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| Platoon Sergeant Thomas W. Thornton |
Class
of 2005
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United States Army
Bronze Star with "V" Device |
Citation
For heroism in connection with military operations against
a hostile force. Sergeant Thornton distinguished
himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 21 November 1967
during the battle for Hill 875, near Dak To, Republic of Vietnam.
On this day, Company A, 4th Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry
engaged an estimated regimental sized force of North Vietnamese
during the initial assault for the hill and almost immediately
suffered ten to twelve friendly casualties from enemy mortar
fire. Sergeant Thornton immediately volunteered for a patrol
with the mission of moving over three hundred meters into
enemy territory to rescue the wounded men. Moving through
dense terrain Sergeant Thornton and his patrol came under
sporadic enemy automatic weapons fire. They kept moving and
finally reached the wounded men at a point between the enemy
bunkers and the friendly perimeter. Sergeant Thornton immediately
helped to administer medical aid to the wounded men and supervised
their removal to the friendly perimeter. By now the enemy
automatic weapons fire had increased and on several occasions
Sergeant Thornton protected the wounded men with his own body,
while at the same time placing effective suppressive fire
on the enemy positions. After the last wounded man had been
successfully rescued and returned to the company perimeter
Sergeant Thornton moved to the point of heaviest contact and
continued to inspire the men and direct their fire upon the
enemy. The battalion surgeon later said that if Sergeant Thornton
and the patrol had not rescued the wounded men many of the
more seriously wounded would have surely died. Sergeant Thronton’s
outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and
personal bravery were in keeping with the highest traditions
of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself,
his unit, and the United States Army.
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