Sergeant First Class Fred William Zabitosky

19 February 1968

US  Army

5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

 Republic of Vietnam

 Entered service at: Trenton, N.J. 

Born: 27 October 1942, Trenton, N.J. 

Citation: 

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Zabitosky, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as an assistant team leader of a 9-man Special Forces long-range reconnaissance patrol. Sfc. Zabitosky's patrol was operating deep within enemy-controlled territory when they were attacked by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army unit. Sfc. Zabitosky rallied his team members, deployed them into defensive positions, and, exposing himself to concentrated enemy automatic weapons fire, directed their return fire. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sfc. Zabitosky ordered his patrol to move to a landing zone for helicopter extraction while he covered their withdrawal with rifle fire and grenades. Rejoining the patrol under increasing enemy pressure, he positioned each man in a tight perimeter defense and continually moved from man to man, encouraging them and controlling their defensive fire. Mainly due to his example, the outnumbered patrol maintained its precarious position until the arrival of tactical air support and a helicopter extraction team. As the rescue helicopters arrived, the determined North Vietnamese pressed their attack. Sfc. Zabitosky repeatedly exposed himself to their fire to adjust suppressive helicopter gunship fire around the landing zone. After boarding 1 of the rescue helicopters, he positioned himself in the door delivering fire on the enemy as the ship took off. The helicopter was engulfed in a hail of bullets and Sfc. Zabitosky was thrown from the craft as it spun out of control and crashed. Recovering consciousness, he ignored his extremely painful injuries and moved to the flaming wreckage. Heedless of the danger of exploding ordnance and fuel, he pulled the severely wounded pilot from the searing blaze and made repeated attempts to rescue his patrol members but was driven back by the intense heat. Despite his serious burns and crushed ribs, he carried and dragged the unconscious pilot through a curtain of enemy fire to within 10 feet of a hovering rescue helicopter before collapsing. Sfc. Zabitosky's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Master Sergeant Roy P Benavidez

2 May 1968

US Army

 Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group

West of Loc Ninh, Republic of Vietnam 

 Entered Service at: Houston, Texas June 1955

 Born 5 August 1935, DeWitt County, Cuero, Texas. 

Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crewmembers and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Prior to reaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy's fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the leader's body, Sergeant Benavidez was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Benavidez mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire and so permit another extraction attempt. He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant Benavidez' gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.

Specialist Fifth Class JOHN J. KEDENBURG 

13 June 1968

U.S. Army

 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces

 Republic of Vietnam

 Entered service at: Brooklyn, New York

 Born: 31 July 1946, Brooklyn, New York

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp5c. Kedenburg, U.S. Army, Command and Control Detachment North, Forward Operating Base 2, 5th Special Forces Group J (Airborne), distinguished himself while serving as adviser to a long-range reconnaissance team of South Vietnamese irregular troops. The team's mission was to conduct counter guerrilla operations deep within enemy-held territory. Prior to reaching the day's objective, the team was attacked and encircled by a battalion-size North Vietnamese Army force. Sp5c. Kedenburg assumed immediate command of the team which succeeded, after a fierce fight, in breaking out of the encirclement. As the team moved through thick jungle to a position from which it could be extracted by helicopter, Sp5c. Kedenburg conducted a gallant rear guard fight against the pursuing enemy and called for tactical air support and rescue helicopters. His withering fire against the enemy permitted the team to reach a pre-selected landing zone with the loss of only 1 man, who was unaccounted for. Once in the landing zone, Sp5c. Kedenburg deployed the team into a perimeter defense against the numerically superior enemy force. When tactical air support arrived, he skillfully directed air strikes against the enemy, suppressing their fire so that helicopters could hover over the area and drop slings to be used in the extraction of the team. After half of the team was extracted by helicopter, Sp5c. Kedenburg and the remaining 3 members of the team harnessed themselves to the sling on a second hovering helicopter. Just as the helicopter was to lift them out of the area, the South Vietnamese team member who had been unaccounted for after the initial encounter with the enemy appeared in the landing zone. Sp5c. Kedenburg unhesitatingly gave up his place in the sling to the man and directed the helicopter pilot to leave the area. He then continued to engage the enemy who were swarming into the landing zone, killing 6 enemy soldiers before he was overpowered. Sp5c. Kedenburg's inspiring leadership, consummate courage and willing self-sacrifice permitted his small team to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy and escape almost certain annihilation. His actions reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

Captain JAMES P. FLEMING

26 November 1968

U.S. Air Force

20th Special Operations Squadron

Near Duc Co, Republic of Vietnam

Entered service at: Pullman, Washington

Born: 12 March 1943, Sedalia, Missouri

First Lieutenant Robert L. Howard

30 December 1968

U.S. Army

5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 1st Special Forces

Republic of Vietnam

Entered service at: Montgomery, Ala.

