Medal of Honor: Delbert O. Jennings – Vietnam War – Republic of Vietnam – December 1966

Name: Delbert O. Jennings
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Place: Kim Son Valley, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: San Francisco, California
Born: Silver City, New Mexico

Summary of Action

On 27 December 1966, Staff Sergeant Delbert O. Jennings distinguished himself during a determined North Vietnamese Army regimental attack against an artillery position defended by Company C in the Kim Son Valley, Republic of Vietnam. The enemy assault, supported by mortars, recoilless rifles, and machine guns, threatened to overwhelm the perimeter.

At the outset of the attack, Staff Sergeant Jennings rushed to a bunker astride the enemy’s main avenue of approach and delivered devastating machine-gun fire, killing numerous enemy soldiers and slowing the advance. When his squad was forced to withdraw under heavy pressure, he covered their movement, then returned forward to destroy an enemy demolition team preparing to destroy a nearby howitzer.

Repeatedly exposing himself to intense fire, Staff Sergeant Jennings fought from position to position—covering withdrawals, killing enemy soldiers at close range, and personally warning friendly troops of enemy infiltration to the rear. During the landing of reinforcements, he deliberately silhouetted himself by throwing white phosphorous grenades to mark the landing zone, ensuring the safe arrival of supporting forces.

After the final assaults were repelled, Staff Sergeant Jennings volunteered to lead a rescue party well beyond friendly lines to recover eight critically wounded soldiers. Braving sniper fire and ignoring booby-trap hazards, he helped carry the wounded to safety. His extraordinary courage, relentless leadership, and selfless devotion to his comrades saved countless lives and were decisive in defeating a superior enemy force.

Medal of Honor Citation

Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Part of Company C was defending an artillery position when attacked by a North Vietnamese Army regiment supported by mortar, recoilless-rifle, and machine gun fire. At the outset, S/Sgt. Jennings sprang to his bunker, astride the main attack route, and slowed the oncoming enemy wave with highly effective machine gun fire.

Despite a tenacious defense in which he killed at least 12 of the enemy, his squad was forced to the rear. After covering the withdrawal of the squad, he rejoined his men, destroyed an enemy demolition crew about to blow up a nearby howitzer, and killed 3 enemy soldiers at his initial bunker position. Ordering his men back into a secondary position, he again covered their withdrawal, killing 1 enemy with the butt of his weapon.

Observing that some of the defenders were unaware of an enemy force in their rear, he raced through a fire-swept area to warn the men, turn their fire on the enemy, and lead them into the secondary perimeter. Assisting in the defense of the new position, he aided the air-landing of reinforcements by throwing white phosphorous grenades on the landing zone despite dangerously silhouetting himself with the light.

After helping to repulse the final enemy assaults, he led a group of volunteers well beyond friendly lines to an area where 8 seriously wounded men lay. Braving enemy sniper fire and ignoring the presence of booby traps in the area, they recovered the 8 men who would have probably perished without early medical treatment. S/Sgt. Jennings’ extraordinary heroism and inspirational leadership saved the lives of many of his comrades and contributed greatly to the defeat of a superior enemy force. His actions reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.