Douglas E . Dickey Private First Class Douglas Eugene Dickey ( December 24 , 1946 – March 26 , 1967 ) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism during Operation Beacon Hill 1 , on March 26 , 1967 , while serving as a rifleman with Company C , 1st Battalion , 4th Marines , 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade , 3rd Marine Division , in the Republic of Vietnam . Biography . Douglas Dickey was born on December 24 , 1946 in Greenville , Ohio . He graduated from grammar school in 1961 , and from high school in 1965 . On December 13 , 1965 , he enlisted in the U . S . Marine Corps Reserve at Cincinnati , Ohio , and was discharged to re - enlist in the Regular Marine Corps on April 11 , 1966 . In June 1966 , after completing recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego , California , he was transferred to the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton , California , where he underwent individual combat training with the Second Infantry Training Regiment , graduating in August 1966 . The following October , he joined Company B , 1st Battalion , 4th Marines , 3rd Marine Division , in the Republic of Vietnam . While attached to this unit , he participated in Operation Prairie . He was promoted to private first class on October 1 , 1966 . On November 8 , 1966 , he was transferred to Company C , 1st Battalion , 4th Marines , 3rd Marine Division , and participated in combat against insurgent Communist Viet Cong Forces , in Operations Deckhouse , Desoto and Beacon Hill 1 . It was during the latter engagement that he was mortally wounded on March 26 , 1967 . He is buried in Brock Cemetery , Darke County , Ohio . Decorations . A list of his medals and decorations includes : the Medal of Honor , the Purple Heart with two Gold Stars , the National Defense Service Medal , the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star , and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal . Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to PRIVATE FIRST CLASS DOUGLAS E . DICKEY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Second Platoon , Company C , First Battalion , Fourth Marines , Third Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam on March 26 , 1967 . While participating in Operation BEACON HILL I , the Second Platoon was engaged in a fierce battle with the Viet Cong at close range in dense jungle foliage . Private First Class Dickey had come forward to replace a radio operator who had been wounded in this intense action and was being treated by a medical corpsman . Suddenly an enemy grenade landed in the midst of a group of Marines , which included the wounded radio operator who was immobilized . Fully realizing the inevitable result of his actions , Private First Class Dickey , in a final valiant act , quickly and unhesitatingly threw himself upon the deadly grenade , absorbing with his own body the full and complete force of the explosion . Private First Class Dickey ' s personal heroism , extraordinary valor and selfless courage saved a number of his comrades from certain injury and possible death at the cost of his own life . His actions reflected great credit upon himself , the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service . He gallantly gave his life for his country . / S / LYNDON B . JOHNSON