Charles Ernest Hosking , Jr . Charles Ernest Hosking , Jr . ( May 12 , 1924 – March 21 , 1967 ) was a United States Army Special Forces soldier who received the U . S . military ' s highest decoration , the Medal of Honor , for his actions in the Vietnam War . He was awarded the medal posthumously for holding a Viet Cong prisoner with a live grenade , taking the brunt of the blast rather than allowing the prisoner to reach several of his commanders . Biography . Born on May 12 , 1924 , in Ramsey , New Jersey , Hosking joined the Army from Fort Dix in 1944 . He served in Vietnam as a sergeant first class in Company A of the 5th Special Forces Group ( Airborne ) , 1st Special Forces Regiment . On March 21 , 1967 , he was working as an advisor to a Civilian Irregular Defense Group battalion in Đôn Luân district , Phuoc Long Province , when a Viet Cong sniper was captured . As Hosking prepared to transport the prisoner to base camp , the man grabbed a hand grenade from Hosking ' s belt , armed it , and ran towards the 4 - man company command group . Hosking tackled the prisoner and held him to the ground , using the prisoner ' s body and his own to shield others from the grenade blast . Both he and the Viet Cong prisoner were killed in the ensuing explosion . Hosking was posthumously promoted to master sergeant and awarded the Medal of Honor for this action . Hosking was buried at Valleau Cemetery in Ridgewood , New Jersey . Hosking Way , a road off of Darlington Avenue in Ramsey , is named in his honor . Medal of Honor citation . Hosking ' 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 . Master Sergeant Hosking ( then Sergeant First Class ) , Detachment A - 302 , Company A , greatly distinguished himself while serving as company advisor in the III Corps Civilian Irregular Defense Group Reaction Battalion during combat operations in Don Luan District . A Viet Cong suspect was apprehended and subsequently identified as a Viet Cong sniper . While MSG Hosking was preparing the enemy for movement back to the base camp , the prisoner suddenly grabbed a hand grenade from MSG Hosking ' s belt , armed the grenade , and started running towards the company command group which consisted of 2 Americans and 2 Vietnamese who were standing a few feet away . Instantly realizing that the enemy intended to kill the other men , MSG Hosking immediately leaped upon the Viet Cong ' s back . With utter disregard for his personal safety , he grasped the Viet Cong in a " Bear Hug " forcing the grenade against the enemy soldier ' s chest . He then wrestled the Viet Cong to the ground and covered the enemy ' s body with his body until the grenade detonated . The blast instantly killed both MSG Hosking and the Viet Cong . By absorbing the full force of the exploding grenade with his body and that of the enemy , he saved the other members of his command group from death or serious injury . MSG Hosking ' s risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest tradition of the U . S . Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country .