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Medal of Honor recipient Army Corporal Michael Crescenz

Congressional Medal of Honor

Episode 2827 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Army Corporal Michael Crescenz and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode appeared on WHYY and the book No Greater Love.

Michael Joseph Crescenz (January 14, 1949 – November 20, 1968) was a United States Army Corporal (Cpl) during the Vietnam War who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions near the Hiep Duc village of Vietnam on November 20, 1968.

Michael J. Crescenz was born in Philadelphia on January 14, 1949. He graduated from St. Athanasius School in the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia in 1962 and from Cardinal Dougherty High School in 1966. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 1968. He shipped out to Vietnam in September 1968, the same month that his older brother Charles, a United States Marine who had served 13 months in Vietnam, was discharged from active duty.

Crescenz received a posthumous promotion to the rank of corporal. He was the only Philadelphian to receive the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. He was survived by his parents and five brothers. His Medal of Honor was presented to his family by President Richard M. Nixon in a White House ceremony on April 7, 1970. To respect his parents’ wishes, Cpl. Crescenz was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania. In 2008, after the death of his parents, Michael Crescenz was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center has been renamed the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz. An 8-foot tall bronze statue honoring Cpl. Crescenz is part of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He is the only Philadelphian to receive the Medal of Honor for the Vietnam War.

Listen to episode 2827 and discover more about Army Corporal Michael Crescenz and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Medal of Honor recipient Marine LCpl Thomas E. Creek

Congressional Medal of Honor

Episode 2826 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Marine LCpl Thomas E. Creek and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode appeared on the Military Hall of Honor and U.S. Army websites.

Thomas Elbert Creek (April 7, 1950 – February 13, 1969) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism during February 1969 in Vietnam.

Thomas Creek was born on April 7, 1950, in Joplin, Missouri. He grew up in Amarillo, Texas, where he attended Forest Hill Elementary School, Horace Mann Jr. High School, and Palo Duro High School.

Creek enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 16, 1968. He completed recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, in March 1968. Creek received individual combat training with Company A, 1st Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Regiment, at Camp Pendleton, California, in April, and basic infantry training with Rifle Training Company, Basic Infantry Training Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton, in May 1968. He was promoted to private first class on June 1, 1968.

In July 1968, Creek was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam. He first saw duty as a rifleman with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division. In September 1968, Creek was assigned duty as fire team leader with Company I, 3rd Battalion 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division and was promoted to lance corporal on November 1, 1968.

While serving as fire team leader, Creek was killed in action on February 13, 1969, near the Cam Lo resettlement village. His squad was escorting a convoy of trucks bringing supplies to Vandegrift Combat Base when it was ambushed. While under enemy mortar fire, Creek moved to a position to attack the hidden enemy, engaging in a fire fight. While moving to a better position, he was shot in the neck and fell into a gully near fellow Marines who had taken cover; a grenade landed between Creek and the other Marines. Creek rolled on top of the grenade and took the full force of the blast, saving the lives of those around him. His men continued the fight, defeated the enemy force and the convoy was able to continue.

Creek was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor — which was presented to his family by Vice President Spiro Agnew on April 20, 1970, at the White House.

Listen to episode 2826 and discover more about Marine LCpl Thomas E. Creek and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Medal of Honor recipient Army COL Bruce P. Crandall.

Congressional Medal of Honor

Episode 2825 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Army COL Bruce P. Crandall and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode appeared on the Military Hall of Honor and U.S. Army websites.

Bruce Perry Crandall is a retired U.S. Army officer who received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Battle of Ia Drang during the Vietnam War. During the battle he flew 22 missions in an unarmed helicopter into enemy fire to bring ammunition and supplies and evacuate the wounded. By the end of the Vietnam War, he had flown over 900 combat missions.

Bruce Perry Crandall was born on 17 February 1933 in Olympia, WA; he was also raised there. During high school, Crandall became an All-American baseball player. After graduating, he attended the University of Washington in Seattle until being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953. He married his wife Arlene on 31 March 1956.

Crandall commanded 16 helicopter crews of the 1st Cavalry Division’s Company A, 229th AHB that lifted troops on a search-and-destroy mission from Plei Me to Landing Zone X-Ray in what would become the most vicious fight of the Vietnam War to that date. Then-Lt. Col. Harold G. Moore, commander of the 1st Cav. Div.’s 1st Bn., 7th Cav. Regiment depended on then-Maj. Crandall’s helicopters to insert his Soldiers of the 1st Bn. into the LZ.

Crandall’s Medal of Honor citation included this: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Major Bruce P. Crandall distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as a Flight Commander in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile).

Listen to episode 2825 and discover more about Army COL Bruce P. Crandall and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Medal of Honor recipient Army SGT Ardie R. Copas.

