Medal of Honor: Richard A. Penry – Vietnam War – Binh Tuy Province – January 1970

Name: Richard A. Penry
Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Company C, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade
Place: Binh Tuy Province, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Oakland, California
Born: 18 November 1948, Petaluma, California

Summary of Action

On the night of 31 January 1970, Sergeant Richard A. Penry was serving as a rifleman with Company C during a night ambush operation in Binh Tuy Province. As the platoon prepared its ambush position, it was suddenly struck by a violent enemy assault involving mortars, rockets, and automatic weapons fire. The attack severely wounded the company commander and most of the platoon, leaving small, isolated groups of wounded soldiers scattered across the battlefield.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Sergeant Penry moved through intense enemy fire to reach the company command post. There, he administered first aid to the wounded company commander and other casualties, then relocated the command post to a more defensible position that allowed improved control and coordination of the remaining elements.

When he discovered that the company radio had been destroyed, Sergeant Penry ran outside the defensive perimeter under heavy fire to retrieve another radio. Finding it inoperable, he returned through the same deadly fire to retrieve two more radios. With communications still down, he shifted focus to sustaining the defense—crawling to exposed positions to recover weapons and ammunition and redistributing them to wounded soldiers so they could continue to fight.

During a determined enemy assault by more than 30 enemy soldiers, Sergeant Penry occupied the most vulnerable forward position, delivering heavy and accurate fire. He repeatedly exposed himself to throw hand grenades into advancing enemy troops, virtually stopping the attack single-handedly.

Still unable to establish communications, Sergeant Penry again left the perimeter, retrieved a fourth radio, and finally reestablished contact with battalion headquarters. He then continued treating the wounded and repositioning them to strengthen the defense. Despite constant sniper fire, he crawled outside the perimeter once more, moved within feet of enemy positions, located five isolated wounded soldiers, and led them back to safety.

When evacuation helicopters arrived, Sergeant Penry voluntarily left the perimeter to set up a guiding beacon, establish evacuation priorities, and personally carry 18 wounded men to the extraction site. Only after all casualties had been evacuated did he join another platoon and assist in the pursuit of the enemy.

His actions transformed chaos into control and ensured the survival of his comrades.

Medal of Honor Citation

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Penry, Company C, distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman during a night ambush mission. As the platoon was preparing the ambush position, it suddenly came under an intense enemy attack from mortar, rocket, and automatic weapons fire which seriously wounded the company commander and most of the platoon members, leaving small isolated groups of wounded men throughout the area. Sgt. Penry, seeing the extreme seriousness of the situation, worked his way through the deadly enemy fire to the company command post where he administered first aid to the wounded company commander and other personnel. He then moved the command post to a position which provided greater protection and visual communication and control of other platoon elements.Realizing the company radio was damaged and recognizing the urgent necessity to reestablish communications with the battalion headquarters, he ran outside the defensive perimeter through a fusillade of hostile fire to retrieve a radio. Finding it inoperable, Sgt. Penry returned through heavy fire to retrieve 2 more radios. Turning his attention to the defense of the area, he crawled to the edge of the perimeter, retrieved needed ammunition and weapons and resupplied the wounded men. During a determined assault by over 30 enemy soldiers, Sgt. Penry occupied the most vulnerable forward position placing heavy, accurate fire on the attacking enemy and exposing himself several times to throw hand grenades into the advancing enemy troops. He succeeded virtually single-handedly in stopping the attack. Learning that none of the radios were operable, Sgt. Penry again crawled outside the defensive perimeter, retrieved a fourth radio and established communications with higher headquarters. Sgt. Penry then continued to administer first aid to the wounded and repositioned them to better repel further enemy attacks. Despite continuous and deadly sniper fire, he again left the defensive perimeter, moved to within a few feet of enemy positions, located 5 isolated wounded soldiers, and led them to safety. When evacuation helicopters approached, Sgt. Penry voluntarily left the perimeter, set up a guiding beacon, established the priorities for evacuation and successively carried 18 wounded men to the extraction site. After all wounded personnel had been evacuated, Sgt. Penry joined another platoon and assisted in the pursuit of the enemy. Sgt. Penry's extraordinary heroism at the risk of his own life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.