Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Mitchell William Stout was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on March 12, 1970 at Khe Gio Bridge, Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At the time he was serving with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery. Stout was 20 years old.
Stout was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on July 17, 1974, 4 years after the action.
Stout was born on February 24, 1950 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. His Medal of Honor is credited to Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. He is buried at Virture Cemetery in Concord, Tennessee. His medal is held by Charles H. Coolidge Medal of Honor Heritage Center, Chattanooga, TN.
Stout is one of 274 Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War and one of 22 credited to North Carolina.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Sgt. Stout distinguished himself during an attack by a North Vietnamese Army Sapper company on his unit's firing position at Khe Gio Bridge. Sgt. Stout was in a bunker with members of a searchlight crew when the position came under heavy enemy mortar fire and ground attack. When the intensity of the mortar attack subsided, an enemy grenade was thrown into the bunker. Displaying great courage, Sgt. Stout ran to the grenade, picked it up, and started out of the bunker. As he reached the door, the grenade exploded. By holding the grenade close to his body and shielding its blast, he protected his fellow soldiers in the bunker from further injury or death. Sgt. Stout's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, at the cost of his own life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (March 12, 1970).
- Age at death: 20
- Resting place: Virture Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Mitchell William Stout received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Vietnam War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in North Carolina →
Timeline
- February 24, 1950Born in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee
- March 12, 1970Act of valor — Khe Gio Bridge, Republic of VietnamAge 20. Battery C, 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery Killed in action.
- July 17, 1974Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeVirture CemeteryConcord, Tennessee
Biography
Mitchell William Stout (February 24, 1950 – March 12, 1970) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.
From the Wikipedia article “Mitchell W. Stout”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- M-SHORAD — short range air defence
