Medal of Honor: James E. Livingston – Vietnam War – May 2, 1968

Name: James E. Livingston
Rank: Captain
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company E, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade
Date of Action: May 2, 1968
Location: Dai Do, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 2 May 1968, Captain James E. Livingston distinguished himself during the brutal fighting at Dai Do.

Enemy forces had seized the fortified village the night before, isolating a Marine company and threatening to overrun the area.

Captain Livingston led Company E in a determined assault to break through.

To reach the objective, his Marines had to cross nearly 500 meters of open rice paddy—ground completely exposed to enemy fire.

Using smoke to conceal their movement, Livingston personally led the advance through intense machine gun, mortar, and small-arms fire.

Rounds impacted all around him as he pushed his men forward.

Reaching the village, the fight turned savage.

Enemy bunkers were deeply entrenched and mutually supporting, forming a deadly network of resistance.

Livingston moved wherever the fire was heaviest—directing supporting arms, repositioning his Marines, and shouting encouragement as the attack threatened to stall.

He was hit.

Then hit again.

Both times, he refused treatment.

Instead, he pressed forward—driving the assault and leading the destruction of more than 100 enemy bunkers.

The enemy line broke.

The isolated Marine company was relieved.

But the battle was not over.

As positions were consolidated, another Marine unit pushed forward into the nearby village of Dinh To—only to be met by a massive enemy counterattack.

Seeing the danger, Livingston did not hesitate.

Disregarding the intense fire, he gathered what remained of his combat-effective Marines and moved forward again into the fight.

He linked up with the engaged unit and helped halt the enemy battalion’s assault.

During this phase, he was wounded a third time—so severely that he could no longer walk.

Still, he refused evacuation.

From an exposed position, he continued directing his Marines, repositioning defenses, and overseeing the evacuation of the wounded.

Only when he was certain his men were safe did he finally allow himself to be evacuated.

His relentless leadership, refusal to yield, and absolute devotion to his Marines reflected the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps.

Medal of Honor Citation

LIVINGSTON, JAMES E.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commanding Officer, Company E, in action against enemy forces. Company E launched a determined assault on the heavily fortified village of Dai Do, which had been seized by the enemy on the preceding evening isolating a marine company from the remainder of the battalion. Skillfully employing screening agents, Capt. Livingston maneuvered his men to assault positions across 500 meters of dangerous open rice paddy while under intense enemy fire. Ignoring hostile rounds impacting near him, he fearlessly led his men in a savage assault against enemy emplacements within the village. While adjusting supporting arms fire, Capt. Livingston moved to the points of heaviest resistance, shouting words of encouragement to his marines, directing their fire, and spurring the dwindling momentum of the attack on repeated occasions. Although twice painfully wounded by grenade fragments, he refused medical treatment and courageously led his men in the destruction of over 100 mutually supporting bunkers, driving the remaining enemy from their positions, and relieving the pressure on the stranded marine company. As the 2 companies consolidated positions and evacuated casualties, a third company passed through the friendly lines launching an assault on the adjacent village of Dinh To, only to be halted by a furious counterattack of an enemy battalion. Swiftly assessing the situation and disregarding the heavy volume of enemy fire, Capt. Livingston boldly maneuvered the remaining effective men of his company forward, joined forces with the heavily engaged marines, and halted the enemy’s counterattack. Wounded a third time and unable to walk, he steadfastly remained in the dangerously exposed area, deploying his men to more tenable positions and supervising the evacuation of casualties. Only when assured of the safety of his men did he allow himself to be evacuated. Capt. Livingston’s gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.