List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, the Vietnam Conflict, and the American War in Vietnam, took place from 1965 to 1973. It was fought between the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the anticommunist Republic of Vietnam. The est conclues by the defeat of the United States, which had backed the latter.

The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War. It is the highest military decoration presented by the US government to a member of its armed forces. Recipients must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. The nature of the medal makes it commonly be presented after the recipient has been killed (posthumously).

During the Vietnam War, 248 Medals of Honor were received of which 156 were presented posthumously. Soldiers of the US Army received the most, at 161. The US Marines got 57, the US Navy had 16, and the remaining 14 went to the US Air Force. The first medal of the war was presented to Roger H. C. Donlon for rescuing and administering first aid to several wounded soldiers and for leading a group against an enemy force.Murphy, 1987, pp. 13–23 The first African American recipient during the war was Milton L. Olive, III, who sacrificed himself to save others by smothering a grenade with his body.Murphy, 1987, pp. 36–38 Riley L. Pitts was killed after attacking an enemy force with rifle fire and grenades and was the first African American commissioned officer of the war to receive the medal.Murphy, 1987, p. 97 Thomas Bennett was a conscientious objector who received the medal for his actions as a medic.Murphy, 1987, pp. 156–158 Three chaplains received the medal, including Vincent R. Capodanno, who served with the Marine Corps and was known as the grunt padre.Murphy, 1987, pp. 150–151

Recipients

Image Name Service  Rank  Place of action  Date of action NotesArmyKon Tum Province, Republic of VietnamKilled while flying his helicopter in a rescue missionArmyRepublic of VietnamAfter participating in the defeat of an enemy assault he was killed in hand-to-hand combat75px|alt=Head of a young black man wearing a dark military jacket and a white peaked cap with a black visor.Marine CorpsNear Cam Lo, Republic of VietnamFor covering an enemy grenade with his body to protect fellow Marines75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a young white man with a cleft chin wearing a dark military jacket and a white peaked cap with a black visor.Marine CorpsQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamFor covering an enemy grenade with his body to protect fellow Marines on a recon mission.ArmyTam Kỳ, Republic of VietnamAlthough wounded multiple times he continued to fight and refused medical aid until the enemy attack was overArmyLang Vei—South Vietnamnear Lang Vei, Republic of Vietnam – Risked his life attempting to save the lives of his entrapped comrades and commanding officer75px|alt=Head of a young black man staring intently at the camera, wearing a dark military jacket and a white peaked cap with a black visor.Marine CorpsDa Nang—South Vietnamwest of Da Nang, Republic of VietnamThrew himself between enemy fire and an injured fellow MarineArmyPhuoc Long Province, Republic of VietnamCovered a grenade with his helmet and body, saving eight menArmyTam Ky—South Vietnamwest of Tam Kỳ, Republic of VietnamRisked his life by repeatedly leading groups of men in fighting back an enemy attackArmyRepublic of VietnamHe was directly responsible for saving the lives of several of his comrades, and inflicting serious damage on the enemy.NavyQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamRisked his life by smothering a grenade with his own body75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a young white man wearing a white peaked cap with a black visor and a dark military jacket with bright buttons down the center.Marine CorpsCon Thien—South Vietnamnear Con Thien, Republic of VietnamThrew himself on a grenade to save fellow MarinesArmyĐắk Tô, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life by throwing himself directly onto a hand grenade as it exploded.75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a middle-aged white man wearing a white peaked cap with oak leaf decorations on the visor and a dark military jacket with two rows of medals hanging from ribbons pinned to his chest and another medal hanging from his neck.Marine CorpsKy Phu, Quang Tin Province, Republic of VietnamAssumed command of a rifle company upon death of the commander in an ambush, directed the counterattackArmyKon Tum Province, Republic of VietnamEndured hostile gunfire and serious injuries to save several wounded soldiers75pxArmyPlei Djerang, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himArmyKon Tum Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himArmyLoc Ninh—South Vietnamwest of Lộc Ninh, Republic of VietnamFor a series of daring and valorous actions despite severe wounds75px|alt=Head of a young white man with thick hair wearing a dark military jacket with a "U.S." pin on the lapel.Air ForceQuang Tri, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to save the life of his passengerArmyChu Pa Region, Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam – For saving many lives as a medic during a number of vicious firefights. Second conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor.ArmyBinh Dinh Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around him75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a young white man wearing a dark peaked cap and a dark military jacket over a shirt and tie. On the collar of the shirt is a bar-shaped pin.Marine CorpsQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamHeld his position in the face of enemy ambush despite having his lower leg blown off allowing the remainder of his outnumbered unit to move to safetyArmyAn Loc, Bình Phước Province, Republic of VietnamHe destroyed 10 enemy bunkers and accounted for a large toll of the enemy, including two key enemy commandersArmyBinh Duong Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himArmyChu Lai—South Vietnamnear Chu Lai, Republic of VietnamFlew multiple missions against heavy fire to evacuate 51 wounded menMarine CorpsFire Support Base Tomahawk, Quang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamCarried an explosive device away from three other MarinesArmyLong Khánh District, Republic of VietnamShowed conspicuous leadership while organizing his unit's defense during a 34-hour enemy attack75px|Bucha in 2011ArmyPhuoc Vinh—Binh Duong Province—South Vietnamnear Phuoc Vinh, Binh Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam – Led his company in the decimation of a superior enemy force which left 156 dead on the battlefieldArmyChau