Medal of Honor: Gary Michael Rose – Vietnam War – September 11–14, 1970

Name: Gary Michael Rose
Rank: Sergeant (Highest Rank: Captain)
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Command and Control Central, Special Operations Augmentation, Command & Control Center, 5th Special Forces Group (1st Special Forces)
Date of Action: September 11–14, 1970
Location: Laos

Summary of Action

Between September 11 and September 14, 1970, Sergeant Gary Michael Rose was serving as a Special Forces medic attached to a company-sized reconnaissance and exploitation force operating deep inside enemy-controlled Laos during one of the secret cross-border operations conducted by Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG).

Almost immediately after insertion, Rose's force came under attack by a numerically superior and heavily armed enemy force. Mortar rounds, B-40 rockets, machine-gun fire, and small-arms fire poured into the company's position, inflicting heavy casualties.

Without hesitation, Rose sprinted through enemy fire to reach wounded soldiers. Using his own body as a shield, he protected casualties while administering lifesaving treatment before carrying them to safety.

Throughout the engagement, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire while moving from casualty to casualty.

During the fighting, a B-40 rocket exploded only a few feet away, throwing him to the ground and severely wounding his head, hand, and foot. Ignoring his injuries, he immediately returned to treating the wounded.

When a medical evacuation helicopter was unable to land because of the terrain and enemy fire, Rose exposed himself yet again while attempting to hoist wounded personnel into the hovering aircraft. The helicopter ultimately aborted the mission and later crashed after sustaining heavy enemy fire.

For the next two days, Sergeant Rose continued to treat the wounded despite the fact that nearly half of his company's personnel had become casualties.

By September 14, enemy forces launched a full-scale assault against the company's position as helicopters arrived for extraction.

After loading wounded soldiers onto the first wave of helicopters, Rose voluntarily returned to the outer perimeter of the defensive line under enemy fire. He carried wounded soldiers to more secure positions, continued administering medical treatment, and helped repel enemy attacks while waiting for the remaining extraction aircraft.

As the final helicopter lifted off, enemy forces began overrunning the company's position. During takeoff, the Marine Corps door gunner aboard Rose's helicopter was shot through the neck.

Without hesitation, Rose immediately treated the Marine's life-threatening wound, saving his life.

Moments later, disaster struck again.

The helicopter carrying Rose crashed several hundred meters from the extraction point, further injuring everyone aboard.

Despite four days of combat, multiple wounds, and surviving a helicopter crash, Sergeant Rose immediately began pulling unconscious and wounded personnel from the burning wreckage. He continued administering medical aid until another rescue helicopter finally arrived.

For four consecutive days, Gary Michael Rose repeatedly placed the lives of his fellow soldiers above his own. His extraordinary courage, endurance, and devotion to duty saved countless lives during one of the Vietnam War's most dangerous Special Forces missions.

Medal of Honor Citation

GARY MICHAEL ROSE

Rank and organization: Sergeant (Highest Rank: Captain), United States Army.

Unit: Command and Control Central, Special Operations Augmentation, Command & Control Center, 5th Special Forces Group (1st Special Forces).

Place and date: Laos, September 11–14, 1970.

Citation:

Sergeant Gary Michael Rose distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Special Forces Medic with a company-sized exploitation force, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces.

Between 11 and 14 September 1970, Sergeant Rose's company was continuously engaged by a well-armed and numerically superior hostile force deep in enemy-controlled territory.

Enemy B-40 rockets and mortar rounds rained down while the adversary sprayed the area with small arms and machine-gun fire, wounding many and forcing everyone to seek cover.

Sergeant Rose, braving the hail of bullets, sprinted fifty meters to a wounded soldier's side. He then used his own body to protect the casualty from further injury while treating his wounds. After stabilizing the casualty, Sergeant Rose carried him through the bullet-ridden combat zone to protective cover.

As the enemy accelerated the attack, Sergeant Rose continuously exposed himself to intense fire as he fearlessly moved from casualty to casualty, administering life-saving aid.

A B-40 rocket impacted just meters from Sergeant Rose, knocking him from his feet and injuring his head, hand, and foot. Ignoring his wounds, Sergeant Rose struggled to his feet and continued to render aid to the other injured soldiers.

During an attempted medevac, Sergeant Rose again exposed himself to enemy fire as he attempted to hoist wounded personnel up to the hovering helicopter, which was unable to land due to unsuitable terrain. The medevac mission was aborted due to intense enemy fire, and the helicopter crashed a few miles away because of damage sustained during the attempted extraction.

Over the next two days, Sergeant Rose continued to expose himself to enemy fire in order to treat the wounded, estimated to be half of the company's personnel.

On September 14, during the company's eventual helicopter extraction, the enemy launched a full-scale offensive. Sergeant Rose, after loading wounded personnel onto the first set of extraction helicopters, returned to the outer perimeter under enemy fire, carrying friendly casualties and moving wounded personnel to more secure positions until they could be evacuated.

He then returned to the perimeter to help repel the enemy until the final extraction helicopter arrived.

As the final helicopter was loaded, the enemy began to overrun the company's position, and the helicopter's Marine door gunner was shot in the neck. Sergeant Rose instantly administered critical medical treatment onboard the helicopter, saving the Marine's life.

The helicopter carrying Sergeant Rose crashed several hundred meters from the evacuation point, further injuring Sergeant Rose and the personnel onboard.

Despite his numerous wounds from the past three days, Sergeant Rose continued to pull and carry unconscious and wounded personnel out of the burning wreckage and continued to administer aid to the wounded until another extraction helicopter arrived.

Sergeant Rose's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty were critical to saving numerous lives over that four-day period. His actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Special Forces, and the United States Army.