Medal of Honor: Ralph E. Dias – Vietnam War – November 12, 1969
Pinned down under withering fire in the mountains of Vietnam, one young Marine refused to quit. Private First Class Ralph E. Dias crawled through bullets and blood to silence the gun that was killing his brothers—at the cost of his own life.
November 12, 2025
Name: Ralph Edward Dias
Rank: Private First Class
Organization: U.S. Marine Corps, 3rd Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), FMF
Place and Date: Que Son Mountains, Republic of Vietnam – 12 November 1969
Entered Service At: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Born: July 15, 1950 – Shelocta, Indiana County, Pennsylvania
Departed: November 12, 1969 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: Pennsylvania
Summary of Action
The Que Son Mountains of Vietnam were a cauldron of fire on November 12, 1969. Pfc. Ralph E. Dias and his platoon were pinned down by an enemy machine gun bunker that dominated the field, cutting down Marines who tried to move.
Seeing both his unit and another nearby platoon taking heavy casualties, Dias made a decision that would define him forever. Alone, he launched an assault across open ground swept by sniper and machine gun fire.
Halfway across, he was hit—but he kept moving. Dragging himself behind a rock for cover, he took aim with grenades and tried to destroy the bunker. Wounded again, he crawled closer—fifteen meters—until he was just yards from his target. Exposed and bleeding, he threw grenade after grenade, refusing to stop.
A third enemy bullet struck him, but he still managed to lob one final grenade into the enemy position, destroying the bunker and silencing the deadly gun that had trapped his comrades. In that same instant, another round struck him down.
Private First Class Ralph E. Dias’ selfless courage and unyielding resolve saved lives on that mountainside. He gave everything he had for his brothers in arms—dying a Marine’s death, facing the enemy to the very end. He was 19 years old.
Medal of Honor Citation
DIAS, RALPH E.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, 3d Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF.
Place and date: Que Son Mountains, Republic of Vietnam, 12 November 1969.
Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Born: 15 July 1950, Shelocta, Indiana County, Pa.
Citation:
As a member of a reaction force which was pinned down by enemy fire while assisting a platoon in the same circumstance, Pfc. Dias, observing that both units were sustaining casualties, initiated an aggressive assault against an enemy machine gun bunker which was the principal source of hostile fire. Severely wounded by enemy snipers while charging across the open area, he pulled himself to the shelter of a nearby rock. Braving enemy fire for a second time, Pfc. Dias was again wounded. Unable to walk, he crawled 15 meters to the protection of a rock located near his objective and, repeatedly exposing himself to intense hostile fire, unsuccessfully threw several hand grenades at the machine gun emplacement. Still determined to destroy the emplacement, Pfc. Dias again moved into the open and was wounded a third time by sniper fire. As he threw a last grenade which destroyed the enemy position, he was mortally wounded by another enemy round. Pfc. Dias’ indomitable courage, dynamic initiative, and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service to his country.
