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Alfred
Rascon
Medal of Honor Recipient, Vietnam
Courageous Bravery, Beyond the Call of Duty
Rank and organization:
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Reconnaissance Platoon,
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, 173d Airborne
Brigade
Place and date:
Republic of Vietnam, 16 March 1966
Born: 1945, Chihuahua, Mexico
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| Citation: Specialist Four Alfred Rascon, distinguished
himself by a series of extraordinarily courageous acts on 16 March 1966,
while assigned as a medic to the Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters Company,
1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate). |
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While moving to reinforce its sister battalion under intense
enemy attack, the Reconnaissance Platoon came under heavy fire from a numerically
superior enemy force. The intense enemy fire from crew-served weapons and
grenades severely wounded several point squad soldiers. Specialist Rascon,
ignoring directions to stay behind shelter until covering fire could be
provided, made his way forward. He repeatedly tried to reach the severely
wounded point machine-gunner laying on an open enemy trail, but was driven
back each time by the withering fire. Disregarding his personal safety,
he jumped to his feet, ignoring flying bullets and exploding grenades to
reach his comrade. To protect him from further wounds, he intentionally
placed his body between the soldier and enemy machine guns, sustaining
numerous shrapnel injuries and a serious wound to the hip.
Disregarding his serious wounds he dragged the larger
soldier from the fire-raked trail. Hearing the second machine-gunner yell
that he was running out of ammunition, Specialist Rascon, under heavy enemy
fire crawled back to the wounded machine-gunner stripping him of his bandoleers
of ammunition, giving them to the machine-gunner who continued his suppressive
fire. Specialist Rascon fearing the abandoned machine gun, its ammunition
and spare barrel could fall into enemy hands made his way to retrieve them.
On the way, he was wounded in the face and torso by grenade fragments,
but disregarded these wounds to recover the abandoned machine gun, ammunition
and spare barrel items, enabling another soldier to provide added suppressive
fire to the pinned-down squad. In searching for the wounded, he saw the
point grenadier being wounded by small arms fire and grenades being thrown
at him. Disregarding his own life and his numerous wounds, Specialist Rascon
reached and covered him with his body absorbing the blasts from the exploding
grenades, and saving the soldier's life, but sustaining additional wounds
to his body.
While making his way to the wounded point squad leader,
grenades were hurled at the
sergeant. Again, in complete disregard for his own life,
he reached and covered the sergeant with his body, absorbing the full force
of the grenade explosions. Once more Specialist Rascon was critically wounded
by shrapnel, but disregarded his own wounds to continue to search and aid
the wounded. Severely wounded, he remained on the battlefield, inspiring
his fellow soldiers to continue the battle.
After the enemy broke contact, he disregarded aid for
himself, instead treating the wounded and
directing their evacuation. Only after being placed on
the evacuation helicopter did he allow aid to be given to him. Specialist
Rascon's extraordinary valor in the face of deadly enemy fire, his heroism
in rescuing the wounded, and his gallantry by repeatedly risking his own
life for his fellow soldiers are in keeping with the highest traditions
of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and
the United States Army.
Further information
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