Medal of Honor: David Charles Dolby – Vietnam War – May 21, 1966

Name: David Charles Dolby
Rank: Sergeant (then Specialist Fourth Class)
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Date of Action: May 21, 1966
Location: Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 21 May 1966, Sergeant David Charles Dolby displayed extraordinary heroism during a violent engagement against entrenched enemy forces in Vietnam.

As his platoon advanced tactically through jungle terrain, it suddenly came under devastating fire from enemy positions located along a ridge directly to the front.

The opening bursts killed six American soldiers instantly and wounded several others, including the platoon leader.

The platoon was pinned down in a deadly crossfire and in danger of being destroyed.

Ignoring the intense enemy fire sweeping the area, Dolby immediately moved through the kill zone to aid the wounded and reorganize the surviving soldiers.

Recognizing the desperate situation, he deployed the remaining men to engage the enemy while attempting to stabilize the collapsing line.

When his mortally wounded platoon leader ordered a withdrawal, Dolby exposed himself again and again to enemy fire to organize covering positions and help evacuate wounded men.

Refusing to retreat himself, he remained forward alone and attacked enemy positions until all of his ammunition was exhausted.

After resupplying, Dolby returned directly into the fiercest fighting.

Single-handedly assaulting the enemy line, he killed three enemy machine gunners and silenced positions that had halted the American advance.

His actions allowed friendly forces maneuvering on the flank to continue the assault against the enemy stronghold.

At one point, Dolby braved direct enemy fire to personally carry a severely wounded soldier to safety.

Still refusing to leave the battlefield, he crawled through intense sniper and automatic weapons fire to within fifty meters of enemy bunkers and threw smoke grenades to mark targets for air strikes.

Remaining fully exposed to enemy fire, he also directed artillery onto hostile positions and helped silence additional enemy weapons.

For four continuous hours of combat, Dolby repeatedly risked his life in exposed positions while ensuring his fellow soldiers could withdraw, reorganize, and survive the battle.

His courage and leadership saved numerous lives and played a critical role in the successful assault on the enemy defenses.

Medal of Honor Citation

DOLBY, DAVID CHARLES

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, when his platoon, while advancing tactically, suddenly came under intense fire from the enemy located on a ridge immediately to the front. Six members of the platoon were killed instantly and a number were wounded, including the platoon leader. Sgt. Dolby’s every move brought fire from the enemy. However, aware that the platoon leader was critically wounded, and that the platoon was in a precarious situation, Sgt. Dolby moved the wounded men to safety and deployed the remainder of the platoon to engage the enemy. Subsequently, his dying platoon leader ordered Sgt. Dolby to withdraw the forward elements to rejoin the platoon. Despite the continuing intense enemy fire and with utter disregard for his own safety, Sgt. Dolby positioned able-bodied men to cover the withdrawal of the forward elements, assisted the wounded to the new position, and he, alone, attacked enemy positions until his ammunition was expended. Replenishing his ammunition, he returned to the area of most intense action, single-handedly killed 3 enemy machine gunners and neutralized the enemy fire, thus enabling friendly elements on the flank to advance on the enemy redoubt. He defied the enemy fire to personally carry a seriously wounded soldier to safety where he could be treated and, returning to the forward area, he crawled through withering fire to within 50 meters of the enemy bunkers and threw smoke grenades to mark them for air strikes. Although repeatedly under fire at close range from enemy snipers and automatic weapons, Sgt. Dolby directed artillery fire on the enemy and succeeded in silencing several enemy weapons. He remained in his exposed location until his comrades had displaced to more secure positions. His actions of unsurpassed valor during 4 hours of intense combat were a source of inspiration to his entire company, contributed significantly to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. Sgt. Dolby’s heroism was in the highest tradition of the U.S. Army.