Medal of Honor: Joe R. Hooper – U.S. Army – Vietnam War

Name: Joe R. Hooper
Rank: Staff Sergeant (then Sergeant)
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company D, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division
Place: Near Hue, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Los Angeles, California
Born: 8 August 1938, Piedmont, South Carolina

Summary of Action

During the fierce fighting near Hue in February 1968, Company D was assaulting a heavily defended enemy position along a riverbank when it came under devastating rocket, machinegun, and automatic-weapons fire.

S/Sgt. Joe R. Hooper rallied several men and stormed across the river, overrunning bunkers on the far shore. Inspired by his audacity, the rest of the company pressed the attack.

With complete disregard for his own safety, Hooper repeatedly moved under intense fire to evacuate wounded soldiers. Seriously wounded during one rescue, he refused medical treatment and returned immediately to the fight.

When enemy fire again stalled the assault, he single-handedly stormed three bunkers, destroying them with grenades and rifle fire. He shot two enemy soldiers who had wounded the unit Chaplain, then led his men in clearing buildings filled with enemy riflemen. In close combat, he killed a North Vietnamese officer with his bayonet.

Despite multiple wounds and heavy blood loss, he continued forward. When his squad was pinned down by four bunkers on its flank, Hooper seized several grenades and raced down a trench line, tossing explosives into each bunker as he passed. He destroyed or neutralized nearly every position.

Still pressing the attack, he crossed open ground under fire to rescue a trapped wounded soldier, killing an armed enemy with his pistol in the process. Returning once more to the front, he eliminated the final enemy resistance by killing three North Vietnamese officers with rifle fire.

Only after reorganizing his men and securing the objective did he finally accept treatment—and even then refused evacuation until the following morning.

His extraordinary valor and relentless leadership were directly responsible for the success of the mission.

Medal of Honor Citation

HOOPER, JOE R.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Staff Sergeant (then Sgt.) Hooper, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as squad leader with Company D. Company D was assaulting a heavily defended enemy position along a river bank when it encountered a withering hail of fire from rockets, machine guns and automatic weapons. S/Sgt. Hooper rallied several men and stormed across the river, overrunning several bunkers on the opposite shore. Thus inspired, the rest of the company moved to the attack. With utter disregard for his own safety, he moved out under the intense fire again and pulled back the wounded, moving them to safety. During this act S/Sgt. Hooper was seriously wounded, but he refused medical aid and returned to his men. With the relentless enemy fire disrupting the attack, he single-handedly stormed 3 enemy bunkers, destroying them with hand grenade and rifle fire, and shot 2 enemy soldiers who had attacked and wounded the Chaplain. Leading his men forward in a sweep of the area, S/Sgt. Hooper destroyed 3 buildings housing enemy riflemen. At this point he was attacked by a North Vietnamese officer whom he fatally wounded with his bayonet. Finding his men under heavy fire from a house to the front, he proceeded alone to the building, killing its occupants with rifle fire and grenades. By now his initial body wound had been compounded by grenade fragments, yet despite the multiple wounds and loss of blood, he continued to lead his men against the intense enemy fire. As his squad reached the final line of enemy resistance, it received devastating fire from 4 bunkers in line on its left flank. S/Sgt. Hooper gathered several hand grenades and raced down a small trench which ran the length of the bunker line, tossing grenades into each bunker as he passed by, killing all but 2 of the occupants. With these positions destroyed, he concentrated on the last bunkers facing his men, destroying the first with an incendiary grenade and neutralizing 2 more by rifle fire. He then raced across an open field, still under enemy fire, to rescue a wounded man who was trapped in a trench. Upon reaching the man, he was faced by an armed enemy soldier whom he killed with a pistol. Moving his comrade to safety and returning to his men, he neutralized the final pocket of enemy resistance by fatally wounding 3 North Vietnamese officers with rifle fire. S/Sgt. Hooper then established a final line and reorganized his men, not accepting treatment until this was accomplished and not consenting to evacuation until the following morning. His supreme valor, inspiring leadership and heroic self-sacrifice were directly responsible for the company’s success and provided a lasting example in personal courage for every man on the field. S/Sgt. Hooper’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.