Doc Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to lead his men against the enemy and personally destroyed two enemy bunkers with hand grenadesMarine Corpssouthern Quang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamAfter his unit was ambushed, he assaulted the enemy forces, allowing the remainder of the unit to recover wounded and continue their advance75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a white man with short hair neatly combed, wearing a dark suit coat and tie.NavyQuang Tin Province, Republic of VietnamA Chaplain who was killed while attempting to rescue a wounded corpsmanNavyQuang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamWas killed while providing medical attention to several wounded MarinesMarine CorpsQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to save several Marines by smothering a grenade with his body75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a man with gray hair, a full gray beard, and tinted glasses in a tuxedo. A medal, hanging from a blue ribbon around his neck, sits just below his bow tie.ArmyRepublic of Vietnam – Risked his life by attacking a wave of enemy forces alone to allow the rest of his platoon to escapeMarine CorpsRepublic of VietnamRisked his life to rescue several Marines and corpsman from a minefieldMarine CorpsQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamFor assaulting an enemy position and aiding a fallen Marine despite severe wounds to himselfMarine CorpsQuang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamFor absorbing the blast of a malfunctioning grenade in order to protect his fellow MarinesMarine CorpsRepublic of Vietnam – For assisting fellow prisoners while a prisoner of war75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a dark-haired white man wearing a dark military jacket with four rows of ribbon bars and a winged pin on the left breast.ArmyBattle of Ia DrangFor repeatedly flying into a landing zone under intense enemy fire to rescue and resupply ground troopsMarine CorpsCam Lo—South Vietnamnear Cam Lộ, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to save five Marines by smothering a grenade with his bodyArmyHiệp Đức Valley area, Republic of VietnamFor single-handedly destroying two bunkers while under fire from a third machine gun during an ambushArmyGia Dinh—South Vietnamnear Gia Dinh, Republic of VietnamMaintained his position, refused assistance, and provided defensive fire for his comrades until he fell mortally wounded. He was solely responsible for killing 15 enemy soldiers while saving the lives of at least nine members of his own unit.75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a young man with thick-framed glasses in military uniform. He is wearing a peaked cap and a military jacket with a "US" pin on the lapel over a shirt and dark tieArmyAn Khê, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around him75px|alt=Head of a young black man looking off to the side, wearing a white peaked cap with black visor and dark military jacket.Marine CorpsQuang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to save several of his fellow Marines by smothering a grenade with his body75px|alt=A white man with thick hair and a closely trimmed beard standing with his hands crossed in front of him. He is wearing a suit coat with a star-shaped medal hanging from a ribbon around his neck.ArmyCai Lay—South VietnamWest of Cai Lay, Republic of VietnamFor defending his 42-man unit from hundreds of attacking Viet Cong75px|alt=Head and shoulders of an older white man with glasses, wearing a white military jacket with a very large array of ribbon bars on the left breast and two medals hanging from ribbons around his neck.Air ForceNorth VietnamFor actions as a prisoner of war from August 26, 1967–March 4, 1973Marine CorpsDa Nang—South Vietnamnear Da Nang, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life and saved several Marines by blocking them from the blast of a grenade75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a man with short hair and a round face in a dark blue military jacket. Rows of ribbon bars and a winged pin are on his left breast and a medal hangs from a light blue ribbon around his neck.Air ForceNorth Vietnamover North VietnamFlew repeated close range strikes to silence enemy defensive positions, ignoring overwhelming firepower and damage to his own aircraftArmySaigon—South Vietnamnear Saigon, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to draw the enemy fire upon himself allowing a trapped squad to rejoin their platoonMarine CorpsQuế Sơn Mountains, Republic of VietnamAlthough severely wounded multiple times by enemy fire he continued to throw grenades at an enemy bunker until it was destroyed and he was killed by enemy gunfire.Marine CorpsRepublic of VietnamSacrificed his life to save several fellow Marines by diving on a grenade and absorbing the explosion with his body75px|Dix in 2010|alt=Profile of a white man with a full, gray beard wearing a star-shaped medal from a blue ribbon around his neck.ArmyChau Doc Province, Republic of Vietnam – His actions resulted in 14 confirmed Viet Cong killed in action and possibly 25 more, the capture of 20 prisoners, 15 weapons, and the rescue of the 14 United States and free world civiliansArmyHậu Nghĩa Province, Republic of VietnamAlthough already wounded, he sacrificed his life to save other soldiers who were pinned down by silencing two enemy gun emplacements and diving into a third with a grenade.ArmyRepublic of VietnamFor silencing three enemy positions and rescuing several wounded comrades75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a white man with short hair, wearing a military jacket with a star-shaped medal hanging from a ribbon around his neck.ArmyNam Dong—South Vietnamnear Nam Dong, Republic of VietnamRescued and administered first aid to several wounded soldiers and led a group to defeat an enemy force causing them to retreat leaving behind 54 of their dead, many weapons, and grenades.ArmyQuang Tin Province, Republic of VietnamAlthough wounded he directed fire onto enemy positions and rescued several wounded soldiersArmyRepublic of VietnamAlthough wounded he directed fire on enemy positions and continued to fight until he died from his wounds75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a young white man wearing a garrison cap with a large badge on the left side and a military jacket with a braided shoulder cord and several patches and pins on the lapels, shoulders, and chest.ArmyPhù Mỹ District, Republic of VietnamWas killed while attempting to rescue a wounded soldier from a personnel carrierNavyHai Phong, North Vietnam and Risked his life by attacking an enemy SAM site and other enemy targets multiple times75pxAir