The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*YNTEMA,
GORDON DOUGLAS
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 5th Special
Forces Group (Airborne). Place and Date: Near Thong Binh, Republic of Vietnam,
16-18 January 1968. Entered service at: Detroit, Mich. Born: 26 June
1945, Bethesda, Md.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and above and
beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Yntema, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while assigned to
Detachment A-431, Company D. As part of a larger force of civilian irregulars from Camp
Cai Cai, he accompanied 2 platoons to a blocking position east of the village of Thong
Binh, where they became heavily engaged in a small-arms fire fight with the Viet Cong.
Assuming control of the force when the Vietnamese commander was seriously wounded, he
advanced his troops to within 50 meters of the enemy bunkers. After a fierce 30 minute
fire fight, the enemy forced Sgt. Yntema to withdraw his men to a trench in order to
afford them protection and still perform their assigned blocking mission. Under cover of
machinegun fire, approximately 1 company of Viet Cong maneuvered into a position which
pinned down the friendly platoons from 3 sides. A dwindling ammunition supply, coupled
with a Viet Cong mortar barrage which inflicted heavy losses on the exposed friendly
troops, caused many of the irregulars to withdraw. Seriously wounded and ordered to
withdraw himself, Sgt. Yntema refused to leave his fallen comrades. Under withering small
arms and machinegun fire, he carried the wounded Vietnamese commander and a mortally
wounded American Special Forces advisor to a small gully 50 meters away in order to shield
them from the enemy fire. Sgt. Yntema then continued to repulse the attacking Viet Cong
attempting to overrun his position until, out of ammunition and surrounded, he was offered
the opportunity to surrender. Refusing, Sgt. Yntema stood his ground, using his rifle as a
club to fight the approximately 15 Viet Cong attempting his capture. His resistance was so
fierce that the Viet Cong were forced to shoot in order to overcome him. Sgt. Yntema's
personal bravery in the face of insurmountable odds and supreme self-sacrifice were in
keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect the utmost credit
upon himself, the 1st Special Forces, and the U.S. Army.
|
