Medal of Honor: David H. McNerney – U.S. Army – Vietnam War

Name: David H. McNerney
Rank: First Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
Place: Polei Doc, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Fort Bliss, Texas
Born: 2 June 1931, Lowell, Massachusetts

Summary of Action

On 22 March 1967, Company A was attacked near Polei Doc by a North Vietnamese battalion.

As enemy fire crashed into the American position, 1st Sgt. David H. McNerney ran through the barrage to the point of heaviest fighting, helping organize a defensive perimeter under direct assault.

There he encountered several enemy soldiers at close range and killed them, but was thrown violently to the ground and painfully wounded by a grenade blast.

Ignoring his injuries, McNerney then charged an enemy machine gun position that had pinned down five American soldiers outside the perimeter.

He destroyed the position and freed his trapped comrades.

When both the company commander and artillery forward observer were killed, McNerney immediately assumed command.

With the perimeter in danger of collapse, he called artillery fire to within twenty meters of friendly lines—a desperate but effective measure that shattered repeated enemy assaults.

When smoke grenades used to mark the position were exhausted, he moved into an open clearing under fire so friendly aircraft could identify the company’s location.

Still exposed, he climbed a tree and tied an identification panel to its highest branches.

He then moved from foxhole to foxhole, repositioning soldiers, encouraging the defenders, and checking the wounded.

As the enemy attacks weakened, he began clearing a landing zone so helicopters could evacuate casualties.

Needing explosives to remove large trees, he crawled beyond the perimeter through hostile fire to recover demolition charges from abandoned rucksacks, then returned with the supplies needed to finish the task.

Though wounded and repeatedly urged to leave, he refused evacuation and remained with his men until relief arrived the following day.

Medal of Honor Citation

McNERNEY, DAVID H.

1st Sgt. McNerney distinguished himself when his unit was attacked by a North Vietnamese battalion near Polei Doc. Running through the hail of enemy fire to the area of heaviest contact, he was assisting in the development of a defensive perimeter when he encountered several enemy at close range. He killed the enemy but was painfully injured when blown from his feet by a grenade. In spite of this injury, he assaulted and destroyed an enemy machinegun position that had pinned down 5 of his comrades beyond the defensive line. Upon learning his commander and artillery forward observer had been killed, he assumed command of the company. He adjusted artillery fire to within 20 meters of the position in a daring measure to repulse enemy assaults. When the smoke grenades used to mark the position were gone, he moved into a nearby clearing to designate the location to friendly aircraft. In spite of enemy fire he remained exposed until he was certain the position was spotted and then climbed into a tree and tied the identification panel to its highest branches. Then he moved among his men readjusting their position, encouraging the defenders and checking the wounded. As the hostile assaults slackened, he began clearing a helicopter landing site to evacuate the wounded. When explosives were needed to remove large trees, he crawled outside the relative safety of his perimeter to collect demolition material from abandoned rucksacks. Moving through a fusillade of fire he returned with the explosives that were vital to the clearing of the landing zone. Disregarding the pain of his injury and refusing medical evacuation 1st Sgt. McNerney remained with his unit until the next day when the new commander arrived. First Sgt. McNerney’s outstanding heroism and leadership were inspirational to his comrades. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.