Congressional Medal of Honor

Episode 2824 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Army SGT Ardie R. Copasand his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode appeared on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ardie Ray Copas (29 August 1950 – 12 May 1970) was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Copas was born in Fort Pierce, Florida. He joined the U.S. Army on June 18, 1969. During the Vietnam War, he was killed in Romeas Haek, Cambodia, for which his Distinguished Service Cross was posthumously upgraded to the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Then U.S. Army Specialist 4 Ardie R. Copas distinguished himself on May 12, 1970, while serving as a machine gunner near Ph Romeas Hek, Cambodia. When his convoy was ambushed, Copas repelled the enemy under heavy fire, holding his post while his wounded comrades were evacuated. Copas was killed in action.

The wife of Sgt. Ardie Ray Copas said this about her husband:

“Although Sgt. Ardie Ray Copas, wasn’t much on education and quit High School in 9th grade to work and help support his 14 brothers and sisters he has taught more people than he could ever know or imagine. He was a very simple man, loved his family friends and helping everyone he could whether he knew you or not and was there whenever he was needed or asked almost no matter what.

Even with a young new wife and baby on the way he still wanted to help people and save lives, even people not his own country to HELP this country. It was Ardies’ mission and he did it! He was a very young, kind, poor, uneducated, happy-go-lucky kid!

Listen to episode 2824 and discover more about Army SGT Ardie R. Copasand his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Medal of Honor recipient Marine COL Donald G. Cook

Episode 2823 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Marine COL Donald G. Cook and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode appeared on the Marine University website and the Medal of Honor Monday Program of the Department of Defense website.

According to the Marine University website, Colonel Donald Gilbert Cook, was born 9 August 1934, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Xavier High School in June 1952, then attended St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vermont, where he graduated in 1956.

Cood attended the Officers Candidate School at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, and was commissioned a second lieutenant, 1 April 1957. He was promoted to first lieutenant 1 October 1958 while stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. In 1960 he attended Army Language School in Monterey, California, studying Chinese and graduated near the top of his class. 1stLt Cook was assigned to Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, in 1961 and was promoted to captain 1 March 1962.

In December 1964, he was sent to Vietnam where he was captured by the Viet Cong on 31 December 1964 while serving as an advisor with a Vietnamese Marine battalion.

During nearly three years of captivity, Cook took responsibility for the men around him, despite the harsher treatment brought upon him. He shared his food and small amounts of medicine with other prisoners and took care of them when they were struggling, despite his own deteriorating health due to exposure, deprivation, malnutrition and disease. Even then, Cook refused to stray from the U.S. Military Code of Conduct, despite enemy efforts to break his spirit.

Cook’s resolve in the face of certain death earned him the deepest respect of the POWs around him, as well as that of his captors. His loyalty and adherence to American values went well beyond what was expected of him, and they inspired his fellow POWs to endure and survive.

Listen to episode 2823 and discover more about Marine COL Donald G. Cook and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Medal of Honor recipient Marine Staff Sergeant Peter S. Connor

Congressional Medal of Honor

Episode 2822 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Marine Staff Sergeant Peter S. Connor and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode appeared in Wikipedia. An addition to this episode will be a story from The American Presidency Project that was titled Remarks by President Lyndon Johnson Upon Presenting the Medal of Honor Posthumously to Staff Sgt. Peter S. Connor, USMC.

Peter Connor was born on September 4, 1932, in Orange, New Jersey. He attended elementary and high school in South Orange, New Jersey, graduating from high school in 1950.

Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps on February 5, 1952, Connor completed recruit training with the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. He was promoted to private first class upon graduation from Recruit Training in April 1952, and transferred to the West Coast, where Connor joined the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment. He finished his advanced infantry training and enlisted in the 1st Replacement Battalion.

Arriving in Korea in August 1952, Connor was assigned as a fire team leader and radioman in the Third Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was promoted to corporal in April 1953, while overseas.

Upon his return to the United States in October 1953, Connor served as a squad leader and platoon guide with Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, until released from active duty on February 4, 1955.

Connor was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division and served as a platoon sergeant. He was serving with this unit when it was assigned to the 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam. It was during this period that Connor’s actions earned him the Medal of Honor. Connor was wounded in action on February 25, 1966, and died of those wounds while on board the USS Repose on March 8, 1966.

Listen to episode 2822 and discover more about Marine Staff Sergeant Peter S. Connor and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Medal of Honor recipient Army SFC Félix Conde Falcón

Congressional Medal of Honor

Episode 2821 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Army SFC Félix Conde Falcón and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode appeared in Wikipedia.

Medal of Honor recipient Felix M. Conde-Falcon was born in Juncos, Puerto Rico, Feb. 24, 1938, and raised in Chicago, Ill. He volunteered to join the U.S. Army in April 1963.

Conde-Falcon distinguished himself on April 4, 1969, while serving as a platoon leader during a sweep operation in the vicinity of Ap Tan Hoa, Vietnam, April 4, 1969. Conde-Falcon was killed in action that day after destroying multiple enemy bunkers and demonstrating extraordinary leadership under fire. He left behind a wife and two children.

