Rodney J . Evans Rodney John Evans ( July 17 , 1948 – July 18 , 1969 ) was a Sergeant in the United States Army ' s 1st battalion of the 12th Cavalry Regiment , 1st Cavalry Division . Evans was killed in action during the Vietnam War in Tay Ninh province . He died protecting other members of his unit from a concealed land mine using his own body , for which he received the Medal of Honor . Biography . Rodney Evans was the adopted son of the Evans family of Florala , Alabama . His parents owned a dry cleaning business . After joining the US Army , he married his High School sweetheart , Barbara Geohagan . Evans was then sent to Vietnam and successfully completed a full tour of duty . Upon his return to the United States , he was stationed at Fort Rucker , Alabama , not far from where he grew up . Due to financial constraints his wife lived with her parents and would drive up to Fort Rucker on weekends to pick him up and take him home . On Thursday , September 5 , 1968 , Barbara was killed in a car accident after going to Ft Rucker to take care of some business . She lost control of her car . Evans became very depressed , re - enlisted and volunteered for another tour in Vietnam . It took over a year for his papers to be processed and for Evans to receive orders for his return to Vietnam . By then , with the help of close friends he had come to grips with his loss . Shortly before his return to Vietnam , he realized his feelings had grown deep for one of these friends , Doris Alford . In fact , Doris had been instrumental in giving Rodney a reason to want to live . She had joined him in honoring Barbara and encouraged him to talk about her and cherish her memory . the impact led him to tell friends and his twin brother , Wyman , he no longer wanted to die and regretted re - upping for Vietnam . After he had left for Vietnam , Doris and his closest friends , the Dunn ' s ( with whom he and Wyman lived after Army enlistment and again after Barbara ' s death ) petitioned legislators and the Army to cut - short Evans ' tour of duty due to the reasons he re - upped — that he was under mental duress . Doris and the Dunn ' s received a call from Evans shortly before his death , while he was on a short " rest and relaxation " break . He was so grateful for the efforts . The word came from one legislator that Evans ' paperwork was being processed and , indeed , he would be returned . It would take a few weeks , but he would be released from the commitment . Less than a week later , Evans was killed in action . Rodney Evans died one day after his twenty - first birthday and is buried in Liberty Hill Cemetery , Florala , Alabama . His name can be found on Panel 20W - Row 014 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington , D . C . . Two other Medal of Honor recipients , Allen J . Lynch ( 1967 ) and John Baca ( 1970 ) served in Company D , 1st Battalion , 12th Cavalry , 1st Cavalry Division . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Sergeant , U . S . Army , Company D , 1st Battalion , 12th Cavalry , 1st Cavalry Division . Place and date : Tay Ninh Province , Republic of Vietnam , July 18 , 1969 . Entered service at : Montgomery , Ala . Born : July 17 , 1948 , Chelsea , Mass . Citation : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty . Sgt . Evans distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while serving as a squad leader in a reconnaissance sweep through heavy vegetation to reconnoiter a strong enemy position . As the force approached a well - defined trail , the platoon scout warned that the trail was booby - trapped . Sgt . Evans led his squad on a route parallel to the trail . The force had started to move forward when a nearby squad was hit by the blast of a concealed mine . Looking to his right Sgt . Evans saw a second enemy device . With complete disregard for his safety he shouted a warning to his men , dived to the ground and crawled toward the mine . Just as he reached it an enemy soldier detonated the explosive and Sgt . Evans absorbed the full impact with his body . His gallant and selfless action saved his comrades from probable death or injury and served as an inspiration to his entire unit . Sgt . Evans ' gallantry in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself , his unit , and the U . S . Army .