Gary Littrell, then a Sergeant First Class, earned the Medal of Honor for one of the most extraordinary displays of endurance and leadership during the Vietnam War. On April 4, 1970, while serving as a Light Weapons Infantry Adviser to the 23rd Battalion, 2nd Ranger Group of the ARVN, his unit came under devastating enemy mortar and ground attack.

The intense barrage killed the battalion commander, one U.S. adviser, and wounded all others—leaving SFC Littrell as the only uninjured American on the hilltop. For the next four days, surrounded and under constant enemy assault, he took command of the situation.

Amidst nonstop fire, SFC Littrell directed artillery and air strikes, moved between positions, tended to the wounded, passed out ammunition, and rallied the Vietnamese troops in their native language. Time and again, he exposed himself to enemy fire to shore up the defenses and hold the perimeter together.

Even during the withdrawal under ambush, he calmly called in airstrikes within 50 meters of friendly troops, saving countless lives. His leadership, selfless courage, and refusal to give in under siege directly saved his battalion from being overrun.

SFC Gary Littrell’s actions were a defining moment of heroism in Vietnam and earned him the nation’s highest military honor.

Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Littrell, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Advisory Team 21, distinguished himself while serving as a Light Weapons Infantry adviser with the 23d Battalion, 2d Ranger Group, Republic of Vietnam Army, near Dak Seang. After establishing a defensive perimeter on a hill on 4 April, the battalion was subjected to an intense enemy mortar attack which killed the Vietnamese commander, one adviser, and seriously wounded all the advisers except Sfc. Littrell. During the ensuing four days, Sfc. Littrell exhibited near superhuman endurance as he singlehandedly bolstered the besieged battalion. Repeatedly abandoning positions of relative safety, he directed artillery and air support by day and marked the unit's location by night, despite the heavy, concentrated enemy fire. His dauntless will instilled in the men of the 23d Battalion a deep desire to resist. Assault after assault was repulsed as the battalion responded to the extraordinary leadership and personal example exhibited by Sfc. Littrell as he continuously moved to those points most seriously threatened by the enemy, redistributed ammunition, strengthened faltering defenses, cared for the wounded, and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language. When the beleaguered battalion was finally ordered to withdraw, numerous ambushes were encountered. Sfc. Littrell repeatedly prevented widespread disorder by directing air strikes to within 50 meters of their position. Through his indomitable courage and complete disregard for his safety, he averted excessive loss of life and injury to the members of the battalion. The sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Sfc. Littrell over an extended period of time were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him and the U.S. Army.

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