2nd Platoon, C Company, 4th/47th Battalion, 2nd Brigade
I am truly proud to have earned the Combat Infantry Badge and the Purple Heart – these are my two most prized possessions. I can tell you that my wound during our June 19, 1967 Battle near Ap Bac Village in the Mekong Delta was likely the lightest of the day – I was extremely fortunate to have survived. Friends all around me were hit and my grenade launcher had a hole blasted through it as I reloaded. At the battle’s end, 47 gallant 4th/47th soldiers had given the ultimate sacrifice and numerous others were wounded, Alpha Company was destroyed and four Huey Helicopters had been shot down. The Viet Cong’s Nha Be Battalion lost 250 killed in action.