Kenneth Michael Kays Kenneth Michael Kays ( September 22 , 1949 – November 29 , 1991 ) 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 . Denied status as a conscientious objector , Kays fled to Canada to avoid getting drafted for military service in Vietnam until the US Army guaranteed he would be able to serve as a medic . Kays joined the Army from Fairfield , Illinois , and by May 7 , 1970 was serving as a private in the Headquarters Company of 1st Battalion , 506th Infantry Regiment , 101st Airborne Division . During a firefight on that day , in Thừa Thiên – Huế Province , Republic of Vietnam , Kays repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to treat wounded soldiers , even after losing his lower left leg to an explosion . He was subsequently promoted to private first class and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions . Kays left the Army while still a private first class . His later life was very tragic . He spent time in mental hospitals and struggled with addiction . He took his own life at age 42 and was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery , Fairfield , Illinois . In 2006 , Randy K . Mills published a book , " Troubled Hero : A Medal of Honor , Vietnam , and the War at Home " , detailing Kays ' s life in Fairfield , Illinois through the Vietnam War . Mills compiled details from the battle at Fire Support Base Maureen , the battle in which Kays would earn the Medal of Honor , from the histories as told by other soldiers who experienced it . Medal of Honor citation . Private Kays ' official Medal of Honor citation reads : For conspicuous gallantry intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty . Pfc . ( then Pvt . ) Kays distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman with Company D , 1st Battalion , 101st Airborne Division near Fire Support Base Maureen . A heavily armed force of enemy sapper s and infantrymen assaulted Company D ' s night defensive position , wounding and killing a number of its members . Disregarding the intense enemy fire and ground assault , Pfc . Kays began moving toward the perimeter to assist his fallen comrades . In doing so he became the target of concentrated enemy fire and explosive charges , 1 of which severed the lower portion of his left leg . After applying a tourniquet to his leg , Pfc . Kays moved to the fire - swept perimeter , administered medical aid to 1 of the wounded , and helped move him to an area of relative safety . Despite his severe wound and excruciating pain , Pfc . Kays returned to the perimeter in search of other wounded men . He treated another wounded comrade , and , using his own body as a shield against enemy bullets and fragments , moved him to safety . Although weakened from a great loss of blood , Pfc . Kays resumed his heroic lifesaving efforts by moving beyond the company ' s perimeter into enemy held territory to treat a wounded American lying there . Only after his fellow wounded soldiers had been treated and evacuated did Pfc . Kays allow his own wounds to be treated . These courageous acts by Pfc . Kays resulted in the saving of numerous lives and inspired others in his company to repel the enemy . Pfc . Kays ' heroism at the risk of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and reflect great credit on him , his unit , and the U . S . Army .