Medal of Honor: Daniel John Shea – Vietnam War – May 14, 1969

Name: Daniel John Shea
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division
Date of Action: May 14, 1969
Location: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 14 May 1969, Private First Class Daniel John Shea displayed extraordinary heroism while serving as a medical aidman attached to Company C during combat operations in Quang Tri Province.

As the lead platoon crossed an exposed rice paddy, a large enemy force suddenly opened fire from concealed ambush positions.

Mortars, grenades, and automatic weapons tore into the platoon from three sides.

Under the devastating crossfire, the American soldiers withdrew to a small island in the middle of the paddy and established a defensive perimeter.

Many wounded men, however, remained trapped in the open.

Seeing his comrades lying helpless under enemy fire, Shea immediately left the relative safety of the perimeter and ran into the bullet-swept rice paddy.

Ignoring the intense enemy fire, he reached the wounded soldiers and began carrying them back to safety.

Again and again he crossed the open ground.

Four separate times, Shea braved the deadly fire to rescue wounded men and bring them into the defensive position.

Then he saw a fifth wounded soldier lying directly in front of one of the enemy strongpoints.

Without hesitation, Shea charged forward once more.

As he reached the wounded man, enemy fire struck and grievously wounded him.

Despite his own terrible injuries, Shea immediately began treating the wounded soldier and attempted to drag him back toward the platoon perimeter.

Only a short distance from safety, Shea was mortally wounded by another burst of enemy fire.

Through his repeated acts of courage and self-sacrifice, he saved the lives of several fellow soldiers and reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

SHEA, DANIEL JOHN

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Shea, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman with Company C, 3d Battalion, during a combat patrol mission. As the lead platoon of the company was crossing a rice paddy, a large enemy force in ambush positions opened fire with mortars, grenades and automatic weapons. Under heavy crossfire from 3 sides, the platoon withdrew to a small island in the paddy to establish a defensive perimeter. Pfc. Shea, seeing that a number of his comrades had fallen in the initial hail of fire, dashed from the defensive position to assist the wounded. With complete disregard for his safety and braving the intense hostile fire sweeping the open rice paddy, Pfc. Shea made 4 trips to tend wounded soldiers and to carry them to the safety of the platoon position. Seeing a fifth wounded comrade directly in front of one of the enemy strong points, Pfc. Shea ran to his assistance. As he reached the wounded man, Pfc. Shea was grievously wounded. Disregarding his welfare, Pfc. Shea tended his wounded comrade and began to move him back to the safety of the defensive perimeter. As he neared the platoon position, Pfc. Shea was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy fire. By his heroic actions Pfc. Shea saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers. Pfc. Shea’s gallantry in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.