Medal of Honor: Angelo J. Liteky – Vietnam War – December 6, 1967

Name: Angelo John Liteky
Rank: Chaplain (Captain)
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 199th Infantry Brigade (attached to Company A, 4/12 Infantry)
Place and Date: Near Phuoc-Lac, Bien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam – 6 December 1967
Entered Service At: Fort Hamilton, New York
Born: February 14, 1931 – Washington, D.C.
Departed: Survived (later renounced the Medal in 1986, but remains listed as a recipient)
Accredited To: New York

Summary of Action

On December 6, 1967, Chaplain (Capt.) Angelo J. Liteky was accompanying Company A, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry during a search-and-destroy operation when the unit was suddenly hit by devastating fire from a battalion-sized enemy force. The immediate shock and violence of the ambush pinned the men to the ground. Through the chaos, Liteky saw two wounded soldiers lying only 15 meters from an enemy machine gun.

Without hesitation and completely unarmed, he sprinted forward through a storm of fire, placing his own body between the enemy gunners and the wounded men. When a brief lull allowed it, he dragged both soldiers back to the landing zone. His actions galvanized the company, helping them regain fire superiority.

Throughout the battle, Chaplain Liteky moved fully upright through the enemy’s fire, administering last rites, pulling the wounded from exposed positions, and offering calm direction amid carnage. He crawled to another soldier trapped by thick, thorny brush; finding the man too heavy to lift, Liteky rolled onto his back, placed the soldier on his chest, and dragged him to safety using only his elbows and heels.

Again and again, he returned to the front line. He broke vines by hand to free another man, carried him to the LZ, and personally stood in the open to guide incoming and outgoing medevac helicopters while rockets and small arms fire swept the clearing.

By the time the company was relieved the next morning, it became clear that Liteky—despite painful wounds to his neck and foot—had personally carried over 20 wounded soldiers to safety.

His tireless courage, devotion to his men, and refusal to consider his own safety allowed the company to repel the attack and saved numerous American lives.

Medal of Honor Citation

Citation:

Chaplain Liteky distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving with Company A, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was participating in a search and destroy operation when Company A came under intense fire from a battalion size enemy force. Momentarily stunned from the immediate encounter that ensued, the men hugged the ground for cover. Observing 2 wounded men, Chaplain Liteky moved to within 15 meters of an enemy machine gun position to reach them, placing himself between the enemy and the wounded men. When there was a brief respite in the fighting, he managed to drag them to the relative safety of the landing zone. Inspired by his courageous actions, the company rallied and began placing a heavy volume of fire upon the enemy's positions. In a magnificent display of courage and leadership, Chaplain Liteky began moving upright through the enemy fire, administering last rites to the dying and evacuating the wounded. Noticing another trapped and seriously wounded man, Chaplain Liteky crawled to his aid. Realizing that the wounded man was too heavy to carry, he rolled on his back, placed the man on his chest and through sheer determination and fortitude crawled back to the landing zone using his elbows and heels to push himself along. Pausing for breath momentarily, he returned to the action and came upon a man entangled in the dense, thorny underbrush. Once more intense enemy fire was directed at him, but Chaplain Liteky stood his ground and calmly broke the vines and carried the man to the landing zone for evacuation. On several occasions when the landing zone was under small arms and rocket fire, Chaplain Liteky stood up in the face of hostile fire and personally directed the medivac helicopters into and out of the area. With the wounded safely evacuated, Chaplain Liteky returned to the perimeter, constantly encouraging and inspiring the men. Upon the unit's relief on the morning of 7 December 1967, it was discovered that despite painful wounds in the neck and foot, Chaplain Liteky had personally carried over 20 men to the landing zone for evacuation during the savage fighting. Through his indomitable inspiration and heroic actions, Chaplain Liteky saved the lives of a number of his comrades and enabled the company to repulse the enemy. Chaplain Liteky's actions reflect great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.