Private First Class Milton Lee Olive III, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on October 22, 1965 in Phu Cuong, Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At the time he was serving with 3d Platoon, Company B, 2d Battalion [Airborne], 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Olive was 18 years old.
Olive was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on April 21, 1966 — the White house, presented by Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson to his family.
Olive was born on November 7, 1946 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. He is buried at West Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Lexington, Mississippi.
Olive is one of 274 Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Olive was a member of the 3d Platoon of Company B, as it moved through the jungle to find the Viet Cong operating in the area. Although the platoon was subjected to a heavy volume of enemy gunfire and pinned down temporarily, it retaliated by assaulting the Viet Cong positions, causing the enemy to flee. As the platoon pursued the insurgents, Pfc. Olive and four other soldiers were moving through the jungle together when a grenade was thrown into their midst. Pfc. Olive saw the grenade, and then saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the sacrifice of his by grabbing the grenade in his hand and falling on it to absorb the blast with his body. Through his bravery, unhesitating actions, and complete disregard for his safety, he prevented additional loss of life or injury to the members of his platoon. Pfc. Olive's extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (October 22, 1965).
- Age at death: 18
- Resting place: West Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Vietnam War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- November 7, 1946Born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
- October 22, 1965Act of valor — Phu Cuong, Republic of VietnamAge 18. 3d Platoon, Company B, 2d Battalion [Airborne], 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade Killed in action.
- April 21, 1966Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe White house, presented by Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson to his family
- Resting placeWest Grove Baptist Church CemeteryLexington, Mississippi
Biography
Milton Lee Olive III (November 7, 1946 – October 22, 1965) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic action in the Vietnam War, when, at the age of 18, Olive sacrificed his life to save others by falling on a grenade. In doing so, Olive became the first African-American recipient of the Medal of Honor from the Vietnam War.
From the Wikipedia article “Milton L. Olive III”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
