Post by magnum on Jan 21, 2020 7:51:19 GMT
Hospitalman Richard Powell moved around a battlefield littered with Marine casualties, treating them one by one. Under enemy fire the whole time, Powell was hit by a machine gun, immobilizing one of his arms. He continued treating Marines and moving closer to the NVA positions. When one Marine fell less than 15 meters away from an enemy machine gun, Powell unhesitatingly moved to his position. He was mortally wounded while providing medical care. For his heroic resolve and dedication to his Marines, Powell was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
"...serving as a Corpsman with Company L, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines. HN Powell's platoon was moving with Company M southwest of Da Nang when the lead elements of the company received intense hostile sniper fire. As HN Powell's unit maneuvered across a large field in an attack on the enemy's flank, the Marines came under a heavy volume of automatic-weapons fire delivered from three sides by a large North Vietnamese Army force, and sustained numerous casualties. With complete disregard for his own safety, HN Powell unhesitatingly rushed forward and commenced treating the wounded men. Although struck by enemy machine-gun fire which immobilized one of his arms, he ignored his painful injuries as he steadfastly continued to render life-sustaining first aid to his fallen comrades. Observing a casualty who lay within fifteen meters of an enemy machine-gun position, HN Powell fearlessly advanced into the hazardous area and was mortally wounded by hostile fire while providing vital medical treatment to the injured Marine."
