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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

1955–1975

Vietnam War: Medal of Honor Recipients

274 Medals of Honor were awarded for the Vietnam War (1955–1975), 166 of them posthumously.

274medals
166posthumous
46living
43states

American involvement in Vietnam grew from a few hundred advisers in the 1950s to more than half a million troops by the late 1960s; the last U.S. ground forces left in 1973. Medals of Honor were earned by infantrymen, helicopter crews, medics, Special Forces advisers and prisoners of war.

Recognition has continued long after the war. Reviews of records and new eyewitness testimony have led to many belated awards, including a 2014 ceremony for 24 Army veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam whose heroism had been overlooked, in some cases because of discrimination.

By service branch

U.S. Army183
U.S. Marine Corps58
U.S. Navy15
U.S. Air Force14
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve2
U.S. Naval Reserve1
Unknown1

Medals by year

Top states (credited to)

New York30
California29
Illinois17
Texas15
Michigan11
Ohio11
Pennsylvania10
Florida9

Days with the most recipients

Living recipients

John Philip Baca Specialist Fourth Class · Army Vietnam War · 1970 Donald Everett Ballard Hospital Corpsman Second Class · Navy Vietnam War · 1968 Harvey Curtiss "Barney" Barnum Jr. Captain · Marine Corps Vietnam War · 1965 DB Dwight W. Birdwell Specialist Five · Army Vietnam War · 1968 Patrick Henry Brady Major · Army Vietnam War · 1968 JC James Capers Jr. Major · Marine Corps Vietnam War · 1967 KD Kenneth J. David Private First Class · Army Vietnam War · 1970 PD Paris D. Davis Captain · Army Vietnam War · 1965 Sammy Lee Davis Private First Class · Army Vietnam War · 1967 Drew Dennis Dix Staff Sergeant · Army Vietnam War · 1968 JD John J. Duffy Major · Army Vietnam War · 1972 FF Frederick Edgar Ferguson Chief Warrant Officer · Army Vietnam War · 1968 Michael John Fitzmaurice Specialist Fourth Class · Army Vietnam War · 1971 James Phillip Fleming Captain · Air Force Vietnam War · 1968 Robert Franklin Foley Captain · Army Vietnam War · 1966 Harold Arthur Fritz Captain · Army Vietnam War · 1969 DF Dennis M. Fujii Specialist Five · Army Vietnam War · 1971 Robert Ronald Ingram Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class · Navy Vietnam War · 1966 Jack Howard Jacobs First Lieutenant · Army Vietnam War · 1968 Don Jenkins Private First Class · Army Vietnam War · 1969 Thomas Gunning Kelley Lieutenant · Navy Vietnam War · 1969 Allan Jay Kellogg Jr. Staff Sergeant · Marine Corps Vietnam War · 1970 Joseph Robert Kerrey Lieutenant · Navy Vietnam War · 1969 Peter Charles Lemon Specialist Fourth Class · Army Vietnam War · 1970 Gary Lee Littrell Sergeant First Class · Army Vietnam War · 1970 James Everette Livingston Captain · Marine Corps Vietnam War · 1968 Allen James Lynch Specialist Fourth Class · Army Vietnam War · 1967 Walter Joseph Marm Jr. Second Lieutenant · Army Vietnam War · 1965 James C. McCloughan Private First Class · Army Vietnam War · 1969 Robert Joseph Modrzejewski Captain · Marine Corps Vietnam War · 1966 MM Melvin Morris Staff Sergeant · Army Vietnam War · 1969 Thomas Rolland Norris Lieutenant · Navy Vietnam War · 1972 Robert Emmett O'Malley Corporal · Marine Corps Vietnam War · 1965 Robert Martin Patterson Specialist Fourth Class · Army Vietnam War · 1968 Alfred V. Rascon Special Fourth Class · Army Vietnam War · 1966 Ronald Eric Ray First Lieutenant · Army Vietnam War · 1966 TR Terry Patrick Richardson Staff Sergeant · Army Vietnam War · 1968 GR Gordon Ray Roberts Specialist Fourth Class · Army Vietnam War · 1969 Jose Rodela Sergeant First Class · Army Vietnam War · 1969 Gary Michael Rose Sergeant · Army Vietnam War · 1970 JS James Michael Sprayberry First Lieutenant · Army Vietnam War · 1968 JT James Allen Taylor First Lieutenant · Army Vietnam War · 1967 Brian Miles Thacker First Lieutenant · Army Vietnam War · 1971 Michael Edwin Thornton Petty Officer · Navy Vietnam War · 1972 JV Jay R. Vargas Captain · Marine Corps Vietnam War · 1968 Gary George Wetzel Private First Class · Army Vietnam War · 1968

