Medal of Honor: Robert R. Ingram – Vietnam War – March 28, 1966

Name: Robert R. Ingram
Rank: Hospital Corpsman Second Class (then Petty Officer Third Class)
Branch: U.S. Navy
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: March 28, 1966
Location: Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 28 March 1966, Robert R. Ingram was serving as a Navy corpsman attached to Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines during combat operations in Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam.

The point platoon had aggressively driven an enemy outpost from a ridge line and was pressing down a tree-covered slope toward a small rice paddy and village below.

Without warning, the village tree line erupted with savage automatic rifle fire from approximately one hundred North Vietnamese regulars.

Within seconds, the platoon ranks were decimated. Marines lay dead, wounded, and pinned down across the hillside.

Oblivious to the danger, Ingram crawled across bullet-spattered ground to reach a downed Marine.

As he rendered aid, a bullet tore through the palm of his hand.

Bleeding, he continued on.

Cries of “Corpsman!” echoed across the ridge.

Ignoring the storm of enemy fire, Ingram moved again and again across the exposed battlefield, gathering ammunition from fallen Marines and administering aid to the wounded wherever they lay.

He was struck a second time.

Then a third.

Realizing one of the wounds was life-threatening, he briefly searched for a path off the face of the ridge.

Then he heard another desperate call for a corpsman.

He turned back into the fire.

Though severely wounded three times, he crawled onward to Marines unable to move, treating them and refusing to abandon them.

Reaching the right flank of the platoon, he began dressing the head wound of another corpsman when a fourth bullet struck him.

From sixteen hundred hours until just before sunset, Robert Ingram pushed, pulled, cajoled, bandaged, and saved his Marines.

Enduring agony from multiple wounds and fully aware he might die where he lay, he continued his lifesaving work until the fight subsided.

His fearless devotion saved many lives that day.

By his indomitable fighting spirit, daring initiative, and unfaltering dedication to duty, Robert R. Ingram reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Corpsman with Company C, First Battalion, Seventh Marines against elements of a North Vietnam Aggressor (NVA) battalion in Quang Ngai Province Republic of Vietnam on 28 March 1966. Petty Officer Ingram accompanied the point platoon as it aggressively dispatched an outpost of an NVA battalion. The momentum of the attack rolled off a ridge line down a tree covered slope to a small paddy and a village beyond. Suddenly, the village tree line exploded with an intense hail of automatic rifle fire from approximately 100 North Vietnamese regulars. In mere moments, the platoon ranks were decimated. Oblivious to the danger, Petty Officer Ingram crawled across the bullet spattered terrain to reach a downed Marine. As he administered aid, a bullet went through the palm of his hand. Calls for "CORPSMAN" echoed across the ridge. Bleeding, he edged across the fire swept landscape, collecting ammunition from the dead and administering aid to the wounded. Receiving two more wounds before realizing the third wound was life-threatening, he looked for a way off the face of the ridge, but again he heard the call for corpsman and again, he resolutely answered. Though severely wounded three times, he rendered aid to those incapable until he finally reached the right flank of the platoon. While dressing the head wound of another corpsman, he sustained his fourth bullet wound. From sixteen hundred hours until just prior to sunset, Petty Officer Ingram pushed, pulled, cajoled, and doctored his Marines. Enduring the pain from his many wounds and disregarding the probability of his demise, Petty Officer Ingram's intrepid actions saved many lives that day. By his indomitable fighting spirit, daring initiative, and unfaltering dedications to duty, Petty Officer Ingram reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.