In the darkness of a Vietnam night, a single grenade threatened to erase an entire patrol. He chose to be the shield
Outnumbered, outgunned, and alone in the frozen skies near the Yalu River, he chose to attack anyway. Friendly aircraft on the ground would live because he did not turn away.
In the broken terrain near An Hoa, a young Marine stood fully exposed to enemy fire so others could live. He did not step back. He stepped forward.
Unarmed and under constant fire, he ran toward the wounded again and again. When told a man could not be reached, he went anyway.
Across four hundred yards of open ground swept by machine guns, mortars, and artillery, he went back again and again. When others could not reach the wounded, he did.
Across open ground swept by machine-gun fire and mortar bursts, one man deliberately drew the enemy’s guns onto himself. He went forward alone so his patrol could live.
Surrounded deep in enemy territory, he refused to yield ground or abandon his men. When the line began to break, he charged alone into the assault.