Born: 11 July 1939, Opelika, Ala.

Citation:

FIRST LIEUTENANT ROBERT L. HOWARD, UNITED STATES ARMY, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, then sergeant first class, distinguished himself on 30 December 1968, while serving as a platoon sergeant on a mission to rescue a missing American soldier in enemy-controlled territory. The platoon left its helicopter and was moving out when it was attacked by an estimated two company force. Lieutenant Howard was wounded and his weapon destroyed by a grenade explosion and his platoon leader was wounded seriously and exposed to enemy fire. Although unable to walk and weaponless, Lieutenant Howard unhesitatingly crawled through a hail of fire to retrieve his wounded leader. As he was rendering first aid, an enemy bullet struck one of the ammunition pouches on the lieutenant’s belt, detonating several magazines of ammunition. Lieutenant Howard began dragging the seriously wounded officer toward the platoon area. Through his indomitable courage and bravery, Lieutenant Howard was able to rally the platoon into an organized defense force. With complete disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Howard crawled from position to position, directing fire on the encircling enemy. For three and one-half hours, his small force and supporting aircraft successfully repulsed enemy attacks and finally were in sufficient control to permit the landing of rescue helicopters. Lieutenant Howard did not leave the bullet-swept landing zone until all were safely aboard.

Staff Sergeant Franklin Doug Miller

5 January 1970

U.S. Army

5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 1st Special Forces 

MACV/SOG

Kontum Province

Republic of Vietnam

Entered service at: Albuquerque, N. Mex.

Born: 27 January 1945, Elizabeth City, N.C.

 Citation:

  For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Miller, 5th Special Forces Group, distinguished himself while serving as team leader of an American-Vietnamese long-range reconnaissance patrol operating deep within enemy controlled territory. Leaving the helicopter insertion point, the patrol moved forward on its mission. Suddenly, 1 of the team members tripped a hostile booby trap which wounded 4 soldiers. S/Sgt. Miller, knowing that the explosion would alert the enemy, quickly administered first aid to the wounded and directed the team into positions across a small stream bed at the base of a steep hill. Within a few minutes, S/Sgt. Miller saw the lead element of what he estimated to be a platoon-size enemy force moving toward his location. Concerned for the safety of his men, he directed the small team to move up the hill to a more secure position. He remained alone, separated from the patrol, to meet the attack. S/Sgt. Miller single-handedly repulsed 2 determined attacks by the numerically superior enemy force and caused them to withdraw in disorder. He rejoined his team, established contact with a forward air controller and arranged the evacuation of his patrol. However, the only suitable extraction location in the heavy jungle was a bomb crater some 150 meters from the team location. S/Sgt. Miller reconnoitered the route to the crater and led his men through the enemy controlled jungle to the extraction site. As the evacuation helicopter hovered over the crater to pick up the patrol, the enemy launched a savage automatic weapon and rocket-propelled grenade attack against the beleaguered team, driving off the rescue helicopter. S/Sgt. Miller led the team in a valiant defense which drove back the enemy in its attempt to overrun the small patrol. Although seriously wounded and with every man in his patrol a casualty, S/Sgt. Miller moved forward to again single-handedly meet the hostile attackers. From his forward exposed position, S/Sgt. Miller gallantly repelled 2 attacks by the enemy before a friendly relief force reached the patrol location. S/Sgt. Miller's gallantry, intrepidity in action, and selfless devotion to the welfare of his comrades are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Staff Sergeant Jon R. Cavaiani

 4 and 5 June 1971

U.S. Army

Vietnam Training Advisory Group MACV/SOG 

5th Special Forces Group (ABN)

Republic of Vietnam

Entered service at: Fresno, Calif.

Born: 2 August 1943, Royston, England.

