Clifford Chester Sims Clifford Chester Sims ( June 18 , 1942 – February 21 , 1968 ) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America ' s highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War . Biography . Sims was born Clifford Pittman but was orphaned at an early age . After briefly living in an abandoned school bus and with relatives , he was adopted by James and Irene Sims , at the age of 13 . He met his later wife , Mary , at George Washington High School and joined the Army from Jacksonville , Florida shortly after graduation . He moved to Fort Bragg and married Mary on December 25 , 1961 . In August 1967 , Sims moved to Fort Campbell , Kentucky to join Company D , 2nd Battalion ( Airborne ) , 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment , 101st Airborne Division . By February 21 , 1968 he was serving as a Staff Sergeant . On that day , during an engagement with enemy forces near Huế in the Republic of Vietnam , Sims threw himself onto a triggered booby - trap device . He was killed in the ensuing explosion , but was successful in protecting the members of his squad . Official eye witness reports of the incident report that : " Before the squad reached their destination they encountered a bunker , and SSG Sims took it upon himself to see if it was empty . As he moved forward a booby trap went off and everybody froze . But SSG Sims shouted a warning then dove on it , fatally wounding him . However he had covered the blast with his own body , and thus saved the lives of those in the area . " " [ Sims ] also saved his squad by moving them quickly out of the way of a house filled with ammunition which was burning . Just as he got his men away the house blew up . Then on moving toward a bunker a booby trap was set off , and Sgt Sims yelled for everybody to get back , but before they could he threw himself on the device taking the entire blast to save his squad from complete disaster . In so doing he gave up his own life . Each and every man of the 2nd Squad owes his very life to this man , Staff Sergeant Clifford C . Sims . " Clifford Sims , aged 25 at his death , was buried in Barrancas National Cemetery , Pensacola , Florida . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Staff Sergeant , U . S . Army , Company D , 2d Battalion ( Airborne ) , 501st Infantry , 101st Airborne Division . Place and date : Near Hue , Republic of Vietnam , February 21 , 1968 . Entered service at : Jacksonville , Fla . Born : June 18 , 1942 , Port St . Joe , Fla . Citation : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty . S / Sgt . Sims distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader with Company D . Company D was assaulting a heavily fortified enemy position concealed within a dense wooded area when it encountered strong enemy defensive fire . Once within the woodline , S / Sgt . Sims led his squad in a furious attack against an enemy force which had pinned down the 1st Platoon and threatened to overrun it . His skillful leadership provided the platoon with freedom of movement and enabled it to regain the initiative . S / Sgt . Sims was then ordered to move his squad to a position where he could provide covering fire for the company command group and to link up with the 3rd Platoon , which was under heavy enemy pressure . After moving no more than 30 meters S / Sgt . Sims noticed that a brick structure in which ammunition was stocked was on fire . Realizing the danger , S / Sgt . Sims took immediate action to move his squad from this position . Though in the process of leaving the area 2 members of his squad were injured by the subsequent explosion of the ammunition , S / Sgt . Sims ' prompt actions undoubtedly prevented more serious casualties from occurring . While continuing through the dense woods amidst heavy enemy fire , S / Sgt . Sims and his squad were approaching a bunker when they heard the unmistakable noise of a concealed booby trap being triggered immediately to their front . S / Sgt . Sims warned his comrades of the danger and unhesitatingly hurled himself upon the device as it exploded , taking the full impact of the blast . In so protecting his fellow soldiers , he willingly sacrificed his life . S / Sgt . Sims ' extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the U . S . Army .