Medal of Honor: Carmel B. Harvey Jr. – Vietnam War, June 21, 1967

Carmel Bernon Harvey Jr.
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Conflict: Vietnam War
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Date of Action: June 21, 1967
Location: Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action:
The enemy came from three sides—fast, violent, and relentless. In the chaos of that sudden ambush, Specialist Four Carmel Harvey didn’t flinch. He stood his ground.

His unit had been ordered to secure a downed helicopter and was forming a defensive perimeter when a large North Vietnamese force struck. Harvey’s position bore the brunt of the initial assault, and both men beside him were quickly hit. Alone, he kept firing, holding the line under withering machine-gun fire. Then, a round struck a grenade on his belt, arming it.

Realizing what was about to happen—and what it would do to the wounded beside him—Harvey acted without hesitation. He rose, shouted a challenge, and charged the enemy machine-gun nest. The grenade exploded just short of the position, killing him instantly—but the blast stunned the enemy and momentarily silenced their gun.

That pause saved lives. His fellow soldiers were able to evacuate the wounded, regroup, and repel the attack. Harvey’s final act was not only self-sacrifice—it was the turning point in the fight.

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

Sp4c. Harvey distinguished himself as a fire team leader with Company B, during combat operations. Ordered to secure a downed helicopter, his platoon established a defensive perimeter around the aircraft, but shortly thereafter a large enemy force attacked the position from three sides.

Sp4c. Harvey and two members of his squad were in a position directly in the path of the enemy onslaught, and their location received the brunt of the fire from an enemy machine gun. In short order, both of his companions were wounded, but Sp4c. Harvey covered this loss by increasing his deliberate rifle fire at the foe.

The enemy machine gun seemed to concentrate on him, and bullets struck the ground all around his position. One round hit and armed a grenade attached to his belt. Quickly, he tried to remove the grenade but was unsuccessful. Realizing the danger to his comrades if he remained, and despite the hail of enemy fire, he jumped to his feet, shouted a challenge at the enemy, and raced toward the deadly machine gun.

He nearly reached the enemy position when the grenade on his belt exploded, mortally wounding Sp4c. Harvey and stunning the enemy machine gun crew. His final act caused a pause in the enemy fire, and the wounded men were moved from the danger area.

Sp4c. Harvey’s dedication to duty, high sense of responsibility, and heroic actions inspired the others in his platoon to decisively beat back the enemy attack. His acts are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.