Then Spec. 5 Dwight W. Birdwell took action as North Vietnamese forces launched the opening assault of what would come to be known as the Tet Offensive, marked by coordinated attacks across Vietnam on U.S. troops, South Vietnamese soldiers and their allies. Birdwell’s unit was called on to repel an attack on a major military installation, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, and was ambushed on the way. Birdwell took charge after his tank commander was gravely wounded, laying down suppressive fire as North Vietnamese soldiers shot at him. Birdwell was hit by shrapnel but kept fighting. Eventually, he was ordered to board a helicopter to evacuate, but he crawled out the opposite side of the aircraft and went back to fighting.

Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice

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Explore Living Recipients

Patrick H. Brady
Vietnam War
1968 - near Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam

Dakota L. Meyer
War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
2009 - Kunar Province, Afghanistan

Dennis M. Fujii
Vietnam War
1971 - Laos & Vietnam

Gary M. Rose
Vietnam War
1970 - Laos

Michael E. Thornton
Vietnam War
1972 - Republic of Vietnam

Clarence E. Sasser
Vietnam War
1968 - Ding Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam