Medal of Honor: James Capers Jr. – Vietnam War – March 31 to April 3, 1967

Name: James Capers Jr.

Rank at Time of Action: Second Lieutenant

Highest Rank: Major

Branch: United States Marine Corps

War: Vietnam War

Unit: 3d Force Reconnaissance Company, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division

Date of Action: March 31 – April 3, 1967

Location: Vicinity of Phu Loc, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

By the spring of 1967, the fighting in northern South Vietnam had intensified dramatically. North Vietnamese Army forces were moving men and supplies throughout the rugged terrain south of the Demilitarized Zone while Marine units fought to secure the region.

Second Lieutenant James Capers Jr. was assigned one of the most dangerous missions imaginable.

Leading a nine-man Force Reconnaissance team, he was ordered to infiltrate deep into enemy-controlled territory southwest of Phu Loc. Their mission was to locate a North Vietnamese regimental base camp and provide flank security and observation for Marines conducting operations nearby.

This was reconnaissance in its purest—and deadliest—form.

Unlike conventional infantry units, Force Recon Marines operated in extremely small teams far behind enemy lines. If compromised, there would be no friendly units nearby to provide immediate assistance. Every member of the team understood that survival depended upon discipline, training, and leadership.

For four days, Lieutenant Capers led his Marines through some of the most hostile terrain in Vietnam.

Enemy contact came almost immediately.

On the first day of the patrol, the team encountered approximately twenty North Vietnamese soldiers. The following day, they made contact twice more, suffering casualties when one Marine was severely wounded.

Despite being vastly outnumbered and operating in enemy territory, Lieutenant Capers refused to abandon his mission. His team relentlessly tracked enemy movements and successfully located the North Vietnamese regimental base camp. Recognizing the threat it posed to nearby Marine forces, he called in supporting fire that disrupted an impending enemy attack against Company M, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines.

His team's intelligence and supporting fires may very well have saved countless Marine lives before the battle they never knew was coming could even begin.

Then came the final day of the patrol.

The North Vietnamese had finally located Lieutenant Capers and his team.

Without warning, the Marines were caught in a devastating enemy ambush involving Claymore mines, small arms fire, and indirect fire from a numerically superior force.

The explosion and gunfire tore through the small reconnaissance team.

Lieutenant Capers was grievously wounded, suffering multiple fragmentation and gunshot wounds. The injuries caused severe blood loss and tremendous pain. By any reasonable standard, he should have been incapacitated.

Instead, he continued fighting.

Ignoring his wounds, Lieutenant Capers immediately began directing his Marines and coordinating supporting fires while simultaneously organizing their movement toward an extraction site. Even after being administered morphine for his injuries, he refused to relinquish command.

Throughout the engagement, he maintained complete control of the situation despite repeatedly struggling to remain conscious.

As enemy forces continued their attack, Lieutenant Capers coordinated the evacuation of his wounded Marines and directed supporting fires that prevented the enemy from overrunning the team's position.

Only after every one of his Marines had safely boarded the extraction helicopter did Lieutenant Capers finally allow himself to be evacuated.

By that point, he was barely able to stand.

His body had absorbed devastating wounds. Yet his concern remained focused entirely upon the welfare of his Marines and the successful completion of the mission.

It is often said that officers are responsible for accomplishing the mission and taking care of their people. During four days in the jungles of Vietnam, James Capers Jr. did both while facing overwhelming enemy forces and fighting through wounds that would have incapacitated most men.

For Marines, leadership is measured not by rank or title, but by what a leader does when everything is going wrong. James Capers Jr. demonstrated that leadership is sometimes as simple—and as difficult—as refusing to leave until everyone else is safely home.

Medal of Honor Citation

JAMES CAPERS JR.

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps.

Unit: 3d Force Reconnaissance Company, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division.

Place and date: Vicinity of Phu Loc, Republic of Vietnam, March 31 through April 3, 1967.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Team Leader with 3d Force Reconnaissance Company, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion in the Republic of Vietnam from 31 March to 3 April 1967.

Tasked to locate a North Vietnamese regimental base camp southwest of Phu Loc and provide observation for the flank of Company M, 3d Battalion, 26th Marines, Second Lieutenant Capers maneuvered his nine-man team on a four-day patrol through rugged enemy territory.

The team had contact with 20 enemy soldiers on the first day of patrol, and two additional contacts on the second day, resulting in one severely wounded team member.

Despite being outnumbered by enemy forces, Second Lieutenant Capers relentlessly pursued his vigilant and tenacious adversary and called for fire on an enemy base camp to thwart an impending attack on Company M.

On the last day of the patrol, his team was engaged by a numerically superior enemy force with an initial attack from claymore mines, coupled with direct and indirect fire.

Despite severe pain and blood loss caused by the multiple fragmentation and gunshot wounds he sustained, Second Lieutenant Capers bravely continued to lead his team and maintain the initiative.

Even after being administered morphine, he continued to coordinate supporting fires and his team's movement to a helicopter extraction site.

While struggling to maintain consciousness and still under enemy attack, Second Lieutenant Capers maintained command of the situation to ensure all of his Marines were evacuated before he, barely able to stand, finally boarded the helicopter.

By his bold leadership, undaunted courage, and complete dedication to duty, Second Lieutenant Capers reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

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