Robert J . Modrzejewski Robert Joseph Modrzejewski ( born July 3 , 1934 ) is a retired United States Marine Corps officer who was awarded the United States ’ highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for conspicuous gallantry in Vietnam . Biography . Robert Modrzejewski was born on July 3 , 1934 in Milwaukee , Wisconsin . He graduated from Milwaukee ' s Casimir Pulaski High School in 1953 . He attended Wisconsin State Teachers College prior to entering the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee , where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1957 . While at the University of Wisconsin , he was a member of the Platoon Leaders Class and upon graduation , was commissioned a Marine Corps Reserve second lieutenant in June 1957 . He was integrated into the Regular Marine Corps in May 1960 . Second Lieutenant Modrzejewski completed the 4 - 57 Basic Course , The Basic School , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico , Virginia , in March 1958 , then served as an instructor at The Basic School until the following May . From June 1958 until September 1959 , he was attached to the 3rd Battalion , 3rd Marines , 3rd Marine Division , and served as a platoon leader of H & S Company , as well as platoon leader and S - 2 Officer of Company I and Company M , respectively . He was promoted to first lieutenant in December 1958 . Transferred to Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , he served , successively , as Equipment Officer with the Landing Support Company , 2nd Service Battalion , 2nd Marine Division until May 1960 ; Pathfinder Team Leader of the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company , until December 1960 ; Pathfinder Team Leader with Sub Unit One , HMR ( L ) - 262 , MAG - 26 at Marine Corps Air Facility , New River , North Carolina , until May 1961 , and again as Pathfinder Team Leader and Parachute Pathfinder Team Leader with the 2d Force Reconnaissance Company , until May 1962 . While serving in the latter capacity , he served aboard the with Sub Unit # 2 . He was promoted to captain in May 1962 . Captain Modrzejewski saw a three - year tour of duty as Assistant Officer in Charge , Marine Corps Recruiting Station , Cincinnati , Ohio . In May 1965 , he returned to the Marine Corps Schools in Quantico , Virginia , and served as Executive Officer , Company E , Officers Candidates Schools , until August 1965 , then attended the Amphibious Warfare School , completing the course in February 1966 . Ordered to the West Coast , then to the Republic of Vietnam , he assumed duty as Commanding Officer of Company K , 3rd Battalion , 4th Marines , 3rd Marine Division . It was during this period , during Operation Hastings , that he distinguished himself above and beyond the call of duty — for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor . In a White House ceremony on March 12 , 1968 , President Lyndon B . Johnson presented the Medal of Honor to two Marines for their actions in Vietnam — Major Modrzejeski and Second Lieutenant John J . McGinty , III . Captain Modrzejewski later served as Battalion S - 3 and Company Commander until December 1966 , then became Command Operations Center Watch Officer with Headquarters Company , 3rd Marine Division , FMF , until May 1967 . He was promoted to major in January 1967 . Upon his return to the United States in June 1967 , he was assigned to the U . S . Naval Academy in Annapolis , Maryland , as Commanding Officer of the Marine Barracks . In January 1970 , he entered the Armed Forces Staff College , Norfolk , Virginia , and completed the course the following June . He then reported to Marine Corps Air Station , Kaneohe , Hawaii , for duty with Headquarters and Service Company , First Marine Brigade . In 1976 , Modrzejewki earned his master ' s degree in Education from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles , California . Colonel Modrzejewski retired from the Marine Corps in August 1986 . Decorations . A complete list of his medals and decorations includes : the Medal of Honor , the Purple Heart , the Presidential Unit Citation , the National Defense Service Medal , the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars , the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Gold 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 pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to MAJOR ROBERT J . MODRZEJEWSKI 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 as Commanding Officer , Company K , Third Battalion , Fourth Marines , Third Marines , Third Marine Division , in the Republic of Vietnam from 15 to July 18 , 1966 . On July 15 , during Operation HASTINGS , Company K was landed in an enemy infested jungle area to establish a blocking position at a major enemy trail network . Shortly after landing , the company encountered a reinforced enemy platoon in a well organized , defensive position . Major ( then Captain ) Modrzejewski led his men in the successful seizure of the enemy redoubt , which contained large quantities of ammunition and supplies . That evening a numerically superior enemy force counterattacked in an effort to retake the vital supply area , thus setting the pattern of activity for the next two and one - half days . In the first series of attacks , the enemy assaulted repeatedly in overwhelming numbers but each time was repulsed by the gallant Marines . The second night the enemy struck in battalion strength , and Major Modrzejewski was wounded in this intensive action which was fought at close quarters . Although exposed to enemy fire , and despite his painful wounds , he crawled 200 meters to provide critically needed ammunition to an exposed element of his command and was constantly present wherever the fighting was heaviest . Despite numerous casualties , a dwindling supply of ammunition and the knowledge that they were surrounded , he skillfully directed artillery fire to within a few meters of his position and courageously inspired the efforts of his company in repelling the aggressive enemy attack . On July 18 , Company K was attacked by a regimental size enemy force . Although his unit was outnumbered and weakened by the previous fighting , Major Modrzejewski reorganized his men and calmly moved among them to encourage and direct their efforts to heroic limits as they fought to overcome the vicious enemy onslaught . Again he called in air and artillery strikes at close range with devastating effect on the enemy , which together with the bold and determined fighting of the men of Company K , repulsed the fanatical attack of the larger North Vietnamese force . His unparalleled personal heroism and indomitable leadership inspired his men to a significant victory over the enemy force and reflected great credit upon himself , the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service . / S / LYNDON B . JOHNSON Honors . In 2004 , the UWM Alumni Association honored Modrzejewski with a Distinguished Alumnus Award . In 2005 , the State of Oklahoma designated March 26 , 2005 as " Colonel Robert J . Modrzejewski Day " and issued a resolution praising the courage of the Medal of Honor recipient .