Medal of Honor: Maximo Yabes – Vietnam War, February 26, 1967

Maximo Yabes
First Sergeant, U.S. Army
Conflict: Vietnam War
Unit: Company A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
Date of Action: February 26, 1967
Location: Phu Hoa Dong, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action:
Before dawn broke on February 26, 1967, Company A came under a brutal enemy assault near Phu Hoa Dong. Mortars rained down. Automatic weapons fire erupted from three directions. Then, wave after wave of enemy troops—nearly a battalion in strength—charged the perimeter.

At the center of this maelstrom was First Sergeant Maximo Yabes.

As the command post bunker was targeted by an avalanche of enemy grenades, Yabes didn’t hesitate. He threw himself on the explosives, shielding his fellow soldiers from the blasts. Wounded and bloodied, he stayed behind to cover their retreat. He kept firing. Alone.

Then he moved.

Dashing through open terrain under relentless fire, Yabes reached another bunker 50 meters away. From a fallen comrade, he recovered a grenade launcher and began laying down suppressive fire with pinpoint accuracy, halting the enemy's advance.

When he saw two wounded men trapped in the open, he charged into the firestorm again. He dragged them to safety, ensuring they’d live to see another day.

Then came the final threat—a machine gun crew had breached the perimeter, threatening the entire company’s survival. Yabes didn’t flinch. Charging head-on into enemy fire, he silenced the gun, killed the crew, and broke the assault.

He was mortally wounded in the act.

First Sergeant Maximo Yabes' courage didn’t just inspire his men—it turned the tide of a battle that could have become a massacre.

Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

First Sergeant Yabes distinguished himself while serving with Company A during a fierce enemy assault on a defensive position supporting a land-clearing operation. When the command post bunker was targeted with grenades, 1st Sgt. Yabes threw himself onto the explosives, shielding others and absorbing the blasts. Despite his wounds, he remained behind, delivering suppressive fire to allow the command group to withdraw.

He then maneuvered across exposed ground to another bunker, recovered a grenade launcher, and halted the enemy's advance. Observing two wounded soldiers, he braved the fire-swept area to drag them to safety. Returning to the fight, he continued firing with deadly effect.

When an enemy machine gun penetrated the perimeter, 1st Sgt. Yabes charged forward, destroyed the crew, and neutralized the threat—sacrificing his life in the process. His actions reflect the highest traditions of military service and stand as a lasting tribute to personal valor..