Medal of Honor: Danny J. Petersen – Vietnam War – Republic of Vietnam – January 1970

Name: Danny J. Petersen
Rank: Specialist Fourth Class
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company B, 4th Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
Place: Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Kansas City, Missouri
Born: Horton, Kansas

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Summary of Action

On 9 January 1970, Specialist Fourth Class Danny J. Petersen served as an armored personnel carrier commander with Company B during a combat operation against a North Vietnamese Army force estimated to be of battalion strength in Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam.

During the initial contact, one armored personnel carrier was disabled, and its crew was pinned down by intense enemy small-arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Without hesitation, Sp4c. Petersen maneuvered his own vehicle into a position directly between the disabled carrier and the enemy. From this exposed position, he delivered accurate suppressive fire against the enemy’s fortified emplacements, enabling the trapped crew to repair their vehicle.

Maintaining his aggressive action under heavy fire, Sp4c. Petersen then maneuvered his carrier to within ten feet of the enemy defensive position. During the fierce engagement, his vehicle was struck by a direct hit and his driver was wounded. Demonstrating extraordinary courage and selfless devotion, Sp4c. Petersen lifted his wounded comrade and carried him approximately forty-five meters across open, bullet-swept ground to a secure location.

After placing the wounded soldier out of danger, Sp4c. Petersen voluntarily returned to his disabled vehicle. Alone and completely exposed, he mounted the carrier and provided covering fire for other vehicles and dismounted members of his platoon as they withdrew. Despite receiving heavy enemy fire from three sides, he remained at his post, standing atop the vehicle and firing his weapon until he was mortally wounded.

Through his fearless leadership, selfless sacrifice, and unyielding determination, Specialist Fourth Class Danny J. Petersen prevented further loss of life within his platoon and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army.

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Medal of Honor Citation

Sp4c. Petersen distinguished himself while serving as an armored personnel carrier commander with Company B during a combat operation against a North Vietnamese Army Force estimated to be of battalion size. During the initial contact with the enemy, an armored personnel carrier was disabled and the crewmen were pinned down by the heavy onslaught of enemy small arms, automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

Sp4c. Petersen immediately maneuvered his armored personnel carrier to a position between the disabled vehicle and the enemy. He placed suppressive fire on the enemy’s well-fortified position, thereby enabling the crewmembers of the disabled personnel carrier to repair their vehicle. He then maneuvered his vehicle, while still under heavy hostile fire, to within 10 feet of the enemy’s defensive emplacement.

After a period of intense fighting, his vehicle received a direct hit and the driver was wounded. With extraordinary courage and selfless disregard for his own safety, Sp4c. Petersen carried his wounded comrade 45 meters across the bullet-swept field to a secure area. He then voluntarily returned to his disabled armored personnel carrier to provide covering fire for both the other vehicles and the dismounted personnel of his platoon as they withdrew.

Despite heavy fire from 3 sides, he remained with his disabled vehicle, alone and completely exposed. Sp4c. Petersen was standing on top of his vehicle, firing his weapon, when he was mortally wounded. His heroic and selfless actions prevented further loss of life in his platoon. Sp4c. Petersen’s conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism are in the highest traditions of the service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.