Medal of Honor: Finnis D. McCleery – Vietnam War – May 14, 1968

Name: Finnis D. McCleery
Rank: Platoon Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry
Date of Action: May 14, 1968
Location: Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 14 May 1968, Platoon Sergeant Finnis D. McCleery displayed extraordinary heroism during a fierce battle against entrenched North Vietnamese Army forces on Hill 352, west of Tam Ky.

American troops advancing uphill across exposed ground suddenly came under overwhelming fire from heavily fortified enemy bunkers.

Machine guns, rockets, grenades, and automatic weapons pinned the assault force down and threatened to destroy the attack before it could reach the enemy positions.

Recognizing the danger, McCleery made a decision that changed the battle.

Rising from cover, he launched a one-man assault directly into the enemy defenses.

Charging across roughly 60 meters of open ground swept by bullets and exploding rockets, he pressed toward the key bunker anchoring the enemy line.

As he closed within grenade range, McCleery began firing from the hip and hurling grenades into the enemy positions.

Shrapnel wounded him during the assault.

Ignoring the injury, he continued forward and attacked the key bunker, killing its occupants and breaking through the enemy perimeter alone.

Standing atop the captured bunker in full view of the enemy, McCleery shouted encouragement to his men, urging them forward into the attack.

Inspired by his courage, the American troops renewed the assault.

McCleery then moved laterally across the enemy bunker line, continuing to expose himself to intense hostile fire while destroying bunker after bunker.

Wounded a second time by shrapnel, he nevertheless continued the attack until the enemy positions were overrun and Hill 352 was secured.

His fearless leadership and relentless assault were directly responsible for breaking the enemy defenses and inspiring the successful capture of the hill.

Medal of Honor Citation

McCLEERY, FINNIS D.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. P/Sgt. McCleery, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as platoon leader of the 1st platoon of Company A. A combined force was assigned the mission of assaulting a reinforced company of North Vietnamese Army regulars, well entrenched on Hill 352, 17 miles west of Tam Ky. As P/Sgt. McCleery led his men up the hill and across an open area to close with the enemy, his platoon and other friendly elements were pinned down by tremendously heavy fire coming from the fortified enemy positions. Realizing the severe damage that the enemy could inflict on the combined force in the event that their attack was completely halted, P/Sgt. McCleery rose from his sheltered position and began a 1-man assault on the bunker complex. With extraordinary courage, he moved across 60 meters of open ground as bullets struck all around him and rockets and grenades literally exploded at his feet. As he came within 30 meters of the key enemy bunker, P/Sgt. McCleery began firing furiously from the hip and throwing hand grenades. At this point in his assault, he was painfully wounded by shrapnel, but, with complete disregard for his wound, he continued his advance on the key bunker and killed all of its occupants. Having successfully and single-handedly breached the enemy perimeter, he climbed to the top of the bunker he had just captured and, in full view of the enemy, shouted encouragement to his men to follow his assault. As the friendly forces moved forward, P/Sgt. McCleery began a lateral assault on the enemy bunker line. He continued to expose himself to the intense enemy fire as he moved from bunker to bunker, destroying each in turn. He was wounded a second time by shrapnel as he destroyed and routed the enemy from the hill. P/Sgt. McCleery is personally credited with eliminating several key enemy positions and inspiring the assault that resulted in gaining control of Hill 352. His extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, was in keeping with the highest standards of the military service, and reflects great credit on him, the Americal Division, and the U.S. Army.