Private First Class Ralph Ellis Dias, a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on November 12, 1969 in Que Son Mountains, Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At the time he was serving with 3d Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF. Dias was 19 years old.
Dias was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on July 17, 1974, 4 years after the action. Blair House, presented by Vice Pres. Gerald R. Ford to his family.
Dias was born on July 15, 1950 in Shelocta, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He is buried at Oakdale Cemetery in Leetonia, Ohio. His medal is held by Ohio Military Museum, Massillon, OH.
Dias is one of 274 Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
As a member of a reaction force which was pinned down by enemy fire while assisting a platoon in the same circumstance, Pfc. Dias, observing that both units were sustaining casualties, initiated an aggressive assault against an enemy machine-gun bunker which was the principal source of hostile fire. Severely wounded by enemy snipers while charging across the open area, he pulled himself to the shelter of a nearby rock. Braving enemy fire for a second time, Pfc. Dias was again wounded. Unable to walk, he crawled 15 meters to the protection of a rock located near his objective and, repeatedly exposing himself to intense hostile fire, unsuccessfully threw several hand grenades at the machine-gun emplacement. Still determined to destroy the emplacement, Pfc. Dias again moved into the open and was wounded a third time by sniper fire. As he threw a last grenade, which destroyed the enemy position, he was mortally wounded by another enemy round. Pfc. Dias' indomitable courage, dynamic initiative, and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Braving enemy fire for a second time, Pfc. Dias was again wounded.
Still determined to destroy the emplacement, Pfc. Dias again moved into the open and was wounded a third time by sniper fire.
As he threw a last grenade, which destroyed the enemy position, he was mortally wounded by another enemy round.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (November 12, 1969).
- Age at death: 19
- Resting place: Oakdale Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Ralph Ellis Dias 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 Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- July 15, 1950Born in Shelocta, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
- November 12, 1969Act of valor — Que Son Mountains, Republic of VietnamAge 19. 3d Platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF Killed in action.
- July 17, 1974Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyBlair House, presented by Vice Pres. Gerald R. Ford to his family
- Resting placeOakdale CemeteryLeetonia, Ohio
Biography
Private First Class Ralph Ellis Dias (July 15, 1950 – November 12, 1969) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in November 1969.
From the Wikipedia article “Ralph E. Dias”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
