The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
BEIKIRCH, GARY B.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S.
Army, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. Place and date:
Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 1 April 1970. Entered service at: Buffalo,
N.Y. Born: 29 August 1947, Rochester, N.Y.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Beikirch, medical aidman, Detachment B-24, Company B,
distinguished himself during the defense of Camp Dak Seang. The allied defenders suffered
a number of casualties as a result of an intense, devastating attack launched by the enemy
from well-concealed positions surrounding the camp. Sgt. Beikirch, with complete disregard
for his personal safety, moved unhesitatingly through the withering enemy fire to his
fallen comrades, applied first aid to their wounds and assisted them to the medical aid
station. When informed that a seriously injured American officer was lying in an exposed
position, Sgt. Beikirch ran immediately through the hail of fire. Although he was wounded
seriously by fragments from an exploding enemy mortar shell, Sgt. Beikirch carried the
officer to a medical aid station. Ignoring his own serious injuries, Sgt. Beikirch left
the relative safety of the medical bunker to search for and evacuate other men who had
been injured. He was again wounded as he dragged a critically injured Vietnamese soldier
to the medical bunker while simultaneously applying mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to
sustain his life. Sgt. Beikirch again refused treatment and continued his search for other
casualties until he collapsed. Only then did he permit himself to be treated. Sgt.
Beikirch's complete devotion to the welfare of his comrades, at the risk of his life are
in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on
him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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