Medal of Honor: Miguel Keith – Vietnam War – May 8, 1970

Name: Miguel Keith
Rank: Lance Corporal
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Combined Action Platoon 1-3-2, III Marine Amphibious Force
Date of Action: May 8, 1970
Location: Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 8 May 1970, Lance Corporal Miguel Keith distinguished himself during a ferocious enemy assault against his Combined Action Platoon in Quang Ngai Province.

Before dawn, the platoon came under heavy attack from a numerically superior enemy force.

During the opening moments of the battle, Keith was seriously wounded.

But instead of seeking cover or evacuation, he moved directly into the fight.

Ignoring his painful injuries, he ran across terrain swept by enemy fire to check the security of critical defensive positions.

Completely exposed to enemy observation and fire, he opened up with devastating machine-gun bursts against the attacking force.

As enemy soldiers pushed toward the platoon command post, Keith charged forward alone.

Firing as he advanced, he killed three enemy soldiers and scattered the others before they could overrun the position.

Moments later, a grenade exploded near him.

The blast hurled him to the ground and inflicted even more severe wounds.

Bleeding heavily and weakened from loss of blood, Keith still refused to stop fighting.

Seeing approximately twenty-five enemy soldiers massing for another assault, he again rose and charged directly into the hostile fire.

The violence and aggression of his attack shattered the enemy formation.

His machine-gun fire killed four enemy soldiers while the remaining attackers fled for cover.

During this final assault, Keith was mortally wounded.

His fearless actions helped save his platoon from being overwhelmed and inspired the Marines around him to repel the enemy attack despite overwhelming odds.

His courage, fighting spirit, and complete devotion to duty reflected the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

KEITH, MIGUEL

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner with Combined Action platoon 1-3-2. During the early morning L/Cpl. Keith was seriously wounded when his platoon was subjected to a heavy ground attack by a greatly outnumbering enemy force. Despite his painful wounds, he ran across the fire-swept terrain to check the security of vital defensive positions and then, while completely exposed to view, proceeded to deliver a hail of devastating machine gun fire against the enemy. Determined to stop 5 of the enemy soldiers approaching the command post, he rushed forward, firing as he advanced. He succeeded in disposing of 3 of the attackers and in dispersing the remaining 2. At this point, a grenade detonated near L/Cpl. Keith, knocking him to the ground and inflicting further severe wounds. Fighting pain and weakness from loss of blood, he again braved the concentrated hostile fire to charge an estimated 25 enemy soldiers who were massing to attack. The vigor of his assault and his well-placed fire eliminated 4 of the enemy soldiers while the remainder fled for cover. During this valiant effort, he was mortally wounded by an enemy soldier. By his courageous and inspiring performance in the face of almost overwhelming odds, L/Cpl. Keith contributed in large measure to the success of his platoon in routing a numerically superior enemy force, and upheld the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the U.S. Naval Service.