Medal of Honor: Brian Miles Thacker – Vietnam War – March 31, 1971

Name: Brian Miles Thacker
Rank: First Lieutenant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Battery A, 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery
Date of Action: March 31, 1971
Location: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 31 March 1971, First Lieutenant Brian Miles Thacker was serving as team leader of an Integrated Observation System collocated with Army of the Republic of Vietnam units at Fire Base 6 in Kontum Province.

At dawn, a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force launched a coordinated assault on the isolated hilltop base.

Using rockets, grenades, flamethrowers, and automatic weapons, the attackers penetrated the perimeter and engaged defenders in hand-to-hand combat.

Throughout the morning and into the afternoon, Thacker moved among American and South Vietnamese troops, rallying exhausted defenders and encouraging them to hold.

For four hours he occupied a dangerously exposed observation position while directing friendly artillery and air strikes onto enemy forces swarming the base.

His leadership helped the outnumbered defenders inflict severe casualties and delayed the fall of the position.

By late afternoon, however, the situation had become untenable.

Recognizing the base could no longer be held, Thacker organized and directed the withdrawal of the surviving troops.

Then, with complete disregard for his own safety, he remained alone inside the perimeter to provide covering fire with his M-16 rifle while the others escaped.

Once they were clear, he made an even greater sacrifice.

He called friendly artillery fire directly onto his own position to gain more time for his comrades and punish the attacking enemy.

Wounded and unable to withdraw, Thacker nonetheless evaded enemy forces for eight days until friendly troops retook the fire base.

His courage, leadership, and selflessness inspired all who served beside him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

THACKER, BRIAN MILES

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Thacker, Field Artillery, Battery A, distinguished himself while serving as the team leader of an Integrated Observation System collocated with elements of 2 Army of the Republic of Vietnam units at Fire Base 6. A numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force launched a well-planned, dawn attack on the small, isolated, hilltop fire base. Employing rockets, grenades, flame-throwers, and automatic weapons, the enemy forces penetrated the perimeter defenses and engaged the defenders in hand-to-hand combat. Throughout the morning and early afternoon, 1st Lt. Thacker rallied and encouraged the U.S. and Republic of Vietnam soldiers in heroic efforts to repulse the enemy. He occupied a dangerously exposed observation position for a period of 4 hours while directing friendly air strikes and artillery fire against the assaulting enemy forces. His personal bravery and inspired leadership enabled the outnumbered friendly forces to inflict a maximum of casualties on the attacking enemy forces and prevented the base from being overrun. By late afternoon, the situation had become untenable. 1st Lt. Thacker organized and directed the withdrawal of the remaining friendly forces. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he remained inside the perimeter alone to provide covering fire with his M-16 rifle until all other friendly forces had escaped from the besieged fire base. Then, in an act of supreme courage, he called for friendly artillery fire on his own position to allow his comrades more time to withdraw safely from the area and, at the same time, inflict even greater casualties on the enemy forces. Although wounded and unable to escape from the area himself, he successfully eluded the enemy forces for 8 days until friendly forces regained control of the fire base. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by 1st Lt. Thacker were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the military service.