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All 4 can have earlier awards upgraded, with Kaneshiro receiving the dignity posthumously. The ceremony is scheduled for July 5.
Birdwell, 74, mentioned in a telephone interview Monday that he acquired notification of his award from Biden final month and that the president instructed him twice it was a “large deal.”
He beforehand acquired the Silver Star, the U.S. navy’s third-highest award for fight valor, for his actions Jan. 31, 1968. Others in his unit had sought the improve for years.
“Frankly,” he mentioned, “it’s a bit overwhelming.”
Birdwell was assigned to a cavalry unit with the twenty fifth Infantry Division when a serious navy set up, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, got here beneath assault. North Vietnamese troopers and Viet Cong guerrillas had simply launched the Tet Offensive, marked abruptly assaults throughout Vietnam on South Vietnamese troopers, U.S. troops and their allies. Birdwell and his fellow troopers had been ambushed by a whole bunch of forces whereas driving to the air base to help, and Birdwell’s tank commander was incapacitated with gunfire.
“Specialist Birdwell instantly took command of the automobile and started putting efficient suppressive fireplace on the enemy pressure till all of his ammunition was expended,” in response to his Silver Star quotation. “He then retrieved an M-60 machine gun and continued to put devastating fireplace on the enemy till his weapon turned inoperable.”
Birdwell, “with full disregard for his personal security,” then ran beneath enemy gunfire to get ammunition from different broken autos, distributed it to fellow troopers, and helped evacuate the wounded. He was wounded within the torso and face throughout the battle.
Birdwell mentioned Monday that he nonetheless replays “nearly each day” what occurred throughout the battle, and whether or not there’s something he might have carried out higher.
“I additionally suppose fairly a bit concerning the bullets whizzing by me,” he mentioned. “I can nonetheless hear that distinctive sound they make. It’s a bit terrifying. It stays with you.”
Duffy beforehand acquired the Distinguished Service Cross, the Military’s second-highest award for valor in fight, for his actions April 14 and 15, 1972, when his base got here beneath assault. He braved enemy fireplace to coordinate airstrikes on enemy antiaircraft weapons, scrambled about his base to deal with wounded Vietnamese troopers, and requested U.S. plane launch gun runs on his place after enemy forces superior inside 10 meters, in response to his award quotation. He now lives in Santa Cruz, Calif., the White Home mentioned.
Fujii beforehand acquired the Distinguished Service Cross for his position in rescue operations in Laos and Vietnam between Feb. 18 and 22, 1971, after his unit’s medical evacuation helicopter got here beneath fireplace and crashed. He waved off rescue from one other helicopter and stayed on the battlefield, administering help to different troopers.
The next evening, Fujii referred to as in American helicopters to repel one other enemy assault. Over the next 17 hours, he braved enemy fireplace repeatedly, leaving a trench to look at enemy positions and direct airstrikes on them. He now lives in Hawaii, the White Home mentioned.
Kaneshiro was an infantry squad chief with the first Cavalry Division on Dec. 1, 1966, when his unit was attacked by North Vietnamese troopers. He fought them off and allowed the withdrawal of his platoon. He was killed March 6, 1967, throughout one other operation in Vietnam.
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