Medal of Honor: Paul Hellstrom Foster, Vietnam War, October 14, 1967

Name: Paul Hellstrom Foster
Rank: Sergeant
War: Vietnam War
Date of Action: October 14, 1967
Unit: 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division
Born: April 17, 1939 – San Mateo, California
Entered Service At: San Francisco, California

Summary of Action
Just before dawn near Con Thien, North Vietnam’s artillery pounded the Marine defenses guarding a critical bridge on the road to Cam Lo. Through the roar of explosions and incoming mortars, North Vietnamese troops charged through the shattered wire and into the perimeter, driving toward the command post. Inside the fire support coordination center, Sergeant Paul Foster—already wounded by a grenade blast—kept calling artillery and mortar fire onto enemy positions to stop the attack.

As another grenade bounced into the small bunker, Foster shouted a warning to the five men with him. In a split-second decision that would define courage itself, he ripped off his flak vest, threw it onto the grenade, and threw himself on top of both. The blast tore through him, but his selfless act absorbed the full force of the explosion, saving everyone else in the room.

In that final instant, Sergeant Foster embodied the Marine ethos—protect your brothers, no matter the cost.

Medal of Honor Citation
FOSTER, PAUL HELLSTROM
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division.
Place and date: Near Con Thien, Republic of Vietnam, 14 October 1967.
Entered service at: San Francisco, Calif.
Born: 17 April 1939, San Mateo, Calif.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an artillery liaison operations chief with the 2d Battalion. In the early morning hours the 2d Battalion was occupying a defensive position which protected a bridge on the road leading from Con Thien to Cam Lo. Suddenly, the marines’ position came under a heavy volume of mortar and artillery fire, followed by an aggressive enemy ground assault. In the ensuing engagement, the hostile force penetrated the perimeter and brought a heavy concentration of small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket fire to bear on the battalion command post. Although his position in the fire support coordination center was dangerously exposed to enemy fire and he was wounded when an enemy hand grenade exploded near his position, Sgt. Foster resolutely continued to direct accurate mortar and artillery fire on the advancing North Vietnamese troops. As the attack continued, a hand grenade landed in the midst of Sgt. Foster and his 5 companions. Realizing the danger, he shouted a warning, threw his armored vest over the grenade, and unhesitatingly placed his body over the armored vest. When the grenade exploded, Sgt. Foster absorbed the entire blast with his body and was mortally wounded. His heroic actions undoubtedly saved his comrades from further injury or possible death. Sgt. Foster’s courage, extraordinary heroism, and unfaltering devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.