Conde-Falcon received the Medal of Honor, March 18, 2014; Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device and one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Sharpshooter Marksmanship Badge with Auto Rifle Bar, Expert Marksmanship Badge with Rifle Bar, Marksman Badge with Pistol Bar, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Device, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with “60” Device, Republic of Vietnam Merit Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Device, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal Unit Citation, First Class with Oak Leaf Cluster

According to his Medal of Honor citation, Conde Falcón’s great courage, his ability to act appropriately and decisively in accomplishing his mission, his dedication to the welfare of his men mark him as an outstanding leader Conde Falcon’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, 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 United States Army.

Listen to episode 2821 and discover more about Army SFC Félix Conde Falcón and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Medal of Honor recipient Marine PFC Ronald L. Coker

Congressional Medal of Honor

Episode 2820 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Marine PFC Ronald L. Coker and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode appeared in Wikipedia. Ronald Leroy Coker was born on August 9, 1947. He died on March 24, 1969. He was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in March 1969.

Coker was born in Alliance, Nebraska. He attended District 78 Rural Elementary School in Alliance, Alliance High School, and Denver Colorado Automotive School.

Drafted by the Selective Service Board in Alliance, he entered the United States Marine Corps at Denver, Colorado on April 16, 1968.

He completed recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, in June 1968; individual combat training with Company Z, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, Camp Pendleton, California, in July 1968; and basic infantry training with Rifle Training Company, Basic Infantry Training Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton, in August. He was promoted to private first class on September 1, 1968.

Private First Class Coker then joined a replacement company, Staging Battalion, at Camp Pendleton, for transfer to the Republic of Vietnam.

Upon his arrival in Vietnam, in November 1968, he was assigned duty as a rifleman with Company M, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division. While serving in this capacity, he was killed in action in the northwest section of Quang Tri Province, on March 24, 1969.

His Medal of honor citation said that Private First Class Coker’s indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Listen to episode 2820 and discover more about Marine PFC Ronald L. Coker and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Medal of Honor recipient Marine PFC Bruce W. Carter

Congressional Medal of Honor

Episode 2819 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Marine PFC Bruce W. Carter and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode appeared in Wikipedia and a story titled: Marine Who Earned Medal of Honor in Vietnam Finally Receives Burial at Arlington that came from the Military.com website. That story was submitted by Richard Sisk. He has more than 45 years of journalism experience in reporting and editing in the U.S. and abroad for United Press International, the N.Y. Daily News and now for Military.com.

Bruce Wayne Carter (May 7, 1950 – August 7, 1969) was a United States Marine who was killed in action during the Vietnam War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism.

In August 1969, his unit was ambushed outside of Vandegrift Combat Base in Quang Tri Province. Carter had stopped the enemy’s advance when a grenade landed between him and his fellow Marines – Carter threw himself on the grenade, sacrificing his life to save the lives of others.

At age 19, Marine Pfc. Bruce Carter fought off a swarming enemy in 1969, then threw his body on a grenade to save his buddies during a close-quarters battle in Vietnam’s Quang Tri province.

His actions with H Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, earned him a posthumous Medal of Honor, and he was laid to rest at Vista Memorial Gardens in Miami Lakes, Florida.

Over the years, his mother, Georgie Carter-Krell, came to think that it would be best for her son’s memory to have his final resting place be with more than 400,000 of the nation’s heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.

Listen to episode 2819 and discover more about Marine PFC Bruce W. Carter and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Medal of Honor recipient Navy HM3 Wayne Maurice Caron

Congressional Medal of Honor

Episode 2818 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Navy HM3 Wayne Maurice Caron and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. Information featured in this episode appeared in Wikipedia and the American Legion.

Wayne Maurice Caron, 22, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Aime Caron of 48 East Main Street, Middleboro, MA. He was the husband of Teresa Caron and father of Scott Wayne Caron. He was born November 2, 1946 and graduated from Middleboro High School with the Class of 1966. He enlisted in the Navy on July 12, 1966 and was killed on July 28, 1968.

He joined the U.S. Navy on July 12, 1966, at Boston. He completed recruit training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and then Navy Hospital Corps School, at Great Lakes, Illinois. He also completed the Field Medical Service School at Camp Pendleton, California. On January 16, 1968, he was promoted to hospital corpsman third class.

On July 3, 1968, he was sent to and arrived in Vietnam. He was assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. On July 28, he was killed in action during an intense firefight while serving as a platoon corpsman with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines in Quảng Nam Province, South Vietnam. Before he was killed, he was wounded three separate times in the firefight by enemy fire while he moved to render aid to fallen Marines. The 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines lost 18 Marines besides Caron that day.

A United States Navy destroyer the USS Caron (DD970) was named after Wayne Maurice Caron. On September 17,1997 grade five students from the Rogers Middle School in Rockland planted a black locust as a living memorial to honor HM3 Caron in the Shea Field Memorial Grove at the former US Naval Air station in South Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Listen to episode 2818 and discover more about Navy HM3 Wayne Maurice Caron and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.