All recipients · page 1 of 3

274 total, A–Z by last name
William Edward Adams Major · Army May 25, 1971 ✦ BA Bennie G. Adkins Sergeant First Class · Army March 9 - 12, 1966 LA Lewis Albanese Private First Class · Army December 1, 1966 ✦ Leonard L. Alvarado Specialist Fourth Class · Army August 12, 1969 ✦ James Anderson Jr. Private First Class · Marine Corps February 28, 1967 ✦ Richard Allen Anderson Lance Corporal · Marine Corps August 24, 1969 ✦ Webster Anderson Sergeant First Class · Army October 15, 1967 EA Eugene Ashley Jr. Sergeant First Class · Army February 6 - 7, 1968 ✦ Oscar Palmer Austin Private First Class · Marine Corps February 23, 1969 ✦ John Philip Baca Specialist Fourth Class · Army February 10, 1970 Nicky Daniel Bacon Staff Sergeant · Army August 26, 1968 JB John Franklin Baker Jr. Sergeant · Army November 5, 1966 Donald Everett Ballard Hospital Corpsman Second Class · Navy May 16, 1968 Jedh Colby Barker Lance Corporal · Marine Corps September 21, 1967 ✦ John Andrew Barnes III Private First Class · Army November 12, 1967 ✦ Harvey Curtiss "Barney" Barnum Jr. Captain · Marine Corps December 18, 1965 Gary Burnell Beikirch Sergeant · Army April 1, 1970 TB Ted Belcher Sergeant · Army November 19, 1966 ✦ LB Leslie Allen Bellrichard Private First Class · Army May 20, 1967 ✦ Roy Perez Benavidez Master Sergeant · Army May 2, 1968 Steven Logan Bennett Captain · Air Force June 29, 1972 ✦ Thomas William Bennett Corporal · Army February 9 - 11, 1969 ✦ DB Dwight W. Birdwell Specialist Five · Army January 31, 1968 Michael Reinert Blanchfield Specialist Fourth Class · Army July 3, 1969 ✦ John Paul Bobo Second Lieutenant · Marine Corps March 30, 1967 ✦ JB James Leroy Bondsteel Staff Sergeant · Army May 24, 1969 HB Hammett Lee Bowen Jr. Staff Sergeant · Army June 27, 1969 ✦ Patrick Henry Brady Major · Army January 6, 1968 Daniel Dean Bruce Private First Class · Marine Corps March 1, 1969 ✦ WB William Maud Bryant Sergeant First Class · Army March 24, 1969 ✦ Paul William Bucha Captain · Army March 16 - 19, 1968 BB Brian Leroy Buker Sergeant · Army April 5, 1970 ✦ Robert Charles Burke Private First Class · Marine Corps May 17, 1968 ✦ Johnny Lee Canley Gunnery Sergeant · Marine Corps January 31 - February 6, 1968 JC James Capers Jr. Major · Marine Corps March 31 - April 3, 1967 Vincent Robert Capodanno Lieutenant · Navy September 4, 1967 ✦ Wayne Maurice Caron Hospital Corpsman Third Class · Navy July 28, 1968 ✦ Bruce Wayne Carter Private First Class · Marine Corps August 7, 1969 ✦ Jon Robert Cavaiani Staff Sergeant · Army June 4 - 5, 1971 Raymond Michael "Red" Clausen Jr. Private First Class · Marine Corps January 31, 1970 Ronald Leroy Coker Private First Class · Marine Corps March 24, 1969 ✦ FC Felix M. Conde-Falcon Staff Sergeant · Army April 4, 1969 ✦ Peter Spencer Connor Staff Sergeant · Marine Corps February 25, 1966 ✦ Donald Gilbert Cook Colonel · Marine Corps December 31, 1964 ✦ Ardie R. Copas Specialist Fourth Class · Army May 12, 1970 ✦ Bruce P. Crandall Major · Army November 14, 1965 Thomas Elbert Creek Lance Corporal · Marine Corps February 13, 1969 ✦ Michael Joseph Crescenz Corporal · Army November 20, 1968 ✦ Nicholas Joseph Cutinha Specialist Fourth Class · Army March 2, 1968 ✦ Larry Gilbert Dahl Specialist Fourth Class · Army February 23, 1971 ✦ KD Kenneth J. David Private First Class · Army May 7, 1970 PD Paris D. Davis Captain · Army June 17 - 18, 1965 Rodney Maxwell Davis Sergeant · Marine Corps September 6, 1967 ✦ Sammy Lee Davis Private First Class · Army November 18, 1967 George Everette "Bud" Day Major · Air Force August 26, 1967 Emilio Albert de la Garza Jr. Lance Corporal · Marine Corps April 11, 1970 ✦ MD Merlyn Hans Dethlefsen Major · Air Force March 10, 1967 ED Edward Allen Devore Jr. Specialist Fourth Class · Army March 17, 1968 ✦ Ralph Ellis Dias Private First Class · Marine Corps November 12, 1969 ✦ Douglas Eugene Dickey