ForceLima Site 85, LaosExposed himself to enemy fire in order to place his three surviving wounded comrades in rescue slings permitting them to be airlifted to safety. It took an act of Congress for Etchberger to be reconsidered for this 2010 Medal of Honor, since the existence of Lima Site 85 had to be kept secret in 1968.ArmyTam Tri, Republic of VietnamEvans Army Community Hospital, Ft Carson, was named after Evans. Was a medic who was killed while treating and rescuing members of his unit.ArmyTay Ninh Province, Republic of VietnamKilled protecting others during an ambush75px|alt=Head of a man with short, dark hair wearing a formal military uniform. Rows of ribbon bars and a winged pin are on his left breast, and a medal hangs from a light blue ribbon around his neck.ArmyHuế, Republic of VietnamRisked his life by flying his helicopter into heavy enemy fire to evacuate several wounded passengers and aircrew of a downed helicopterArmyCủ Chi, Hậu Nghĩa Province, Republic of VietnamThrew himself on an enemy grenade as it exploded, saving the lives of four comrades at the sacrifice of his life75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a white man with a half-smile and short hair, wearing a military jacket with rows of ribbon bars on the left breast and a star-shaped medal hanging from a ribbon around his neck. A depiction of the same medal, gold with a blue ribbon, is in the upper left of the image.Air ForceBiên Hòa and Pleiku, VietnamFor rescuing a downed airman despite heavy fireArmyKhe Sanh, Republic of VietnamFor absorbing an explosive charge and continuing to fight with weapons and hand to hand before successfully defending a bunker.ArmyBinh Duong Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himAir ForceDuc Co—South Vietnamnear Duc Co, Republic of VietnamFor the rescue of a six-man special forces unit75px|alt=Portrait of a middle-aged white man in a formal military uniform in front of a U.S. flag|Robert F. FoleyArmyQuan Dau Tieng—South Vietnamnear Quan Dau Tieng, Republic of VietnamDespite his painful wounds he refused medical aid and persevered in the forefront of the attack on the enemy redoubt. He led the assault on several enemy gun emplacements and, single-handedly, destroyed three such positions.ArmyLong Khánh Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life by smothering a grenade with his bodyMarine CorpsCon Thien—South Vietnamnear Con Thien, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life by smothering a grenade with his bodyArmyA Shau Valley, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life in an attempt to defuse a claymore mineArmyKien Hoa Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around him75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a white man wearing a white peaked cap and a dark military jacket with ribbon bars on the right breast, two rows of medals hanging from ribbons on the left breast, and a star-shaped medal hanging from a light-blue ribbon at the neck. Behind him are an American flag and a red and yellow flag.Marine CorpsQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamAlthough wounded he directed fire on the enemy and led his platoon to drive the enemy backArmyQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around him.75px|alt=Profiles of two men shaking hands. The man on the right, wearing a dark suit, has his left hand on the other man's shoulder. The man on the left is taller and wearing glasses, a military jacket, and a light-blue ribbon around his neck.ArmyIa Drang Valley, Republic of VietnamFor gallantry conducted as a UH–1 Huey pilot at LZ X–RayArmyBinh Long Province, Republic of VietnamDespite his wounds he returned to his position, assisted his men, and refused medical attention until all of his wounded comrades had been treated and evacuatedArmyMy Canh, VietnamSacrificed his life by single-handedly destroying several enemy gun positions until he was killedArmyA Shau Valley, Republic of Vietnam – For providing covering fire for a medic working on a wounded soldierMarine CorpsThua Thien—Hue—South Vietnamnear Thua Thien, Republic of VietnamAlthough seriously wounded he destroyed an enemy bunker and fought back an enemy attack until he was killedMarine CorpsRepublic of VietnamAfter fighting off the enemy he sacrificed his life allowing the rest of his company to return to friendly lines while he remained alone with an injured soldier who could not be moved due to his wounds.ArmyPleiku Province, Republic of VietnamFought off an enemy attack until killed by an enemy rocketArmyRepublic of VietnamKilled by enemy mortar fire while attempting to rescue several injured MarinesMarine CorpsQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamFor courageous leadership on an eight-man Marine recon patrolArmyQuan Tan Uyen Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life by smothering a grenade with his body75px|alt=A black and white image of Hagemeister wearing his military dress uniform with ribbons and badges without a hat.ArmyBinh Dinh Province, Republic of VietnamRisked his life to render medical aid to several injured soldiers and protected them until they could be evacuatedArmyA Shau Valley, Republic of VietnamFor attempting to aid a critically wounded Special reconnaissance team member Bruce Allen Berg during a massive North Vietnamese Army assault.ArmyHậu Nghĩa, Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering an explosion with his body to protect those around himArmyBinh Dinh Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life and attacked a group of enemy soldiers so that several injured members of his squad could escapeArmyDak To—Quang Trang Province—South Vietnamnear Đắk Tô, Quang Trang Province, Republic of VietnamRisked his life to protect several wounded soldiers by smothering a grenade with his bodyArmyDon Dien Lo Ke, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to eliminate two companies of the enemy, rescue a fellow soldier and destroyed the starlight scope attached to his rifle to prevent its capture and use by the Viet Cong.75px|alt=Head and torso of a smiling young man standing in front of a wooden staircase, wearing a short-sleeved military shirt with shoulder cords and a garrison cap.ArmyQuan Loi—South Vietnamnear Quan Loi, Republic of VietnamRisked his life to lead his men to fight back an attacking enemy force three times75px|alt=A black and white image of Hooper wearing his army dress uniform with tie and no hat. He is turned slightly to the left.ArmyHue—South Vietnamnear Huế, Republic of VietnamRepeatedly risked his life to rescue wounded soldiers and attack groups of enemy soldiers, clearing multiple bunkers and houses sometimes single-handed. Refused medical treatment or evacuation until after