John J . Kedenburg John James Kedenburg ( July 31 , 1946 – June 14 , 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 . Kedenburg joined the Army from his birthplace of Brooklyn , New York in 1965 , and by June 13 , 1968 , was serving as a Specialist Five in the 5th Special Forces Group ( Airborne ) , 1st Special Forces . During a fierce firefight on that day , in the Republic of Vietnam / Laos , Kedenburg voluntarily gave the last spot on an extraction helicopter to a South Vietnam ese soldier . Ordering the full helicopter to leave , he then continued to engage the enemy alone until being overrun . A road at Fort Bragg , NC is named in his honor . Kedenburg , aged 21 at his death , was buried in Long Island National Cemetery , Farmingdale , New York . Medal of Honor citation . Specialist Kedenburg ' 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 . Sp5 Kedenburg , U . S . Army , Command and Control Detachment North , Forward Operating Base 2 , 5th Special Forces Group ( Airborne ) , distinguished himself while serving as advisor to a long - range reconnaissance team of South Vietnamese irregular troops . The team ' s mission was to conduct counter - guerrilla operations deep within enemy - held territory . Prior to reaching the day ' s objective , the team was attacked and encircled by a battalion - size North Vietnamese Army force . Sp5 Kedenburg assumed immediate command of the team which succeeded , after a fierce fight , in breaking out of the encirclement . As the team moved through thick jungle to a position from which it could be extracted by helicopter , Sp5 Kedenburg conducted a gallant rear guard fight against the pursuing enemy and called for tactical air support and rescue helicopters . His withering fire against the enemy permitted the team to reach a preselected landing zone with the loss of only 1 man , who was unaccounted for . Once in the landing zone , Sp5 Kedenburg deployed the team into a perimeter defense against the numerically superior enemy force . When tactical air support arrived , he skillfully directed air strikes against the enemy , suppressing their fire so that helicopters could hover over the area and drop slings to be used in the extraction of the team . After half of the team was extracted by helicopter , Sp5 Kedenburg and the remaining 3 members of the team harnessed themselves to the sling on a second hovering helicopter . Just as the helicopter was to lift them out of the area , the South Vietnamese team member who had been unaccounted for after the initial encounter with the enemy appeared in the landing zone . Sp5c . Kedenburg unhesitatingly gave up his place in the sling to the man and directed the helicopter pilot to leave the area . He then continued to engage the enemy who were swarming into the landing zone , killing 6 enemy soldiers before he was overpowered . Sp5 Kedenburg ' s inspiring leadership , consummate courage and willing self - sacrifice permitted his small team to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy and escape almost certain annihilation . His actions reflect great credit upon himself and the U . S . Army .