Private First Class · Marine Corps March 26, 1967 ✦ Drew Dennis Dix Staff Sergeant · Army January 31 - February 1, 1968 SD Stephen Holden Doane First Lieutenant · Army March 25, 1969 ✦ David Charles Dolby Sergeant · Army May 21, 1966 Roger H.C. Donlon Captain · Army July 6, 1964 JD John J. Duffy Major · Army April 14 - 15, 1972 KD Kern Wayne Dunagan Major · Army May 13, 1969 Jesus S. Duran Specialist Fourth Class · Army April 10, 1969 ✦ HD Harold Bascom Durham Jr. Second Lieutenant · Army October 17, 1967 ✦ Glenn Harry English Jr. Staff Sergeant · Army September 7, 1970 ✦ Santiago J. Erevia Specialist Fourth Class · Army May 21, 1969 Michael John Estocin Captain · Navy April 26, 1967 ✦ Richard L. Etchberger Chief Master Sergeant · Air Force March 11, 1968 ✦ Donald Ward Evans Jr. Specialist Fourth Class · Army January 27, 1967 ✦ RE Rodney John Evans Sergeant · Army July 18, 1969 ✦ FF Frederick Edgar Ferguson Chief Warrant Officer · Army January 31, 1968 Daniel O. Fernandez Specialist Fourth Class · Army February 18, 1966 ✦ Bernard Francis Fisher Major · Air Force March 10, 1966 Michael John Fitzmaurice Specialist Fourth Class · Army March 23, 1971 CF Charles Clinton Fleek Sergeant · Army May 27, 1967 ✦ James Phillip Fleming Captain · Air Force November 26, 1968 Robert Franklin Foley Captain · Army November 5, 1966 MF Michael Fleming Folland Corporal · Army July 3, 1969 ✦ Paul Hellstrom Foster Sergeant · Marine Corps October 14, 1967 ✦ DF Douglas Bernard Fournet First Lieutenant · Army May 4, 1968 ✦ JF James William Fous Private First Class · Army May 14, 1968 ✦ Wesley Lee Fox Captain · Marine Corps February 22, 1969 FF Frank Rocco Fratellenico Corporal · Army August 19, 1970 ✦ Ed W. Freeman Captain · Army November 14, 1965 Harold Arthur Fritz Captain · Army January 11, 1969 DF Dennis M. Fujii Specialist Five · Army February 18 - 22, 1971 Candelario Garcia Sergeant · Army December 8, 1968 ✦ JG James Alton Gardner First Lieutenant · Army February 7, 1966 ✦ JG John Gary Gertsch Staff Sergeant · Army July 15 - 19, 1969 ✦ Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez Sergeant · Marine Corps February 4, 1968 ✦ James Albert Graham Captain · Marine Corps June 2, 1967 ✦ BG Bruce Alan Grandstaff Platoon Sergeant · Army May 18, 1967 ✦ JG Joseph Xavier Grant Captain · Army November 13, 1966 ✦ TG Terrence Collinson Graves Second Lieutenant · Marine Corps February 16, 1968 ✦ PG Peter Mathew Guenette Specialist Fourth Class · Army May 18, 1968 ✦ Charles Chris Hagemeister Specialist Fourth Class · Army March 20, 1967 Loren Douglas Hagen First Lieutenant · Army August 7, 1971 ✦ RH Robert Willard Hartsock Staff Sergeant · Army February 23, 1969 ✦ CH Carmel Bernon Harvey Jr. Specialist Fourth Class · Army June 21, 1967 ✦ Frank Aloysious Herda Private First Class · Army June 29, 1968 RH Robert John Hibbs Second Lieutenant · Army March 5, 1966 ✦ JH John Noble Holcomb Sergeant · Army December 3, 1968 ✦ Joe Ronnie Hooper Staff Sergeant · Army February 21, 1968 Charles Ernest Hosking Jr. Master Sergeant · Army March 21, 1967 ✦ Jimmie Earl Howard Staff Sergeant · Marine Corps June 16, 1966 Robert Lewis Howard First Lieutenant · Army December 30, 1968 James Donnie Howe Lance Corporal · Marine Corps May 6, 1970 ✦ George Alan Ingalls Specialist Fourth Class · Army April 16, 1967 ✦ Robert Ronald Ingram Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class · Navy March 28, 1966 Joe Madison Jackson Lieutenant Colonel · Air Force May 12, 1968 Jack Howard Jacobs First Lieutenant · Army March 9, 1968 Don Jenkins Private First Class · Army January 6, 1969 Robert Henry Jenkins Jr. Private First Class · Marine Corps March 5, 1969 ✦ DJ Delbert Owen Jennings Staff Sergeant · Army December 27, 1966 Jose Francisco Jimenez Lance Corporal · Marine Corps August 28, 1969 ✦ Lawrence Joel Specialist Sixth Class · Army November 8, 1965

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