action and his men were settled. Most decorated soldier during Vietnam War. Arguably the most decorated U.S. Army soldier in history (counting only U.S. citations).ArmyPhuoc Long Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around him75px|alt=A black and white image of Howard wearing his dress blue uniform with medals and no hat. His Medal of honor can be seen around his neck and he is turned slightly to the left.Marine CorpsRepublic of VietnamRepeateadly repulsed enemy attacks and although severely wounded was able maintain control of his unit until help could arrive75px|A black-and-white photo of older balding white man in his dress military uniform without a hatArmyRepublic of VietnamFor actions during a rescue mission in enemy territoryMarine CorpsRepublic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himArmyDuc Pho—South Vietnamnear Duc Pho, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around him75px|alt=A smiling young man in military uniform, crouching with his forearms resting on his legs. His soft cap is pushed high up on his forehead and his dog tags hang out of his short-sleeved button shirt.NavyQuảng Ngãi Province, Republic of VietnamAlthough badly wounded he continued to assist and treat the injuries of the Marines around him who had been hurt in combat with the enemyAir ForceKham Duc, Republic of VietnamFor a daring airborne rescue of American special forces troops75px|alt=A color photo of an older white man in a leather jacket with a large American flag in the background. He is looking down toward the ground and is holding a microphone.ArmyKien Phong Province, Republic of VietnamDrove off squads of enemy soldiers on three occasions who were searching for allied wounded and weapons. He killed three and wounding several othersArmyKien Phong Province, Republic of VietnamRepeatedly attacked the enemy and although severely wounded risked his life to rescue several wounded soldiersMarine CorpsFire Support Base Argonne, Republic of VietnamFor using his body to shield a fellow Marine from a grenade blastArmyKim Song Valley, Republic of VietnamRepeatedly attacked and defended his unit from enemy fire and assisted 8 wounded men who were trapped behind enemy lines75px|alt=A black and white headshot of Jiminez wearing his military dress blue uniform with hat. He is looking slightly to the right.Marine CorpsQuang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamKilled while attacking a group of enemy soldiersArmyRepublic of VietnamProvided medical treatment to fellow soldiers while under heavy fire, despite being wounded twice, during Operation HumpArmyDak to—Kontum Province—South Vietnamnear Đắk Tô, Kontum Province, Republic of VietnamRepeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to man several different machine-guns until the enemy had been fought backMarine CorpsQuan Duc Valley—South Vietnamnear the Quan Duc Valley, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himArmyTay Ninh Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering explosive blasts with his body to protect those around himAir ForceDong Hoi—North Vietnamnear Đồng Hới, North VietnamRisked his life to fly his heavily damaged plane back to base to relay the location of a downed pilotArmyKon Tum Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to save other soldiers by smothering a grenade with his body75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a young man wearing a peaked cap, black thick-rimmed glasses, and a military jacket with a round pin on each lapel over a shirt and tie.ArmyCamp Radcliff, Republic of VietnamFor smothering an explosive blast with his body to protect those around himArmyThua Thien Province, Republic of VietnamRisked his life to assist several fallen comrades and although injured in the attempt was able to administer first aid to himself and several of the wounded and helped them to safety.ArmyRepublic of VietnamFor letting a Vietnamese soldier take his spot in a helicopter rescue, while he stayed behind to attempt to hold off advancing Viet Cong by which he was overrun.75px|alt=A black and white image showing the Keith from the waist up wearing his military dress uniform with hat.Marine CorpsQuảng Ngãi Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to single-handedly eliminate a group of enemy soldiers75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a white man with wild white hair and a full beard wearing a dark suit with a star-shaped medal hanging from a blue ribbon around his neck.ArmyAp Bac Zone, Republic of VietnamAssaulted an enemy platoon with another soldier preventing further casualtiesNavyOng Muong Canal, Kien Hoa Province, Republic of VietnamSuccessfully relayed commands through one of his men until an enemy attack was silenced and the boats he was leading were able to move to safety75px|alt=A black and white image of Kellogg from the chest up wearing his military dress blue uniform with medals. There is an American flag and a Marine Corps flag behind him and his Medal of Honor is around his neck.Marine CorpsQuang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around him75px|alt=A color image of Kerrey from the waist up wearing a suit and tie. He is smiling at the camera and there is a book shelf with books behind him.NavyNha Trang Bay—South Vietnamnear Nha Trang Bay, Republic of VietnamLed his SEAL team on a mission to capture important members of the enemy and although seriously injured in the battle they eliminated an enemy force and took several prisoners. Later became a U.S. Senator.ArmyVinh Long—South Vietnamnear Vĩnh Long, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himArmyTay Ninh Province, Republic of VietnamFor taking command of his platoon and exposing himself to enemy fire to reestablish communication, tend to wounded men, and continued fightingArmyKien Hoa Province, Republic of VietnamFor destroying three enemy bunkers with grenades and rifle fire, helping to secure an enemy supply cache and directing his men after being seriously wounded.ArmyPleiku Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himArmyQuang Tin Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life by using his own body as a shield in an attempt to save a wounded soldierNavyRepublic of VietnamFor the rescue of two downed naval aviatorsArmyBong Son—Binh Dinh Province—South Vietnamnear Bong Son, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of VietnamRushed an enemy machine gun to distract the enemy so that his wounded comrades could be moved to safetyArmyPhước Thành Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around him75px|alt=A black and white image of Lee from the waist up in his military dress blue uniform with medals and hat. His Medal of Honor can be seen around his