Post by oldhippy on Jan 14, 2020 3:43:06 GMT
Hospitalman Third Class Dewey Burns, Jr., defended civilians and Marines of his Combined Action Platoon from a VC attack. He moved around the battle without regard to the enemy fire, collecting casualties and bringing them to safety. At one point, an enemy soldier entered his aid station among the casualties, and Burns killed him in hand-to-hand combat. During one of his trips to rescue a fallen interpreter, Burns was mortally wounded. For his heroism and devotion to his duty, Burns was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
"...on 13 September 1969 as a Corpsman serving with the Combined Action Platoon 1-3-9, III Marine Amphibious Force. During a concentrated enemy attack upon the village of An Phong in Quang Ngai Province, HM3 Burns, on several occasions, charged across fire-swept terrain, rendered medical aid to wounded civilians and defending soldiers and Marines, and carried them to positions of safety. On one occasion, HM3 Burns was directly responsible for saving the lives of his patients when he defeated an enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Observing that the platoon's interpreter was wounded and had fallen in the direct line of fire of enemy machine guns, HM3 Burns directed nearby Marines to provide covering fire and raced to the side of the casualty. Although he, himself, was seriously wounded while treating the fallen interpreter, he resolutely continued his lifesaving actions until he had stopped his patient's bleeding. He then commenced leading his charge toward a location of relative security, but was mortally wounded before he could attain his objective. HM3 Burns' valiant and determined actions served to inspire the other members of his platoon to heroic efforts, resulting in the complete routing of the enemy."