Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Stephen Holden Doane was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on March 25, 1969 in Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Doane was 21 years old.
Doane was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on February 16, 1971.
Doane was born on October 13, 1947 in Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Albany, Albany County, New York. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Doane is one of 274 Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War and one of 678 credited to New York.
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. 1st Lt. Doane was serving as a platoon leader when his company, engaged in a tactical operation, abruptly contacted an enemy force concealed in protected bunkers and trenches. Three of the leading soldiers were pinned down by enemy crossfire. One was seriously wounded. After efforts of one platoon to rescue these men had failed, it became obvious that only a small group could successfully move close enough to destroy the enemy position and rescue or relieve the trapped soldiers. 1st Lt. Doane, although fully aware of the danger of such an action, crawled to the nearest enemy bunker and silenced it. He was wounded but continued to advance to a second enemy bunker. As he prepared to throw a grenade, he was again wounded. Undaunted, he deliberately pulled the pin on the grenade and lunged with it into the enemy bunker, destroying this final obstacle. 1st Lt. Doane's supreme act enabled his company to rescue the trapped men without further casualties. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by this officer were an inspiration to his men and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
He was wounded but continued to advance to a second enemy bunker.
As he prepared to throw a grenade, he was again wounded.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (March 25, 1969).
- Age at death: 21
- Resting place: Arlington National Cemetery
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Vietnam War.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: Tilton School
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- October 13, 1947Born in Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts
- March 25, 1969Act of valor — Hau Nghia Province, Republic of VietnamAge 21. Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- February 16, 1971Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeArlington National CemeteryArlington, Virginia
Biography
Stephen Holden Doane (October 13, 1947 – March 25, 1969) 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.
From the Wikipedia article “Stephen Holden Doane”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
