James Leroy Bondsteel James Leroy Bondsteel ( July 18 , 1947 – April 9 , 1987 ) was a United States Army soldier who served during the Vietnam War , where he earned the Medal of Honor . Camp Bondsteel , located in Kosovo , is named in his honor . His Medal of Honor , awarded in November 1973 , was the last presented by President Richard Nixon . Biography . James L . Bondsteel was born in Jackson , Michigan to Betty Jean Daisy and her fiancee , Kenneth Bondsteel . He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1965 after graduating from Jonesville , Michigan . He was sent to Korea , where he is most notably known to have contributed his time to an orphanage . Once he had finished his stint in the Corps he joined the Army and was sent to West Germany ; he was later sent to Vietnam . He served in Vietnam during 1969 and 1970 , assigned to Company A , 2nd Battalion , 2nd Infantry , 1st Infantry Division . He received the Medal of Honor for actions taking place on May 24 , 1969 , in An Loc Province , Republic of Vietnam . After his retirement from the Army , he again served his brothers in arms as a vet counselor . He lived in Willow , Alaska with his wife Elaine and his daughters , Angel & Rachel . He died on the Knik Bridge when a trailer full of logs came unhooked from the truck that was pulling it and slammed into the front of his AMC Spirit in 1987 . A tree was placed at Freedoms Foundation Park at Valley Forge , Pennsylvania in his honor . SSG Bondsteel is buried in Alaska at Fort Richardson National Cemetery . There is a monument to him at the Alaska Veterans Memorial at Byers Lake on the Parks Highway . Camp Bondsteel , the main U . S . Army base in Kosovo , is named in his honor . S / Sgt Bondsteel , along with three other Medal of Honor recipients that were from the area , is honored on the Jackson County , MI Medal of Honor Memorial The memorial was dedicated on November 22 , 2011 . Medal of Honor citation . " Citation : " For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty . S / Sgt . Bondsteel distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company A , near the village of Lang Sau . Company A was directed to assist a friendly unit which was endangered by intense fire from a North Vietnamese Battalion located in a heavily fortified base camp . S / Sgt . Bondsteel quickly organized the men of his platoon into effective combat teams and spearheaded the attack by destroying 4 enemy occupied bunkers . He then raced some 200 meters under heavy enemy fire to reach an adjoining platoon which had begun to falter . After rallying this unit and assisting their wounded , S / Sgt . Bondsteel returned to his own sector with critically needed munitions . Without pausing he moved to the forefront and destroyed 4 enemy occupied bunkers and a machine gun which had threatened his advancing platoon . Although painfully wounded by an enemy grenade , S / Sgt . Bondsteel refused medical attention and continued his assault by neutralizing 2 more enemy bunkers nearby . While searching one of these emplacements S / Sgt . Bondsteel narrowly escaped death when an enemy soldier detonated a grenade at close range . Shortly thereafter , he ran to the aid of a severely wounded officer and struck down an enemy soldier who was threatening the officer ' s life . S / Sgt . Bondsteel then continued to rally his men and led them through the entrenched enemy until his company was relieved . His exemplary leadership and great personal courage throughout the 4 - hour battle ensured the success of his own and nearby units , and resulted in the saving of numerous lives of his fellow soldiers . By individual acts of bravery he destroyed 10 enemy bunkers and accounted for a large toll of the enemy , including 2 key enemy commanders . His extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him , his unit , and the U . S . Army .