Medal of Honor: Thomas James Kinsman – U.S. Army – Vietnam War

Name: Thomas James Kinsman
Rank: Specialist Fourth Class (then Private First Class)
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company B, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division
Place: Near Vinh Long, Republic of Vietnam
Entered Service At: Seattle, Washington
Born: 4 March 1945, Renton, Washington

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Summary of Action

While conducting a reconnaissance-in-force mission in the Mekong Delta, Company B advanced along a narrow canal aboard armored troop carriers when it was suddenly engulfed by intense rocket, automatic-weapons, and small-arms fire from a well-entrenched Viet Cong force. The company beached and began an immediate assault on the enemy bunker complex.

In terrain so dense that visibility was reduced to less than ten meters, a group of eight soldiers became cut off from the main body. As they maneuvered through heavy fire to rejoin their unit, an enemy soldier from a concealed position hurled a grenade directly into their midst.

Without hesitation, Sp4c. Thomas J. Kinsman shouted a warning to his comrades and instantly threw himself onto the grenade, absorbing the full force of the explosion with his body. His action saved the lives of the other seven men in the group, though he himself suffered catastrophic head and chest wounds.

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Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Kinsman (then Pfc.) distinguished himself in action in the afternoon while serving as a rifleman with Company B on a reconnaissance-in-force mission. As his company was proceeding up a narrow canal in armored troop carriers, it came under sudden and intense rocket, automatic-weapons, and small-arms fire from a well-entrenched Viet Cong force. The company immediately beached and began assaulting the enemy bunker complex. Hampered by exceedingly dense undergrowth which limited visibility to 10 meters, a group of 8 men became cut off from the main body of the company. As they were moving through heavy enemy fire to effect a link-up, an enemy soldier in a concealed position hurled a grenade into their midst. Sp4c. Kinsman immediately alerted his comrades of the danger, then unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade and blocked the explosion with his body. As a result of his courageous action, he received severe head and chest wounds. Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard for his personal safety, and profound concern for his fellow soldiers, Sp4c. Kinsman averted loss of life and injury to the other 7 men of his element. Sp4c. Kinsman’s extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.