Medal of Honor: Bruce Alan Grandstaff - Vietnam War - May 18, 1967

Name: Bruce Alan Grandstaff
Rank: Platoon Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry
Date of Action: May 18, 1967
Location: Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 18 May 1967, Platoon Sergeant Bruce Alan Grandstaff displayed extraordinary heroism during a reconnaissance mission near the Cambodian border in Pleiku Province.

His platoon was moving through dense jungle terrain and experiencing scattered enemy contact when it was suddenly ambushed by heavy small-arms and automatic weapons fire from three directions.

The violent attack immediately inflicted casualties and threatened to destroy the platoon.

Grandstaff quickly organized a defensive perimeter under the intense fire.

Seeing several wounded men lying exposed outside the perimeter, he sprinted thirty meters through the storm of bullets to rescue them.

Despite his efforts, he was only able to save one soldier before the enemy fire became too intense.

Realizing his unit could not maneuver under the crushing assault, Grandstaff called artillery strikes dangerously close to his own position — within only forty-five meters.

When helicopter gunships arrived overhead, he crawled outside the defensive perimeter under direct enemy fire to mark the platoon’s location with smoke grenades.

When the smoke failed to penetrate the thick jungle canopy, he crawled to another exposed position and threw his final smoke grenade.

During this effort, enemy fire seriously wounded him in the leg.

Ignoring the wound and refusing medical aid, Grandstaff returned to his radio and continued directing artillery fire even closer to the platoon’s position as the enemy advanced.

Knowing the gunships still needed a better target marker, he once again crawled into the open and fired tracer ammunition through the jungle canopy to guide the aircraft.

The maneuver succeeded, but enemy fire struck him again, wounding his other leg.

Bleeding heavily and in severe pain, Grandstaff still refused to stop fighting.

Spotting an enemy machine-gun position responsible for many American casualties, he crawled to within ten meters of the bunker and destroyed it with hand grenades, suffering additional wounds in the process.

As the battle intensified and enemy troops threatened to overrun the perimeter, Grandstaff rallied his surviving men and continued directing the defense.

Realizing the position might be lost, he requested artillery fire directly onto his own location.

He continued fighting until he was mortally wounded by an enemy rocket.

Though every man in the platoon became a casualty during the battle, surviving soldiers later credited Grandstaff’s courage and leadership with preventing complete annihilation and inflicting devastating losses on the enemy.

Medal of Honor Citation

GRANDSTAFF, BRUCE ALAN

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. P/Sgt. Grandstaff distinguished himself while leading the Weapons Platoon, Company B, on a reconnaissance mission near the Cambodian border. His platoon was advancing through intermittent enemy contact when it was struck by heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire from 3 sides. As he established a defensive perimeter, P/Sgt. Grandstaff noted that several of his men had been struck down. He raced 30 meters through the intense fire to aid them but could only save 1. Denied freedom to maneuver his unit by the intensity of the enemy onslaught, he adjusted artillery to within 45 meters of his position. When helicopter gunships arrived, he crawled outside the defensive position to mark the location with smoke grenades. Realizing his first marker was probably ineffective, he crawled to another location and threw his last smoke grenade but the smoke did not penetrate the jungle foliage. Seriously wounded in the leg during this effort he returned to his radio and, refusing medical aid, adjusted the artillery even closer as the enemy advanced on his position. Recognizing the need for additional firepower, he again braved the enemy fusillade, crawled to the edge of his position and fired several magazines of tracer ammunition through the jungle canopy. He succeeded in designating the location to the gunships but this action again drew the enemy fire and he was wounded in the other leg. Now enduring intense pain and bleeding profusely, he crawled to within 10 meters of an enemy machine gun which had caused many casualties among his men. He destroyed the position with hand grenades but received additional wounds. Rallying his remaining men to withstand the enemy assaults, he realized his position was being overrun and asked for artillery directly on his location. He fought until mortally wounded by an enemy rocket. Although every man in the platoon was a casualty, survivors attest to the indomitable spirit and exceptional courage of this outstanding combat leader who inspired his men to fight courageously against overwhelming odds and cost the enemy heavy casualties. P/Sgt. Grandstaff’s selfless gallantry, above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.