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William Maud Bryant

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William Maud Bryant Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Cochran, Bleckley County, Georgia, USA
Death
24 Mar 1969 (aged 36)
Tây Ninh, Tây Ninh, Vietnam
Burial
Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, USA GPS-Latitude: 35.7735361, Longitude: -78.6200778
Plot
Section 15, Site 1227
Memorial ID
View Source
Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during the war in Vietnam as a Sergeant First Class in Company A, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. He was awarded the Medal Of Honor for his bravery at Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam, on March 24, 1969. His citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. SFC. Bryant, assigned to Company A, distinguished himself while serving as Commanding Officer of Civilian Irregular Defense Group Company 321, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Mobile Strike Force Command, during combat operations. The battalion came under heavy fire and became surrounded by the elements of 3 enemy regiments. SFC. Bryant displayed extraordinary heroism throughout the succeeding 34 hours of incessant attack as he moved throughout the company position heedless of the intense hostile fire while establishing and improving the defensive perimeter, directing fire during critical phases of the battle, distributing ammunition, assisting the wounded, and providing the leadership and inspirational example of courage to his men. When a helicopter drop of ammunition was made to re-supply the beleaguered force, SFC. Bryant with complete disregard for his safety ran through the heavy enemy fire to retrieve the scattered ammunition boxes and distributed needed ammunition to his men. During a lull in the intense fighting, SFC. Bryant led a patrol outside the perimeter to obtain information of the enemy. The patrol came under intense automatic weapons fire and was pinned down. SFC. Bryant single-handedly repulsed 1 enemy attack on his small force and by his heroic action inspired his men to fight off other assaults. Seeing a wounded enemy soldier some distance from the patrol location, SFC. Bryant crawled forward alone under heavy fire to retrieve the soldier for intelligence purposes. Finding that the enemy soldier had expired, SFC. Bryant crawled back to his patrol and led his men back to the company position where he again took command of the defense. As the siege continued, SFC. Bryant organized and led a patrol in a daring attempt to break through the enemy encirclement. The patrol had advanced some 200 meters by heavy fighting when it was pinned down by the intense automatic weapons fire from heavily fortified bunkers and SFC. Bryant was severely wounded. Despite his wounds he rallied his men, called for helicopter gunship support, and directed heavy suppressive fire upon the enemy positions. Following the last gunship attack, SFC. Bryant fearlessly charged an enemy automatic weapons position, overrunning it, and single-handedly destroying its 3 defenders. Inspired by his heroic example, his men renewed their attack on the entrenched enemy. While regrouping his small force for the final assault against the enemy, SFC. Bryant fell mortally wounded by an enemy rocket. SFC. Bryant's selfless concern for his comrades, at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army".

Cenotaph here
Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the United States Army during the war in Vietnam as a Sergeant First Class in Company A, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. He was awarded the Medal Of Honor for his bravery at Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam, on March 24, 1969. His citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. SFC. Bryant, assigned to Company A, distinguished himself while serving as Commanding Officer of Civilian Irregular Defense Group Company 321, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Mobile Strike Force Command, during combat operations. The battalion came under heavy fire and became surrounded by the elements of 3 enemy regiments. SFC. Bryant displayed extraordinary heroism throughout the succeeding 34 hours of incessant attack as he moved throughout the company position heedless of the intense hostile fire while establishing and improving the defensive perimeter, directing fire during critical phases of the battle, distributing ammunition, assisting the wounded, and providing the leadership and inspirational example of courage to his men. When a helicopter drop of ammunition was made to re-supply the beleaguered force, SFC. Bryant with complete disregard for his safety ran through the heavy enemy fire to retrieve the scattered ammunition boxes and distributed needed ammunition to his men. During a lull in the intense fighting, SFC. Bryant led a patrol outside the perimeter to obtain information of the enemy. The patrol came under intense automatic weapons fire and was pinned down. SFC. Bryant single-handedly repulsed 1 enemy attack on his small force and by his heroic action inspired his men to fight off other assaults. Seeing a wounded enemy soldier some distance from the patrol location, SFC. Bryant crawled forward alone under heavy fire to retrieve the soldier for intelligence purposes. Finding that the enemy soldier had expired, SFC. Bryant crawled back to his patrol and led his men back to the company position where he again took command of the defense. As the siege continued, SFC. Bryant organized and led a patrol in a daring attempt to break through the enemy encirclement. The patrol had advanced some 200 meters by heavy fighting when it was pinned down by the intense automatic weapons fire from heavily fortified bunkers and SFC. Bryant was severely wounded. Despite his wounds he rallied his men, called for helicopter gunship support, and directed heavy suppressive fire upon the enemy positions. Following the last gunship attack, SFC. Bryant fearlessly charged an enemy automatic weapons position, overrunning it, and single-handedly destroying its 3 defenders. Inspired by his heroic example, his men renewed their attack on the entrenched enemy. While regrouping his small force for the final assault against the enemy, SFC. Bryant fell mortally wounded by an enemy rocket. SFC. Bryant's selfless concern for his comrades, at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army".

Cenotaph here

Bio by: RPD2


Inscription

Medal of Honor, Sergeant 1st Class, U.S. Army, Vietnam; North Carolina; Company A, 5 Special Forces Group; Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: May 3, 2000
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9226/william_maud-bryant: accessed ), memorial page for William Maud Bryant (16 Feb 1933–24 Mar 1969), Find a Grave Memorial ID 9226, citing Raleigh National Cemetery, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.