Medal of Honor: Dale Eugene Wayrynen – Vietnam War – May 18, 1967

Name: Dale Eugene Wayrynen
Rank: Specialist Fourth Class
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company B, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
Date of Action: May 18, 1967
Location: Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 18 May 1967, Specialist Fourth Class Dale Eugene Wayrynen displayed extraordinary heroism during combat operations near Duc Pho in Quang Ngai Province.

Wayrynen’s platoon was conducting a nighttime evacuation of wounded soldiers from an earlier engagement when the column suddenly encountered enemy forces at extremely close range.

The lead American soldier came face to face with a Viet Cong fighter on the narrow trail.

The startled warning shouted by the point man alerted both sides at once.

Within seconds, automatic weapons fire erupted from a heavily fortified enemy bunker near the trail while hand grenades were hurled from another concealed position nearby.

The point man was immediately wounded and knocked to the ground.

Wayrynen, moving directly behind him in the formation, instantly reacted.

Leaping past his fallen comrade under the intense enemy fire, he killed another enemy soldier who appeared on the trail and dragged the wounded American back toward cover where the point squad had taken shelter.

As the men regrouped in the darkness, disaster struck again.

An enemy grenade landed directly in the middle of the tightly packed soldiers.

Realizing there was no time to escape and understanding the grenade would kill or wound many of the men around him — including the nearby platoon leader — Wayrynen shouted a warning.

Without hesitation, he shoved one soldier clear of the blast and threw himself onto the grenade just as it exploded.

He absorbed the full force of the detonation and was mortally wounded.

Through his sacrifice, the lives of his fellow soldiers were spared.

Medal of Honor Citation

WAYRYNEN, DALE EUGENE

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Wayrynen distinguished himself with Company B, during combat operations near Duc Pho. His platoon was assisting in the night evacuation of the wounded from an earlier enemy contact when the lead man of the unit met face to face with a Viet Cong soldier. The American’s shouted warning also alerted the enemy who immediately swept the area with automatic weapons fire from a strongly built bunker close to the trail and threw hand grenades from another nearby fortified position. Almost immediately, the lead man was wounded and knocked from his feet. Sp4c. Wayrynen, the second man in the formation, leaped beyond his fallen comrade to kill another enemy soldier who appeared on the trail, and he dragged his injured companion back to where the point squad had taken cover. Suddenly, a live enemy grenade landed in the center of the tightly grouped men. Sp4c. Wayrynen, quickly assessing the danger to the entire squad as well as to his platoon leader who was nearby, shouted a warning, pushed one soldier out of the way, and threw himself on the grenade at the moment it exploded. He was mortally wounded. His deep and abiding concern for his fellow soldiers was significantly reflected in his supreme and courageous act that preserved the lives of his comrades. Sp4c. Wayrynen’s heroic actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the service, and they reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.