First Lieutenant Russell Albert Steindam, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on February 1, 1970 in Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At the time he was serving with Troop B, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Steindam was 23 years old.
Steindam was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on December 16, 1971. Old Executive Office Building, presented by Vice Pres. Spiro T. Agnew to his family.
Steindam was born on August 27, 1946 in Austin, Travis County, Texas. He is buried at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas.
Steindam is one of 274 Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War and one of 78 credited to Texas.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. First Lt. Steindam, Troop B, while serving as a platoon leader, led members of his platoon on a night ambush operation. On the way to the ambush site, suspected enemy movement was detected on one flank and the platoon's temporary position was subjected to intense small-arms and automatic-weapons fire as well as a fusillade of hand and rocket-propelled grenades. After the initial barrage, 1st Lt. Steindam ordered fire placed on the enemy position and the wounded men to be moved to a shallow bomb crater. As he directed the return fire against the enemy from his exposed position, a fragmentation grenade was thrown into the site occupied by his command group. Instantly realizing the extreme gravity of the situation, 1st Lt. Steindam shouted a warning to alert his fellow soldiers in the immediate vicinity. Then, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Steindam deliberately threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full and fatal force of the explosion as it detonated. By his gallant action and self-sacrifice, he was able to save the lives of the nearby members of his command group. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by 1st Lt. Steindam were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of 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 (February 1, 1970).
- Age at death: 23
- Resting place: Restland Memorial Park
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Russell Albert Steindam received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Vietnam War.
Places
Timeline
- August 27, 1946Born in Austin, Travis County, Texas
- February 1, 1970Act of valor — Tay Ninh Province, Republic of VietnamAge 23. Troop B, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- December 16, 1971Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyOld Executive Office Building, presented by Vice Pres. Spiro T. Agnew to his family
- Resting placeRestland Memorial ParkDallas, Texas
Biography
Russell Albert Steindam (August 27, 1946 – February 1, 1970) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War. Steindam grew up in Plano, Texas, where his family moved when he was five years old. He graduated at the top of his class from Plano High School before entering the University of Texas. The Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, is named after Lieutenant Steindam.
From the Wikipedia article “Russell A. Steindam”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
