Nicholas J . Cutinha Nicholas Joseph Cutinha ( January 13 , 1945 – March 2 , 1968 ) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War . Biography . Cutinha joined the Army from Coral Gables , Florida in 1967 , and by March 2 , 1968 , was serving as a Specialist Four in Company C , 4th Battalion , 9th Infantry Regiment , 25th Infantry Division . During a firefight on that day , near Gia Dinh in the Republic of Vietnam , Cutinha held the enemy at bay with his machine gun and provided suppressive fire to allow for the evacuation of wounded soldiers , despite his own serious wounds . He was killed during the battle and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions . Cutinha , age 23 at his death , was buried in Fort Denaud Cemetery , Fort Denaud , Florida . Cutinha ' s Medal of Honor is under the custodianship of American Legion Post 130 in LaBelle , Florida , where it is on public display . The Post is the only American Legion Post with custodianship of a Medal of Honor . Cutinha ' s medal was presented to the post by his mother so that it could be displayed and so all who view it might remember that " the price of freedom is often paid with the blood of a nation ' s youth " . On November 22 , 2008 , American Legion Post 130 held a commemorative ceremony in honor of Cutinha . Medal of Honor citation . Specialist Cutinha ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty . While serving as a machine gunner with Company C , Sp4c . Cutinha accompanied his unit on a combat mission near Gia Dinh . Suddenly his company came under small arms , automatic weapon s , mortar and rocket propelled grenade fire , from a battalion size enemy unit . During the initial hostile attack , communication with the battalion was lost and the company commander and numerous members of the company became casualties . When Sp4c . Cutinha observed that his company was pinned down and disorganized , he moved to the front with complete disregard for his safety , firing his machine gun at the charging enemy . As he moved forward he drew fire on his own position and was seriously wounded in the leg . As the hostile fire intensified and half of the company was killed or wounded , Sp4c . Cutinha assumed command of all the survivors in his area and initiated a withdrawal while providing covering fire for the evacuation of the wounded . He killed several enemy soldiers but sustained another leg wound when his machine gun was destroyed by incoming rounds . Undaunted , he crawled through a hail of enemy fire to an operable machine gun in order to continue the defense of his injured comrades who were being administered medical treatment . Sp4c . Cutinha maintained this position , refused assistance , and provided defensive fire for his comrades until he fell mortally wounded . He was solely responsible for killing 15 enemy soldiers while saving the lives of at least 9 members of his own unit . Sp4c . Cutinha ' s gallantry and extraordinary heroism were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself , his unit , and the U . S . Army .