Name: William Maud Bryant
Rank: Sergeant First Class
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company A, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces
Date of Action: March 24, 1969
Location: Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Summary of Action
On 24 March 1969, Sergeant First Class William M. Bryant was serving as commanding officer of Civilian Irregular Defense Group Company 321, 2d Battalion, 3d Mobile Strike Force Command, during combat operations in Long Khanh Province.
His battalion came under heavy attack and was surrounded by elements of three enemy regiments.
For the next thirty-four hours, Bryant displayed extraordinary courage as he moved constantly through the embattled perimeter under intense fire. He reorganized defenses, directed fire, distributed ammunition, cared for the wounded, and inspired exhausted defenders to continue the fight.
When ammunition was dropped by helicopter and scattered across exposed ground, Bryant ran through enemy fire to recover the boxes and deliver them to his men.
During a brief lull, he led a patrol outside the perimeter to gather intelligence. The patrol was pinned down by intense automatic weapons fire, but Bryant personally repelled one enemy assault and inspired his men to drive back others.
Seeing a wounded enemy soldier nearby, he crawled forward alone under heavy fire to capture him for intelligence. Discovering the man dead, Bryant returned to his patrol and led them safely back to the company lines.
As the siege continued, Bryant organized a bold breakout attempt.
Advancing roughly two hundred meters through fierce fighting, the patrol was halted by heavily fortified bunkers, and Bryant was severely wounded.
Ignoring his injuries, he rallied his men, called in helicopter gunship support, and directed suppressive fire on the enemy positions.
When the final gunship strike ended, Bryant charged an enemy automatic weapons bunker alone, overran the position, and killed its three defenders single-handedly.
Inspired by his example, his men renewed the assault.
While reorganizing the small force for one final push, Bryant was mortally wounded by an enemy rocket.
His leadership, fearless aggression, and selfless devotion to his men upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army.
Medal of Honor Citation
BRYANT, WILLIAM MAUD
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces.
Place and date: Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam, 24 March 1969.
Entered service at: Detroit, Mich.
Born: 16 February 1933, Cochran, Ga.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Bryant, assigned to Company A, distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer of Civilian Irregular Defense Group Company 321, 2d Battalion, 3d Mobile Strike Force Command, during combat operations. The battalion came under heavy fire and became surrounded by the elements of 3 enemy regiments. Sfc. Bryant displayed extraordinary heroism throughout the succeeding 34 hours of incessant attack as he moved throughout the company position heedless of the intense hostile fire while establishing and improving the defensive perimeter, directing fire during critical phases of the battle, distributing ammunition, assisting the wounded, and providing the leadership and inspirational example of courage to his men. When a helicopter drop of ammunition was made to re-supply the beleaguered force, Sfc. Bryant with complete disregard for his safety ran through the heavy enemy fire to retrieve the scattered ammunition boxes and distributed needed ammunition to his men. During a lull in the intense fighting, Sfc. Bryant led a patrol outside the perimeter to obtain information of the enemy. The patrol came under intense automatic weapons fire and was pinned down. Sfc. Bryant single-handedly repulsed 1 enemy attack on his small force and by his heroic action inspired his men to fight off other assaults. Seeing a wounded enemy soldier some distance from the patrol location, Sfc. Bryant crawled forward alone under heavy fire to retrieve the soldier for intelligence purposes. Finding that the enemy soldier had expired, Sfc. Bryant crawled back to his patrol and led his men back to the company position where he again took command of the defense. As the siege continued, Sfc. Bryant organized and led a patrol in a daring attempt to break through the enemy encirclement. The patrol had advanced some 200 meters by heavy fighting when it was pinned down by the intense automatic weapons fire from heavily fortified bunkers and Sfc. Bryant was severely wounded. Despite his wounds he rallied his men, called for helicopter gunship support, and directed heavy suppressive fire upon the enemy positions. Following the last gunship attack, Sfc. Bryant fearlessly charged an enemy automatic weapons position, overrunning it, and single-handedly destroying its 3 defenders. Inspired by his heroic example, his men renewed their attack on the entrenched enemy. While regrouping his small force for the final assault against the enemy, Sfc. Bryant fell mortally wounded by an enemy rocket. Sfc. Bryant’s selfless concern for his comrades, at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Name: William Maud Bryant
