Medal of Honor: Carlos J. Lozada – Vietnam War – November 20, 1967

Name: Carlos James Lozada
Rank: Private First Class
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company A, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Place and Date: Dak To, Republic of Vietnam – 20 November 1967
Entered Service At: New York, New York
Born: September 6, 1946 – Caguas, Puerto Rico
Departed: November 20, 1967 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: New York

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Summary of Action

On November 20, 1967, during the brutal Battle of Dak To, PFC Carlos J. Lozada served as a machine gunner on a four-man early-warning outpost positioned just 35 meters ahead of Company A’s lines. At 1400 hours, a North Vietnamese Army company suddenly advanced along a narrow jungle trail, moving directly toward his position.

Lozada fired immediately, cutting into the enemy at point-blank range. His accurate bursts killed at least twenty NVA soldiers and shattered the initial assault. Even as enemy troops closed to within meters of his position, he refused to fall back.

As the outpost began to be enveloped and Company A came under heavy attack on its western flank, the order to withdraw was issued. Lozada understood instantly — if he left his position, nothing would slow the enemy’s momentum, and the company’s retreat would collapse.

Ignoring his comrades’ desperate calls to move, Lozada insisted they withdraw first. He stayed behind, fully exposed, delivering a relentless stream of fire to hold back the NVA advance. Surrounded on three sides, outnumbered and alone, he fought until he was mortally wounded and had to be carried during the final withdrawal.

His final stand bought the precious minutes needed for Company A to escape encirclement and survive the four-day battle that followed. His courage became a rallying point for every trooper who lived because of him.

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Medal of Honor Citation

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade.

Place and date: Dak To, Republic of Vietnam, 20 November 1967.

Entered service at: New York, N.Y.

Born: 6 September 1946, Caguas, Puerto Rico.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Lozada, U.S. Army, distinguished himself at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in the battle of Dak To. While serving as a machine gunner with 1st platoon, Company A, Pfc. Lozada was part of a 4-man early warning outpost, located 35 meters from his company’s lines. At 1400 hours a North Vietnamese Army company rapidly approached the outpost along a well defined trail. Pfc. Lozada alerted his comrades and commenced firing at the enemy who were within 10 meters of the outpost. His heavy and accurate machine gun fire killed at least 20 North Vietnamese soldiers and completely disrupted their initial attack. Pfc. Lozada remained in an exposed position and continued to pour deadly fire upon the enemy despite the urgent pleas of his comrades to withdraw. The enemy continued their assault, attempting to envelop the outpost. At the same time enemy forces launched a heavy attack on the forward west flank of Company A with the intent to cut them off from their battalion. Company A was given the order to withdraw. Pfc. Lozada apparently realized that if he abandoned his position there would be nothing to hold back the surging North Vietnamese soldiers and that the entire company withdrawal would be jeopardized. He called for his comrades to move back and that he would stay and provide cover for them. He made this decision realizing that the enemy was converging on 3 sides of his position and only meters away, and a delay in withdrawal meant almost certain death. Pfc. Lozada continued to deliver a heavy, accurate volume of suppressive fire against the enemy until he was mortally wounded and had to be carried during the withdrawal. His heroic deed served as an example and an inspiration to his comrades throughout the ensuing 4-day battle. Pfc. Lozada’s actions are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.