Medal of Honor: James A. Gardner – U.S. Army – Vietnam War

Name: James A. Gardner
Rank: First Lieutenant
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
Place: My Canh, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Memphis, Tennessee
Born: 7 February 1943, Dyersburg, Tennessee

Summary of Action

During intense fighting in the village of My Canh, a company of the 1st Battalion was pinned down for hours by a numerically superior enemy occupying a network of expertly concealed, mutually supporting bunker positions. Air strikes and artillery failed to dislodge the defenders.

First Lieutenant James A. Gardner’s platoon was ordered to encircle and destroy the enemy force. Even before the assault began, his platoon came under heavy fire. Undeterred, 1st Lt. Gardner personally led the attack, charging across an open rice paddy through a withering hail of automatic weapons, machine-gun, and mortar fire.

Reaching the first bunker, he destroyed it with a grenade. Without pause, he sprinted to the second bunker and eliminated it in the same manner. Crawling swiftly along a rice-paddy dike, he approached a third bunker. Before he could arm a grenade, the enemy gunner burst out firing. At a distance of only six feet, 1st Lt. Gardner instantly returned fire and killed him.

After reorganizing his platoon, the attack continued but was again halted by a fortified machine-gun bunker. Gathering grenades, 1st Lt. Gardner charged forward, firing his rifle as he advanced. He hurled a grenade into the bunker and vaulted past it as it exploded. Almost immediately, he came under fire from another position. Rolling into a ditch for cover, he moved toward the threat, then leaped up and advanced with a grenade in one hand and his rifle firing from the other.

Gravely wounded just short of the bunker, 1st Lt. Gardner summoned his remaining strength, staggered forward, and destroyed the bunker and its defenders with a final grenade. He fell mortally wounded on the rim of the emplacement. Inspired by his extraordinary courage, his platoon surged forward, resumed the assault, and completely routed the enemy force.

Medal of Honor Citation

GARDNER, JAMES A.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Gardner’s platoon was advancing to relieve a company of the 1st Battalion that had been pinned down for several hours by a numerically superior enemy force in the village of My Canh, Vietnam. The enemy occupied a series of strongly fortified bunker positions which were mutually supporting and expertly concealed. Approaches to the position were well covered by an integrated pattern of fire including automatic weapons, machine guns and mortars. Air strikes and artillery placed on the fortifications had little effect. 1st Lt. Gardner’s platoon was to relieve the friendly company by encircling and destroying the enemy force. Even as it moved to begin the attack, the platoon was under heavy enemy fire. During the attack, the enemy fire intensified. Leading the assault and disregarding his own safety, 1st Lt. Gardner charged through a withering hail of fire across an open rice paddy. On reaching the first bunker he destroyed it with a grenade and without hesitation dashed to the second bunker and eliminated it by tossing a grenade inside. Then, crawling swiftly along the dike of a rice paddy, he reached the third bunker. Before he could arm a grenade, the enemy gunner leaped forth, firing at him. 1st Lt. Gardner instantly returned the fire and killed the enemy gunner at a distance of 6 feet. Following the seizure of the main enemy position, he reorganized the platoon to continue the attack. Advancing to the new assault position, the platoon was pinned down by an enemy machine gun emplaced in a fortified bunker. 1st Lt. Gardner immediately collected several grenades and charged the enemy position, firing his rifle as he advanced to neutralize the defenders. He dropped a grenade into the bunker and vaulted beyond. As the bunker blew up, he came under fire again. Rolling into a ditch to gain cover, he moved toward the new source of fire. Nearing the position, he leaped from the ditch and advanced with a grenade in one hand and firing his rifle with the other. He was gravely wounded just before he reached the bunker, but with a last valiant effort he staggered forward and destroyed the bunker, and its defenders with a grenade. Although he fell dead on the rim of the bunker, his extraordinary actions so inspired the men of his platoon that they resumed the attack and completely routed the enemy. 1st Lt. Gardner’s conspicuous gallantry were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.