neck.Marine CorpsCam Lo—South Vietnamnear Cam Lo, Republic of Vietnam – Volunteered to reinforce squad of Marines who were under heavy fire. He assumed command and directed the defense of their position and despite being wounded by a grenade, he continued to direct them, saving many lives.ArmyPhu Bai—Thua Thien Province—South Vietnamnear Phu Bai, Thua Thien Province, Republic of VietnamExposed himself to enemy fire and overran an enemy squad continuing to provide cover fire until the lead element had overrun a second enemy squad and he fell mortally wounded.ArmyPhuoc Long Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to shield another soldier from a rocket blast, absorbing the full blast with his body. He continued to direct his men and refused treatment until his men were taken care of.ArmyTay Ninh Province, Republic of VietnamThe only Canadian recipient since World War II, and one of only four since 1900. He received it for exposing himself to enemy gunfire multiple times. While wounded he secured a machine gun and fired on the enemy refusing evacuation until his injured comrades were taken.ArmySuoi Da—South Vietnamnear Suoi Da, Republic of VietnamAfter being shot in the hand by a sniper he exposed himself to enemy gunfire and charged a machine gun, killing the enemy there. He was shot multiple times and propped himself up against a tree and continued to fire until he succumbed to his injuries.75px|alt=A color image of Levitow wearing his dress military uniform with ribbons and no hat. His Medal of Honor can be seen around his neck.Air ForceLong Binh Army post, Republic of VietnamFor diving on top of a flare, to eject it from an aircraft, saving it and entire crew on boardArmyPhuoc—Lac—Bien Hoa Province—South Vietnamnear Phuoc-Lac, Biên Hòa Province, Republic of VietnamWas a Chaplain who carried 20 wounded men from the battlefield under heavy fire who later renounced his medal of honorArmyKon Tum Province, Republic of Vietnam – Risked his life to direct artillery and air support by day and marked the unit's location by night, despite enemy fire he led his men against the enemy until help arrived.75px|alt=A black and white headshot of Livingston wearing his military dress uniform with a hat and ribbons. He is looking directly at the camera and there is an American flag in the background.Marine CorpsDai Do, Republic of VietnamAlthough twice painfully wounded by grenade fragments, he refused medical treatment and courageously led his men in the destruction of over 100 mutually supporting bunkers, driving the remaining enemy from their positions, and relieving the pressure on the stranded Marine company. Also while wounded an in the open, continued to give orders to his troops to repel the enemy. He refused to be evacuated until his men were safe.ArmyRepublic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himArmyĐắk Tô, Republic of VietnamFor providing covering fire at the cost of his own life during a withdrawalArmyFire Support Base Ripcord, Republic of Vietnam – For extraordinary heroism while serving as the commanding officer of the 2d Battalion75px|alt=A black and white image of a Lynch wearing a baseball hat and a jacket with his medal of honor visible around his neck.ArmyMy An—Bien Dinh Province—South Vietnamnear Mỹ An (2), Binh Dinh Province, Republic of VietnamFor providing critical aid to wounded comrades under heavy fire75px|alt=Head and shoulders of an older man with thinning hair wearing a dark suit coat, white shirt, and red tie. A star-shaped medal hangs from a light blue ribbon around his neck and on his lapel is a small round blue pin.ArmyIa Drang Valley—South Vietnamnear Ia Drang Valley, Republic of VietnamFor actions in Ia Drang, in which he led a successful one man assault on an enemy hillMarine CorpsBinh Son, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to move a wounded comrade to safety75px|alt=A black and white image of Maxam wearing his military dress blue uniform with hat.Marine CorpsCam Lộ District, Quảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to single-handedly repel a large enemy force from attacking through a weakened perimeter for over 1½ hours.75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a white man wearing a peaked cap and a military jacket with yellow buttons and four rows of ribbon bars on the left breast. A star-shaped medal is hanging from a light blue ribbon around his neck.ArmyQuang Tin Province, Republic of VietnamAlthough wounded in an assault on a bunker complex he continued attacking until wounded a second time by shrapnel eliminating the enemy from the hillArmyKontum City—South Vietnamnear Kontum City, Republic of VietnamWas killed after attacking the enemy multiple times with grenades and rifle fireMarine CorpsRepublic of VietnamFound a separated unit of twenty wounded men, reloaded their weapons and directed their fire at the enemy until they attempted a counter-attack. He then directed fire at the enemy and although wounded adjusted artillery and air strikes within fifty yards of his position until the enemy had been repelled.ArmySong Mao—South Vietnamnear Song Mao, Republic of VietnamSingle-handedly destroyed an enemy bunker, rescued a wounded comrade from under heavy fire, and attacked and destroyed two more bunkers by himself before being mortally wounded while attacking a fourth bunker.ArmyQuang Tin Province, Republic of VietnamWhile attempting to rescue three wounded soldiers despite heavy enemy fire, he was able to carry two of the men to safety but was killed while trying to rescue the third.75px|alt=a colored image of an elderly McNerney in a business suit wearing his Medal of Honor around his neck. He is facing to the left.ArmyPolei Doc, Republic of VietnamDespite being wounded after his unit was attacked, he assumed command of the unit when the company commander was killed, organized the defense, and helped arrange a helicopter evacuation of the wounded. He refused his own medical evacuation and instead stayed with the company until a new commander arrived.ArmyBinh Dinh Province, Republic of VietnamRepeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to treat his wounded comrades despite being wounded three times himself and continued to help his fellow soldiers until suffering a fourth and fatal wound.ArmyRepublic of VietnamSingle-handedly destroyed a Viet Cong bunker and was then killed while chasing the retreating enemy soldiers.ArmyKon Tum Province, Republic of VietnamHe single-handedly held off an enemy assault, arranged for a helicopter extraction of his unit, and again fought off the enemy alone until relief arrived, although wounded himself.ArmyBinh Duong Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around him75px|alt=alt=A black-and-white photo