Medal of Honor: M. Sando Vargas Jr. – Vietnam War – April 30 to May 2, 1968

Name: M. Sando Vargas Jr.
Rank: Major (then Captain)
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company G, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade
Date of Action: April 30 – May 2, 1968
Location: Dai Do, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

From 30 April to 2 May 1968, Major M. Sando Vargas Jr. distinguished himself during the brutal Battle of Dai Do in the Republic of Vietnam.

Serving as commanding officer of Company G, he had already been wounded while repositioning his unit under heavy enemy fire on 30 April.

On 1 May, despite those wounds, Vargas combined Company G with two other companies and led the assault on the fortified village of Dai Do.

Displaying expert leadership, he maneuvered his Marines across seven hundred meters of open rice paddy while under intense mortar, rocket, and artillery fire.

The attack gained a foothold in two hedgerows on the enemy perimeter, but portions of his company were pinned down by devastating fire.

Without hesitation, Vargas personally led his reserve platoon forward to relieve the trapped Marines.

His presence inspired the men to renew the attack, and enemy bunkers were destroyed in the advance.

During the fighting he was wounded again by grenade fragments.

He refused medical aid.

Instead, he moved through the exposed battlefield reorganizing his unit into a strong defensive perimeter on the edge of the village.

That night, the enemy launched repeated counterattacks and probes.

Under Vargas’s leadership, Company G held firm in the hard-won position.

The following morning, reinforced Marines renewed the assault through Dai Do toward the village of Dinh To.

The enemy responded with a massive counterattack that erupted into savage hand-to-hand combat.

Vargas remained in the open, encouraging and assisting his Marines as the battle raged.

He was struck for the third time in three days.

When he saw his battalion commander seriously wounded, Vargas crossed the fire-swept ground despite severe pain, carried the officer to cover, and then returned to direct the fight.

Even while wounded repeatedly, he continued supervising his men and helping organize the battalion perimeter defense.

Through fearless leadership, physical courage, and refusal to quit under extreme wounds, M. Sando Vargas Jr. reflected the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

VARGAS, M. SANDO, JR.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer, Company G, in action against enemy forces from 30 April to 2 May 1968. On 1 May 1968, though suffering from wounds he had incurred while relocating his unit under heavy enemy fire the preceding day, Maj. Vargas combined Company G with two other companies and led his men in an attack on the fortified village of Dai Do. Exercising expert leadership, he maneuvered his marines across 700 meters of open rice paddy while under intense enemy mortar, rocket and artillery fire and obtained a foothold in 2 hedgerows on the enemy perimeter, only to have elements of his company become pinned down by the intense enemy fire. Leading his reserve platoon to the aid of his beleaguered men, Maj. Vargas inspired his men to renew their relentless advance, while destroying a number of enemy bunkers. Again wounded by grenade fragments, he refused aid as he moved about the hazardous area reorganizing his unit into a strong defense perimeter at the edge of the village. Shortly after the objective was secured the enemy commenced a series of counterattacks and probes which lasted throughout the night but were unsuccessful as the gallant defenders of Company G stood firm in their hard-won enclave. Reinforced the following morning, the marines launched a renewed assault through Dai Do on the village of Dinh To, to which the enemy retaliated with a massive counterattack resulting in hand-to-hand combat. Maj. Vargas remained in the open, encouraging and rendering assistance to his marines when he was hit for the third time in the 3-day battle. Observing his battalion commander sustain a serious wound, he disregarded his excruciating pain, crossed the fire-swept area and carried his commander to a covered position, then resumed supervising and encouraging his men while simultaneously assisting in organizing the battalion’s perimeter defense. His gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service.