Medal of Honor: Donald Russell Long – Vietnam War – June 30, 1966
In Vietnam, American cavalrymen were ambushed by a hidden enemy regiment along a jungle road. One sergeant repeatedly left his armored vehicle to rescue the wounded, resupply his men, and fight until he gave his life.
June 30, 2026
Name: Donald Russell Long
Rank: Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Troop C, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Action: June 30, 1966
Location: Republic of Vietnam
Summary of Action
On 30 June 1966, Troops B and C of the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment were conducting a reconnaissance mission along a road in Vietnam when they were suddenly attacked by a Viet Cong regiment.
The enemy had established concealed positions astride the road and opened fire with mortars, recoilless rifles, machine guns, and small arms.
Sergeant Donald R. Long immediately abandoned the relative safety of his armored personnel carrier and moved through the intense enemy fire to rescue wounded soldiers.
Repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire, he carried casualties to evacuation helicopters and helped ensure their survival.
As the platoon fought to reach forward elements, Long again exposed himself to point-blank enemy fire while delivering ammunition and supplies to the men engaged in the heaviest fighting.
During the assault against enemy positions, he stood fully exposed on his armored vehicle, firing his rifle and throwing grenades to repel Viet Cong soldiers attempting to climb aboard.
When a nearby armored personnel carrier became disabled and enemy forces threatened to overrun it, Long once more left cover and assisted the severely wounded crew members to safety.
As he reorganized the surviving soldiers and distributed weapons to the less seriously wounded so they could continue the fight, an enemy grenade landed on the deck of the carrier.
Immediately recognizing the danger, Long shouted a warning to the crew.
He pushed one soldier to safety who had not heard the warning amid the noise of battle.
Realizing that the explosion would still kill or wound the remaining men, Long deliberately threw himself onto the grenade.
Absorbing the full force of the explosion with his own body, he sacrificed his life and saved eight of his comrades.
Sergeant Donald Russell Long's courage, devotion to his fellow soldiers, and selfless sacrifice reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.
Medal of Honor Citation
LONG, DONALD RUSSELL
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Troop C, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.
Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 30 June 1966.
Entered service at: Ashland, Kentucky.
Born: 27 August 1939, Blackfork, Ohio.
G.O. No.: 13, 4 April 1968.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Troops B and C, while conducting a reconnaissance mission along a road, were suddenly attacked by a Viet Cong regiment supported by mortars, recoilless rifles, and machine guns from concealed positions astride the road.
Sergeant Long abandoned the relative safety of his armored personnel carrier and braved a withering hail of enemy fire to carry wounded men to evacuation helicopters.
As the platoon fought its way forward to resupply advanced elements, Sergeant Long repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire at point-blank range to provide the needed supplies.
While assaulting the Viet Cong position, Sergeant Long inspired his comrades by fearlessly standing unprotected to repel the enemy with rifle fire and grenades as they attempted to mount his carrier.
When the enemy threatened to overrun a disabled carrier nearby, Sergeant Long again disregarded his own safety to help the severely wounded crew to safety.
As he was handing arms to the less seriously wounded and reorganizing them to press the attack, an enemy grenade was hurled onto the carrier deck.
Immediately recognizing the imminent danger, he instinctively shouted a warning to the crew and pushed to safety one man who had not heard his warning over the roar of battle.
Realizing that these actions would not fully protect the exposed crewmen from the deadly explosion, he threw himself over the grenade to absorb the blast and thereby saved the lives of eight of his comrades at the expense of his own life.
Throughout the battle, Sergeant Long's extraordinary heroism, courage, and supreme devotion to his men were in the finest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
