Medal of Honor: Kern W. Dunagan - Vietnam War - May 13-14, 1969

Name: Kern W. Dunagan
Rank: Major (then Captain)
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry, Americal Division
Date of Action: May 13-14, 1969
Location: Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 13 and 14 May 1969, Major Kern W. Dunagan displayed extraordinary heroism while commanding Company A during intense combat in Quang Tin Province, South Vietnam.

His company was attacking to relieve pressure on a forward support base when it suddenly came under devastating fire from a well-entrenched enemy battalion.

Outnumbered and under constant attack, Dunagan repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to locate hostile positions, direct artillery support, and reposition his men.

As darkness fell, enemy mortar fire slammed into the company perimeter.

During the barrage, Dunagan was seriously wounded.

He refused evacuation.

Ignoring his injuries, he continued moving among his soldiers, supervising the evacuation of dead and wounded while organizing the difficult withdrawal from the enemy’s grip.

Despite exhaustion and severe pain, he repeatedly entered fire-swept areas to rescue wounded soldiers.

During two separate rescue attempts, he was wounded again.

Still he remained in command.

Through the night and into the next day, Dunagan directed the movement of his company through dangerous terrain and intense enemy pressure, eventually succeeding in bringing his men into contact with another friendly unit.

Only then did he learn that a six-man group from his company was still missing and trapped under enemy fire outside the perimeter.

Without hesitation, Dunagan turned back.

Searching through the battlefield despite his wounds, he found one soldier critically injured.

Lifting the man onto his shoulders, he carried him through enemy fire back to safety.

Only after ensuring every wounded soldier received treatment and evacuation did Dunagan finally allow himself to be evacuated.

His courage, leadership, and complete devotion to his men saved countless lives and reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

DUNAGAN, KERN W.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Maj. (then Capt.) Dunagan distinguished himself during the period May 13 and 14, 1969, while serving as commanding officer, Company A. On May 13, 1969, Maj. Dunagan was leading an attack to relieve pressure on the battalion’s forward support base when his company came under intense fire from a well-entrenched enemy battalion. Despite continuous hostile fire from a numerically superior force, Maj. Dunagan repeatedly and fearlessly exposed himself in order to locate enemy positions, direct friendly supporting artillery, and position the men of his company. In the early evening, while directing an element of his unit into perimeter guard, he was seriously wounded during an enemy mortar attack, but he refused to leave the battlefield and continued to supervise the evacuation of dead and wounded and to lead his command in the difficult task of disengaging from an aggressive enemy. In spite of painful wounds and extreme fatigue, Maj. Dunagan risked heavy fire on 2 occasions to rescue critically wounded men. He was again seriously wounded. Undaunted, he continued to display outstanding courage, professional competence, and leadership and successfully extricated his command from its untenable position on the evening of May 14. Having maneuvered his command into contact with an adjacent friendly unit, he learned that a 6-man party from his company was under fire and had not reached the new perimeter. Maj. Dunagan unhesitatingly went back and searched for his men. Finding 1 soldier critically wounded, Maj. Dunagan, ignoring his wounds, lifted the man to his shoulders and carried him to the comparative safety of the friendly perimeter. Before permitting himself to be evacuated, he insured all of his wounded received emergency treatment and were removed from the area. Throughout the engagement, Maj. Dunagan’s actions gave great inspiration to his men and were directly responsible for saving the lives of many of his fellow soldiers. Maj. Dunagan’s extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.