Medal of Honor: Michael J. Crescenz – Vietnam War – November 20, 1968

Name: Michael Joseph Crescenz
Rank: Corporal
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company A, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division
Place and Date: Hiep Duc Valley, Republic of Vietnam – 20 November 1968
Entered Service At: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Born: January 14, 1949 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Departed: November 20, 1968 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: Pennsylvania

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Summary of Action

On the morning of November 20, 1968, Company A moved through the rugged Hiep Duc Valley — an area dense with fortified North Vietnamese Army positions. As the lead squad advanced up a slope, a sudden burst of enemy fire killed the point men and pinned the rest of the platoon to the ground. The company was stalled in the open, under heavy automatic weapons fire.

Corporal Michael J. Crescenz refused to stay behind cover. Without orders, he grabbed a nearby M60 machine gun and sprinted 100 meters uphill directly into the teeth of the enemy fire. Reaching the first bunker, he annihilated its two defenders, then moved immediately to a second and third fortified position, silencing each one and killing the enemy inside.

His actions opened the route for Company A to resume its advance — but another hidden enemy machine gun suddenly erupted from a camouflaged bunker.

Knowing his comrades would be cut down if the gun remained active, Crescenz charged again, completely exposed, driving toward the bunker under a storm of fire. He was within five meters of the position when enemy rounds struck him, mortally wounding him.

But his fearless assault broke the enemy line. Because of his actions, Company A was able to maneuver freely, overwhelm the NVA position, and complete its mission.

Corporal Crescenz’s gallantry — charging four bunkers alone with a machine gun — stands among the most extraordinary acts of individual courage of the Vietnam War.

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Medal of Honor Citation

Cpl. Crescenz distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a rifleman with Company A. In the morning his unit engaged a large, well-entrenched force of the North Vietnamese Army whose initial burst of fire pinned down the lead squad and killed the 2 point men, halting the advance of Company A. Immediately, Cpl. Crescenz left the relative safety of his own position, seized a nearby machine gun and, with complete disregard for his safety, charged 100 meters up a slope toward the enemy’s bunkers which he effectively silenced, killing the 2 occupants of each. Undaunted by the withering machine gun fire around him, Cpl. Crescenz courageously moved forward toward a third bunker which he also succeeded in silencing, killing 2 more of the enemy and momentarily clearing the route of advance for his comrades. Suddenly, intense machine gun fire erupted from an unseen, camouflaged bunker. Realizing the danger to his fellow soldiers, Cpl. Crescenz disregarded the barrage of hostile fire directed at him and daringly advanced toward the position. Assaulting with his machine gun, Cpl. Crescenz was within 5 meters of the bunker when he was mortally wounded by the fire from the enemy machine gun. As a direct result of his heroic actions, his company was able to maneuver freely with minimal danger and to complete its mission, defeating the enemy. Cpl. Crescenz’s bravery and extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.