Medal of Honor: James Leroy Bondsteel - Vietnam War - May 24, 1969

Name: James Leroy Bondsteel
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company A, 2d Battalion, 2d Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Date of Action: May 24, 1969
Location: An Loc Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 24 May 1969, Staff Sergeant James Leroy Bondsteel displayed extraordinary heroism during combat operations near the village of Lang Sau in An Loc Province, Vietnam.

Company A had been ordered to assist a friendly unit trapped under intense fire from a North Vietnamese battalion occupying a heavily fortified base camp.

As the battle erupted, Bondsteel rapidly organized his platoon into assault teams and personally led the attack into the enemy defenses.

Charging directly into hostile fire, he destroyed four enemy bunkers that were pinning down the advancing Americans.

During the fierce fighting, an adjoining platoon began to falter under the relentless enemy assault.

Without hesitation, Bondsteel sprinted nearly two hundred meters through heavy fire to reach the struggling unit.

He rallied the shaken soldiers, assisted the wounded, and restored the platoon’s fighting capability before returning to his own men carrying desperately needed ammunition and supplies.

Immediately rejoining the attack, Bondsteel moved once again to the front lines and destroyed four additional enemy bunkers along with a machine-gun position threatening the American advance.

During the assault, an enemy grenade exploded nearby and painfully wounded him.

Ignoring his injuries and refusing medical treatment, Bondsteel pressed the attack forward and neutralized two more enemy bunkers.

While searching one of the captured positions, he narrowly escaped death when an enemy soldier detonated a grenade at close range.

Still refusing evacuation, Bondsteel continued fighting.

Moments later, he rushed to rescue a severely wounded American officer and struck down an enemy soldier attempting to kill the wounded man.

For four continuous hours, Bondsteel moved through the battlefield under intense fire, rallying soldiers, evacuating wounded men, and personally leading assaults against entrenched enemy positions.

By the end of the battle, he had personally destroyed ten enemy bunkers and killed numerous enemy soldiers, including two key North Vietnamese commanders.

His fearless leadership and relentless courage ensured the success of the American assault and saved the lives of many fellow soldiers.

Medal of Honor Citation

BONDSTEEL, JAMES LEROY

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Bondsteel distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company A, near the village of Lang Sau. Company A was directed to assist a friendly unit which was endangered by intense fire from a North Vietnamese Battalion located in a heavily fortified base camp. S/Sgt. Bondsteel quickly organized the men of his platoon into effective combat teams and spearheaded the attack by destroying 4 enemy occupied bunkers. He then raced some 200 meters under heavy enemy fire to reach an adjoining platoon which had begun to falter. After rallying this unit and assisting their wounded, S/Sgt. Bondsteel returned to his own sector with critically needed munitions. Without pausing he moved to the forefront and destroyed 4 enemy occupied bunkers and a machine gun which had threatened his advancing platoon. Although painfully wounded by an enemy grenade, S/Sgt. Bondsteel refused medical attention and continued his assault by neutralizing 2 more enemy bunkers nearby. While searching one of these emplacements S/Sgt. Bondsteel narrowly escaped death when an enemy soldier detonated a grenade at close range. Shortly thereafter, he ran to the aid of a severely wounded officer and struck down an enemy soldier who was threatening the officer’s life. S/Sgt. Bondsteel then continued to rally his men and led them through the entrenched enemy until his company was relieved. His exemplary leadership and great personal courage throughout the 4-hour battle ensured the success of his own and nearby units, and resulted in the saving of numerous lives of his fellow soldiers. By individual acts of bravery he destroyed 10 enemy bunkers and accounted for a large toll of the enemy, including 2 key enemy commanders. His extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.