Photo By Giancarlo Casem | Medal of Honor recipient Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Gary Littrell, talks with service...... read more read more
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By Spc. Wesley Landrum
50th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Sgt. 1st Class Gary Littrell's citation read like a chapter in a novel. Littrell served with U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Advisory Team 21, and distinguished himself while serving during the Vietnam War.
As a light weapons infantry advisor with the 23rd Battalion, 2nd Ranger Group, Republic of Vietnam Army, near Dak Seang, South Vietnam.
After the Rangers established a defensive perimeter on a hill on April 4, 1970, the battalion was subjected to an intense enemy mortar attack. The attack killed the Vietnamese commander and one advisor, and seriously wounded all the other advisors. Littrell, however, escaped unscathed.
During the next four days, Littrell battled fatigue as he single-handedly bolstered the besieged battalion. Repeatedly abandoning positions of relative safety, he directed artillery and air support by day and marked the unit's location by night, despite the heavy, concentrated enemy fire.
Assault after assault was repulsed as the battalion responded to the extraordinary leadership and personal example exhibited by Littrell as he continuously moved to those points most seriously threatened by the enemy, redistributed ammunition, strengthened faltering defenses, cared for the wounded and shouted encouragement to the South Vietnamese in their own language.
Through his courage and selfless service, he averted heavy loss of life and injury to the members of the battalion. Littrell's actions earned him the United States' highest award – the Medal of Honor.
Littrell, along with fellow Medal of Honor recipients Col. (Ret.) Robert Howard and Capt. (Ret.) John C. McGinty III, spoke with more than 100 service members and civilians at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, March 20, during a tour of the U.S. Army Central area of operations.
Littrell told the group that the three were proud of the servicemembers at the desert installation.
"Each one of you is doing your part to fight this war," the retired command sergeant major said. "We are proud of you and want you to know there are people supporting you every step of the way."
The experience was one that Cpl. Joshua Kennedy, 1st Bn., 167th Inf. Regt., said will not soon forget and was a definite morale boost.
"To meet these guys, whether it was in the states or over here, was an uplifting experience," Kennedy said.
The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor which can be bestowed upon a service member, Littrell said. The first medal was presented on March 25, 1863. Since then, more than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded. Presently, Littrell told the crowd, there are only 111 living recipients of the award with the last Medal of Honor presented to a living recipient in 1973. Littrell said he would love to see more living recipients get the award. However, he said he does not wish the circumstances to get the award upon anyone.
"I know I'm being selfish on that," Littrell said. "I don't want to see you guys go through the hell that we went through just to earn this award."
Howard is on his fourth trip to the Middle East as a MOH winner. He said while the tour raises the morale of the troops visited, the recipient's morale is also raised.
"I get to see first hand what's going on and what our service members are doing here," Howard said to the crowd. "You lift our hearts and spirits up by doing what you do."
The MOH winners' visit was refreshing said 1st Lt. Jason Kilgore, 1st Bn., 167th Inf. Regt. It was refreshing for them to come and let the service members know they are doing a great job, he said. He also said it's nice for the younger servicemembers to see a part of history.
"These men are history," Kilgore said. "It's great for the younger Soldiers to come in and be around these men who've done these great things. I'm in awe of all of them."
Howard was 29 years-old when he received his MOH. As he recalled that day in 1968, he said instinct and other things took over at that moment.
"It's a correlation between instinct, emotions and what you have learned," Howard said to the crowd. "Leaders have to balance these things and remain positive at all cost."
As he addressed the crowd, Howard looked at the service members and gave them words of encouragement as he got ready to leave.
"Thank you for what you're doing over here and for this country," Howard said. "May God bless you and keep all of you safe."
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2008 04:35 |
| Story ID: | 17895 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 160 |
| Downloads: | 114 |
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