of Modrzejewski from the waist up in his military dress blue uniform with hat and medals. There is an American flag and a Marine Corps flag in the background and his Medal of Honor is around his neck.Marine CorpsRepublic of Vietnam – Led his men in the seizure of enemy ammunition and supplies and continued to counterattack the enemy using artillery fire and air support.ArmyKon Tum Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himArmyBong Son, Hoài Nhơn District, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himMarine CorpsQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamFor creating a diversion at the expense of his own life and providing his squad time to evacuate two wounded soldiersArmyRepublic of VietnamContinued to lead his squad, fight the enemy, and help the wounded despite being wounded himself four separate times.ArmyHiep Duc—South Vietnamnear Hiep Duc, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himArmyGiao Duc District, Dinh Tuong Province, Republic of VietnamFor covering a grenade with his body in order to protect those around himMarine CorpsQuang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamKilled while single-handedly attacking an enemy force breaking up and disorganizing the enemy75px|alt=A black and white headshot photo of Noonan in his military dress blue uniform with hat.Marine CorpsVandegrift Combat Base—A Shau Valley—South Vietnamnear Vandergrift Combat Base, A Shau Valley, Republic of VietnamKilled while attempting to rescue a wounded man75px|alt=Head and shoulders of an older white man with a large scar above his left eyebrow. He is wearing a dark suit coat with an American flag pin on the lapel and a star-shaped medal hangs from a light blue ribbon around his neck.NavyQuảng Trị Province, Republic of Vietnam – Rescued two downed pilots deep within heavily controlled enemy territoryArmyKien Tuong Province, Republic of VietnamFor the rescue of 29 American and South Vietnamese soldiers from a heavily fortified enemy training area without any cover or gunship support.ArmyPhu Cuong, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body. The first African American Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War.ArmyRepublic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a white man with a pointed mustache, wearing a star-shaped medal on a blue ribbon around his neck.|O'Malley in 2010Marine CorpsAn Cu'ong—South Vietnamnear An Cu'ong 2, South VietnamRisked his life and led his men to repeatedly attack the enemy, assist another Marine unit that had inflicted heavy casualties and led his unit to a helicopter for evacuation.NavyMekong River, Republic of VietnamPlaced himself between an enemy grenade and his shipmates, absorbing most of the blast fragments with his own body in order to protect his shipmates from injury and death.75px|alt=A gray-haired white man wearing a formal military uniform with a star-shaped medal hanging from a ribbon around his neck|Robert M. PattersonArmyLa Chu—South Vietnamnear La Chu, Republic of VietnamDuring a firefight he single-handedly destroyed a series of enemy bunkersMarine CorpsChu Lai—South Vietnamnear Chu Lai, Republic of VietnamKilled while defending his wounded comrades from the enemy and delivered effective suppressive fire in order to divert the Viet Cong long enough to allow the casualties to be evacuated.75px|alt=A color image showing Penry from the waist up in his military dress uniform with ribbons. His Medal of Honor is visible around his neck.ArmyBinh Tuy Province, Republic of VietnamHelped to organize defenses and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to retrieve supplies and return fire. Voluntarily left the perimeter, set up a guiding beacon, established the priorities for evacuation and successively carried 18 wounded men to the extraction site. After all wounded had been evacuated he joined another platoon and assisted in pursuing the enemy.Marine CorpsQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed himself by smothering an enemy grenade with his body to save the lives of three fellow Marines and is the only combat photographer to have received the Medal of Honor.75px|alt=A black and white image showing the head and upper torso of Peters wearing his military dress uniform with ribbons.Marine CorpsQuang Tin Province, Republic of VietnamAfter being struck by enemy mortar, machine gun, and small arms fire he continuously fought and led his men against the enemy until dying from his wounds.ArmyTay Ninh Province, Republic of VietnamRepeatedly exposed himself and his armored personnel carrier to enemy fire in order to protect the other soldiers of his unit and after his vehicle was disabled, he stayed behind and was killed while providing covering fire so others could withdraw.75px|alt=A black and white headshot image of Phipps wearing his military dress uniform with hat.Marine CorpsAn Hoa—South Vietnamnear An Hoa, Republic of VietnamSacrificed himself to save others by smothering an enemy grenade with his bodyArmyBen Cat—South Vietnamnear Ben Cat, Republic of VietnamSacrificed himself to save others by smothering an enemy grenade with his bodyAir ForceCam My—South Vietnamnear Cam My, Republic of VietnamFor refusing evacuation while tending wounded and defending the unit's position75px|alt=A black and white image showing the head and torso if Pittman wearing his Marine Corps dress uniform with medals. His Medal of Honor is visible around his neck.Marine CorpsDemilitarized Zone—South Vietnamnear the Demilitarized Zone, Republic of VietnamRisked his life to assist a group of Marines who had been attacked by a larger enemy forceArmyAp Dong, Republic of VietnamKilled after attacking an enemy force with rifle fire and grenades. Was the first African American commissioned officer to be awarded the Medal of Honor.Marine CorpsQuang Nai—South Vietnamnear Quang Nai, Republic of VietnamFor rescuing a group of surrounded American troops with his helicopterArmyQue Son Valley, Quang Tin Province, Republic of VietnamRescued a wounded comrade and then smothered the blast of an enemy-thrown grenade with his body to protect other soldiers. He survived the blast, but was seriously wounded and captured by the enemy dying while a prisoner of war ten months later.ArmyTay Ninh Province, Republic of VietnamWas wounded when attempting to rescue a wounded soldier and despite his injuries, led his platoon and succeeded in destroying an enemy bunker before being killed.75px|alt=A black and white image showing the head and shoulders of Pless in his Marine Corps dress uniform with hat.Marine CorpsAn Hoa—South Vietnamnear An Hoa, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to direct fire at the enemy at point blank rangeArmyQuang Nai, Republic of VietnamSacrificed himself to ensure evacuation helicopters were able to withdraw his team.75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a white man wearing a t-shirt and a military jacket, unbuttoned at the collar, with the word "Rabel" on his right breast and "U.S. Army" on his left. He has on a beret and is holding a rifle over his shoulder by its barrel.ArmyBinh Dinh Province, Republic of VietnamFor falling on a grenade to save his comrades75px|alt=A color image showing Rascon from the waist up in his military dress uniform with ribbons. His Medal of Honor is visible around his neck and an American flag is visible in the background.ArmyRepublic of VietnamSpecialist Rascon's showed extraordinary valor in the face of deadly enemy fire, heroism in rescuing the wounded, and gallantry by repeatedly risking his own life for his fellow soldiers.NavyQuang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamFor gallantry and intrepidity in defending his position and giving aid to wounded MarinesArmyIa Drang Valley, Republic of VietnamFor eliminating enemy fire with available weapons and shielding his men from an enemy grenadeMarine CorpsDa Nang—South Vietnamnear Da Nang, Republic of VietnamFor attempting to rescue one of his wounded men on a Marine recon patrolArmyKon Tum Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to save his fellow soldiers by smothering a grenade with his body75px|alt=A color image of Roberts wearing his Army Green Uniform. There is an American flag and a Medal of Honor flag in the background.ArmyThua Thien Province, Republic of VietnamFor efforts in retrieving wounded personnel and defending his platoonArmyRepublic of VietnamSacrificed his life to destroy an enemy bunker and protect several of his fellow soldiers75px|alt=A black and white image showing the head and shoulders of Rocco in his military dress uniform with ribbons.Armynortheast of Katum, Republic of VietnamDistinguished himself when he volunteered to accompany a medical evacuation team on an urgent mission to evacuate eight critically wounded Army of the Republic of Vietnam personnel.75px|alt=A black and white image showing Rogers form the waist up in his military uniform with ribbons. His Medal of Honor can be seen around his neck.ArmyFishhook, near Cambodian border, Republic of VietnamRisked his life to repel the enemy and protect his soldiers during an enemy assault on his firebase.ArmyTay Ninh Province, Republic of VietnamFor efforts in directing an air strike on enemy forcesArmy Near Se San Village, CambodiaFor heroic action when his platoon was ambushed by North Vietnamese forces near the village of Se San in eastern Cambodia.75px|alt=A black and white image showing Hector from the waist up in his military combat uniform with kevlar helmet. His hands are on his hips and he is smiling at the camera.ArmyQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamFor falling on a grenade to save his comrades and is one of five Puerto Ricans who have been posthumously presented with the Medal of Honor.ArmyHậu Nghĩa Province, Republic of VietnamOn that day, while in Hau Nghia Province in the Republic of Vietnam, Sargent threw himself on two enemy hand grenades, sacrificing himself but saving the lives of two men nearby.ArmyDinh Tuong Province, Republic of VietnamRisked his life to save several wounded soldiers and although severely wounded himself continued treating their wounds for five hours until they were rescued.75px|alt=A black and white image showing the head and upper torso of Sasser wearing his military dress uniform with ribbons.ArmyAp Nhi—South Vietnamnear Ap Nhi, Republic of VietnamWhen his convoy came under attack that day, near Ap Nhi in the Republic of Vietnam, Seay twice left his protective cover to toss enemy-thrown hand grenades back at the North Vietnamese forces. Despite being wounded in the wrist, he again exposed himself to enemy fire and was fatally shot.ArmyQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamKilled by enemy gunfire after assisting in the defeat of an attacking enemy forceNavyĐồng Xoài, Republic of VietnamKilled after rescuing several wounded, assisting in destroying an enemy gun emplacement and resupplying ammunition to his unit75px|alt=A black and white image showing the head and upper torso of Sijan wearing his military dress uniform with ribbons.Air ForceNorth VietnamFor actions while as a prisoner of warArmyHue—South Vietnamnear Huế, Republic of VietnamSims 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.75px|alt=A black and white head shot of Singleton wearing his military dress uniform with hat.Marine CorpsGio Linh District, Quảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamKilled in an attack were he killed eight of the enemy and drove the remainder away75px|alt=Head of a solemn-faced young man with short hair wearing a dark military jacket with pins on the lapels over a shirt and tie.ArmyRepublic of VietnamOrganized the defense, rescued a wounded soldier, and single-handedly attacked an enemy position before being killedArmySong Be—South Vietnamnear Song Be, Republic of VietnamKilled attempting to draw enemy fire away from his convoy after manning a machine gun in his vehicle75px|alt=A black and white head shot image showing Smedley in his military dress uniform with hat.Marine CorpsQuang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamAssaulted the enemy with grenades and rifle fire until dying from his woundsArmyRepublic of VietnamAlthough wounded by a rocket he led his platoon in a patrol when enemy forces attacked with machine gun, mortars and rocket fire.75pxArmyRepublic of VietnamLed a patrol which rescued men who had been wounded and cut off from the rest of the company and in the process destroyed several enemy bunkers and machine gun emplacements.ArmyTay Ninh Province, Republic of VietnamFor defending company from an enemy grenadeArmyRepublic of VietnamSacrificed himself to hold his company's position against the enemy allowing others to come to his aid and repel the enemy force75px|alt=A color image of showing the head and upper torso of Stockdale wearing his military dress uniform with medals. His Medal of Honor can be seen around his neck.NavyHoa Lo prison, Hanoi, North VietnamFor action as a prisoner of warArmyLanding Zone Liz—South Vietnamwest of Landing Zone Liz, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life by manning a machine gun in an exposed position during an enemy attack, allowing others to rescue a wounded comradeArmyKhe Gio Bridge, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to save others by smothering a grenade with his bodyArmyLoc Ninh—South Vietnamnear Lộc Ninh, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life to save several fellow