Medal of Honor: James H. Monroe – U.S. Army – Vietnam War

Name: James H. Monroe
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
Place: Bong Son, Hoai Nhon Province, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Chicago, Illinois
Born: 17 October 1944, Aurora, Illinois

Summary of Action

On the night of 16 February 1967, Private First Class James H. Monroe was serving with his platoon during a night ambush operation near Bong Son in Hoai Nhon Province. Without warning, the position was struck by an intense and accurate grenade attack. One foxhole was hit immediately.

Hearing desperate calls for help from wounded comrades, Pfc. Monroe crawled forward through heavy small-arms fire to reach the stricken position. Upon arrival, he found that the men in the foxhole had already been killed. Without pausing, he turned back through the deadly hail of fire toward other cries for aid.

Reaching the platoon sergeant’s position, he found the radio operator severely wounded, bleeding heavily from fragmentation and bullet wounds. Ignoring the continuing enemy assault, Pfc. Monroe began administering aid.

At that moment, a live grenade landed directly in front of the position.

Instantly recognizing the mortal danger to those around him, Pfc. Monroe shouted a warning, pushed the wounded radio operator and the platoon sergeant aside, and lunged forward, smothering the grenade’s blast with his own body.

Through this single act of supreme self-sacrifice, he saved the lives of two fellow soldiers and likely prevented additional casualties. His valor, courage, and complete disregard for his own safety embodied the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

MONROE, JAMES H.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. His platoon was deployed in a night ambush when the position was suddenly subjected to an intense and accurate grenade attack, and 1 foxhole was hit immediately. Responding without hesitation to the calls for help from the wounded men, Pfc. Monroe moved forward through heavy small-arms fire to the foxhole but found that all of the men had expired. He turned immediately and crawled back through the deadly hail of fire toward other calls for aid. He moved to the platoon sergeant’s position where he found the radio operator bleeding profusely from fragmentation and bullet wounds. Ignoring the continuing enemy attack, Pfc. Monroe began treating the wounded man when he saw a live grenade fall directly in front of the position. He shouted a warning to all those nearby, pushed the wounded radio operator and the platoon sergeant to one side, and lunged forward to smother the grenade’s blast with his body. Through his valorous actions, performed in a flash of inspired selflessness, Pfc. Monroe saved the lives of 2 of his comrades and prevented the probable injury of several others. His gallantry and intrepidity were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.