Citation:

STAFF SERGEANT JON R. CAVAIANI , UNITED STATES ARMY, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group Army Vietnam Advisory Group Staff Sergeant Jon R. Cavaiani distinguished himself on 4 and 5 June 1971, as platoon leader of a security platoon providing security for an isolated radio relay site located within enemy-held territory in the Republic of Vietnam. On 4 June, the site came under an intense barrage of automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenade and mortar fire from a superior enemy force. Sergeant Cavaiani, acting with complete disregard for his personal safety, repeatedly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire while directing the platoon’s fire and rallying the platoon in its desperate fight for survival. Simultaneously, he returned heavy suppressive fire on the assaulting force. Due to his ground direction, three extraction helicopters were able to land and evacuate the majority of the platoon although increasingly intense enemy fire kept other helicopters from landing. Forced to stay overnight, Sergeant Cavaiani directed the platoon to strengthen their defenses. On the morning of 5 June, with heavy fog restricting visibility, a superior-sized enemy force launched an annihilation attack on the American unit.  Advancing methodically in two ranks, the first rank fired a heavy volume of automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire at the same time that the second rank threw a steady barrage of hand grenades at the beleaguered force. Sergeant Cavaiani returned the heavy barrage of small arms and hand grenade fire, but was unable to slow them down. Ordering his platoon to escape, Sergeant Cavaiani recovered a machine gun, stood up and began sweeping machine gun fire against the two advancing enemy ranks. Through his valiant efforts, the majority of the platoon members escaped. While inflicting severe losses on the advancing enemy force, Sergeant Cavaiani was wounded numerous times. He eventually escaped, only to be captured after ten days of evading the enemy. He was released from captivity in March 1973.  

First Lieutenant Loren D. Hagen

7 August 1971

U.S. Army

5th Special Forces Group U.S. Army Training Advisory Group

Republic of Vietnam

Entered service at: Fargo, N. Dak.

Born: 25 February 1946, Fargo, N. Dak.

Citation: 

1st Lt. Hagen distinguished himself in action while serving as the team leader of a small reconnaissance team operating deep within enemy-held territory. At approximately 0630 hours on the morning of 7 August 1971 the small team came under a fierce assault by a superior-sized enemy force using heavy small arms, automatic weapons, mortar, and rocket fire. 1st Lt. Hagen immediately began returning small-arms fire upon the attackers and successfully led this team in repelling the first enemy onslaught. He then quickly deployed his men into more strategic defense locations before the enemy struck again in an attempt to overrun and annihilate the beleaguered team's members. 1st Lt. Hagen repeatedly exposed himself to the enemy fire directed at him as he constantly moved about the team's perimeter, directing fire, rallying the members, and resupplying the team with ammunition, while courageously returning small arms and hand grenade fire in a valorous attempt to repel the advancing enemy force. The courageous actions and expert leadership abilities of 1st Lt. Hagen were a great source of inspiration and instilled confidence in the team members. After observing an enemy rocket make a direct hit on and destroy 1 of the team's bunkers, 1st Lt. Hagen moved toward the wrecked bunker in search for team members despite the fact that the enemy force now controlled the bunker area. With total disregard for his own personal safety, he crawled through the enemy fire while returning small-arms fire upon the enemy force. Undaunted by the enemy rockets and grenades impacting all around him, 1st Lt. Hagen desperately advanced upon the destroyed bunker until he was fatally wounded by enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, 1st Lt. Hagen's courageous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon him and the U.S. Army.

Lieutenant Thomas R Norris

10 to 13 April 1972

U.S. Navy

SEAL Advisor

 Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team

Headquarters, U.S. Military Assistance Command

Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam

 Entered service at: Silver Spring, Md. 

Born: 14 January 1944, Jacksonville, Fla.

Citation:

Lt. Norris completed an unprecedented ground rescue of 2 downed pilots deep within heavily controlled enemy territory in Quang Tri Province. Lt. Norris, on the night of 10 April, led a 5-man patrol through 2,000 meters of heavily controlled enemy territory, located 1 of the downed pilots at daybreak, and returned to the Forward Operating Base (FOB). On 11 April, after a devastating mortar and rocket attack on the small FOB, Lt. Norris led a 3-man team on 2 unsuccessful rescue attempts for the second pilot. On the afternoon of the 12th, a forward air controller located the pilot and notified Lt. Norris. Dressed in fishermen disguises and using a sampan, Lt. Norris and 1 Vietnamese traveled throughout that night and found the injured pilot at dawn. Covering the pilot with bamboo and vegetation, they began the return journey, successfully evading a North Vietnamese patrol. Approaching the FOB, they came under heavy machinegun fire. Lt. Norris called in an air strike which provided suppression fire and a smoke screen, allowing the rescue party to reach the FOB. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, undaunted courage, and selfless dedication in the face of extreme danger, Lt. Norris enhanced the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.