Honoring Heroes on Veterans Day (3)

Raymond R. Wright: Awarded the Medal of Honor for Heroism in Vietnam

While serving as a rifleman, Spc4 Raymond R. Wright, 22,  distinguished himself during a combat patrol in an area where an enemy ambush had occurred earlier.

Spc4. Wright’s unit suddenly came under intense automatic weapons and small-arms fire from an enemy bunker system protected by numerous snipers in nearby trees.

Despite the heavy enemy fire, Sp4c. Wright and another soldier leaped to the top of a dike to assault the position. Armed with a rifle and several grenades, he and his comrade exposed themselves to intense fire from the bunkers as they charged the nearest one. Sp4c. Wright raced to the bunker and threw in a grenade, killing its occupant. The two soldiers then ran through a hail of fire to the second bunker.

While his comrade covered him with  machine gun fire, Sp4c. Wright charged the bunker and succeeded in killing its occupant with a grenade. An enemy soldier with an automatic rifle in a third bunker had pinned down much of the friendly platoon. While his comrade again covered him with machine gun fire, Sp4c. Wright charged in and killed the enemy rifleman with a grenade.

The two soldiers then worked their way through the remaining four bunkers.  Throughout their furious assault, Sp4c. Wright and his comrade had been almost continuously exposed to intense sniper fire from the treeline as the enemy desperately sought to stop their attack. Having Overcome stubborn resistance from the bunker system, the men turned their attention to the treeline, forcing the snipers to retreat.

When his ammunition was exhausted, Sp4c. Wright returned to his unit to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. This 2-man assault had driven an enemy platoon from a well prepared position, accounted for numerous enemy casualties, and averted further friendly casualties.

Sp4c. Wright’s extraordinary heroism and courage saved the lives of many of his comrades and inflicted serious damage on the enemy. His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.