Medal of Honor: Michael Fleming Folland - Vietnam War, July 3, 1969

Michael Fleming Folland
Corporal, U.S. Army
Unit: Company D, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 199th Light Infantry Brigade
Conflict: Vietnam War
Date of Action: July 3, 1969
Location: Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action:

In the unforgiving terrain of Vietnam’s Long Khanh Province, 20-year-old Corporal Michael Folland faced a crucible of life and death. Serving as an ammunition bearer during a reconnaissance patrol, Folland's unit was ambushed by a heavily armed and well-concealed enemy force. Gunfire erupted from bunkers hidden in the dense jungle, catching the patrol in a vicious crossfire.

Realizing his recoilless rifle ammunition was useless in the tight quarters of the ambush zone, Folland dropped his load and sprinted forward to join his commanding officer in a desperate counterattack. Advancing to within yards of enemy machine gun positions, the small assault force was pinned down. Folland exposed himself to direct enemy fire, standing up to draw the enemy's aim and lay down suppressive fire to cover his commander's grenade assault.

Suddenly, an enemy grenade landed among the team. Folland shouted a warning and his commander flung the grenade away. But when a second grenade landed, and no one had time to act, Folland made a split-second decision—he threw himself onto the explosive, absorbing the full force of the blast. His selfless act saved the lives of the men around him.

Corporal Folland died that day, but his courage lived on. His willingness to sacrifice himself for his fellow soldiers stands as a lasting testament to the finest traditions of American service and valor.

Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Cpl. Folland distinguished himself while serving as an ammunition bearer with the weapons platoon of Company D, during a reconnaissance patrol mission. As the patrol was moving through a dense jungle area, it was caught in an intense crossfire from heavily fortified and concealed enemy ambush positions. As the patrol reacted to neutralize the ambush, it became evident that the heavy weapons could not be used in the cramped fighting area. Cpl. Folland dropped his recoilless rifle ammunition and ran forward to join his commander in an assault on the enemy bunkers. The assaulting force moved forward until it was pinned down directly in front of the heavily fortified bunkers by machine gun fire. Cpl. Folland stood up to draw enemy fire on himself and to place suppressive fire on the enemy positions while his commander attempted to destroy the machine gun positions with grenades. Before the officer could throw a grenade, an enemy grenade landed in the position. Cpl. Folland alerted his comrades and his commander hurled the grenade from the position. When a second enemy grenade landed in the position, Cpl. Folland again shouted a warning to his fellow soldiers. Seeing that no one could reach the grenade and realizing that it was about to explode, Cpl. Folland, with complete disregard for his safety, threw himself on the grenade. By his dauntless courage, Cpl. Folland saved the lives of his comrades although he was mortally wounded by the explosion. Cpl. Folland’s extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.