soldiers by smothering a claymore mine with his bodyArmyDuc Pho—South Vietnamnear Duc Pho, Republic of VietnamRisked his life by rescuing three injured squad members and then led his squad to attack and destroy a heavily fortified enemy bunker complex.75px|alt=Head of a young man with neatly combed hair wearing, over a shirt and tie, a military jacket with a braided cord over his right shoulder.ArmyCambodiaSacrificed his life by flying his aircraft dangerously slow and low to destroy enemy machine gun emplacements until his aircraft was shot down.ArmyQue Son—South Vietnamwest of Quế Sơn, Republic of VietnamRisked his life to save the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers75px|alt=A black and white image showing the head and upper torso of Taylor in his military dress uniform with ribbons and hat.Marine CorpsRepublic of VietnamSacrificed his life to save the lives of several Marines by taking out an enemy bunker75px|alt=Head and torso of a man with dark hair, a full, graying beard, and wire-framed glasses. His arms are loosely crossed, he is wearing a dark suit coat, and a star–shaped medal hangs from a light blue ribbon around his neck.ArmyKon Tum Province, Republic of VietnamRisked his own life to allow his unit to escape75px|alt=A color image showing Thornton from the waist up in a business suit. He is wearing his Medal of Honor around his neck, with his left hand over his heart.NavyQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamSaved the life of his superior officer and allowed the other members of his patrol to escape75px|alt=A color image showing the head and upper torso of Thorsness wearing his military dress uniform with ribbons. His Medal of Honor can be seen around his neck.Air Forceover North VietnamRisked his life to assist in the rescue of three downed aviatorsMarine CorpsDai Do, Republic of Vietnam – Vargas requested that his mother's name, M. Sando Vargas, Jr., be engraved on the medal and added to the rolls.75px|alt=A black-and-white photo of Humbert Versace wearing his military uniform . Two military badges are clearly visible on the left breast pocket.ArmyCa Mau, Republic of Vietnam – Was executed by the Vietcong while a prisoner of war after repeated escape attempts, torture and maltreatment75px|alt=A black and white head shot image of Warren in his military dress uniform with hat.ArmyTay Ninh Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life by smothering a grenade with his body75px|alt=Head and shoulders of a middle-aged man with closely cropped hair and horn-rimmed glasses. He is wearing a dark military jacket with a parachute badge on the left breast and a Christian cross under a "U.S." pin on each lapel.ArmyBattle of Dak To, Republic of VietnamWas a chaplain who sacrificed himself to rescue several wounded menArmyQuảng Ngãi Province, Republic of VietnamFor smothering a grenade blast with his body to protect those around himMarine CorpsQuang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamAfter fighting back four enemy soldiers and causing 11 others to retreat was killed by a fifth enemy soldier75pxArmyAp dong An—South Vietnamnear Ap Dong An, Republic of VietnamAlthough losing his arm and repeatedly losing consciousness from loss of blood after the helicopter he was on was shot down he fought back an enemy gun emplacement and assisted in the rescue of a fallen officer.Marine CorpsRepublic of VietnamSacrificed his life by smothering a mine with his bodyArmyLoc Ninh—South Vietnamnear Lộc Ninh, Republic of VietnamKilled after repeatedly attacking and defeating the enemyAir ForceDa Lat—South Vietnamnear Da Lat, Republic of VietnamDistinguished himself by realizing that Army Rangers were walking into an ambush and, with no air support close by and no radio communication with the Rangers, he sacrificed his life to alert the Rangers of the danger.ArmyKon Tum Province, Republic of VietnamFor twice providing covering fire for his squad's withdrawal despite heavy enemy fireArmyĐồng Xoài, Republic of Vietnam – After a group of enemy insurgents attacked he organized a defense and repelled the enemy throughout the nightMarine CorpsQuang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life by smothering a grenade with his body75px|alt=A black and white image showing the head and upper torso of Williams wearing his military dress uniform with hat and ribbons. An American flag is visible in the backgroundNavyMekong River, Republic of VietnamAgainst overwhelming odds, several times Williams led his PBRs (Patrol Boats, River) against concentrations of enemy junks and sampans. As a result of the three-hour battle, the American naval force killed numerous Viet Cong guerrillas, destroyed over fifty vessels, and disrupted a major enemy logistic operation.Marine CorpsQuảng Trị Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life by smothering a grenade with his bodyArmyRepublic of VietnamSacrificed his life in an attempt to assist a wounded soldierMarine CorpsBo Ban, Quang Nam Province, Republic of VietnamSacrificed his life by smothering a grenade with his bodyArmyAp Bac Zone, Republic of VietnamAlong with another soldier attacked and defeated multiple enemy bunkersArmyPhu Hoa Dong—South Vietnamnear Phu Hoa Dong, Republic of VietnamUsed his body as a shield to protect others in a bunker, moved two wounded men to a safer position where they could be given medical treatment and destroyed an enemy machine gun position before being killed.ArmyBien Hoa—South Vietnamnear Bien Hoa, Republic of VietnamFor sacrificing his life to save the other members of his aircrewArmyThang Binh—South Vietnamnear Thang Binh, Republic of Vietnam – Defended several fallen comrades and forced the Vietnamese to kill him rather than be captured.Air ForceKhe SanhDistinguished himself while serving as a helicopter rescue crew commanderArmyBen Cui—South Vietnamnear Ben Cui, Republic of VietnamFor Sacrificing his life so his unit could escapeArmyRepublic of VietnamZabitosky directed the defense until rescue helicopters arrived, and when the helicopter that was to extract him from the battlefield crashed, he ignored his own injuries to save the downed craft's pilot.

Unknown soldier
The unknown soldier from the Vietnam War who was buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns was authorized a Medal of Honor and in 1998 was identified as 1st Lieutenant Michael Blassie. After DNA testing confirmed his identity, the remains were removed from the tomb and returned to Blassie's family, but the Medal of Honor remained as a tribute to those veterans still unknown. The Blassie family requested that the Medal of Honor be granted to him but the request was denied by the Department of Defense.

References



Vietnam War
Category:Vietnam War