Post by whitehorse on Jan 25, 2020 0:23:08 GMT
When his AAV was disabled in an NVA ambush, Corporal Warren Ralya, Jr., left his vehicle to go find the enemy. He grabbed a grenade launcher and destroyed multiple enemy positions standing in the open in front of the vehicle, while other Marines moved the wounded to safety. He was shot once, but remained on his feet firing grenades. A second bullet knocked him to the ground, but he got back up and continued firing. A third bullet sprawled him out once more, bleeding profusely. He passed off his M-79, but continued refusing medical attention. Instead, he grabbed hand grenades and started crawling towards the enemy. He succumbed to his wounds as he crawled. For his incredible bravery and devotion to his fellow Marines, Ralya was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
"...serving as a Crew Chief with Company A, First Amphibian Tractor Battalion, on 20 January 1968. As Corporal Ralya's platoon was moving into its blocking position, it suddenly came under intense small-arms and automatic weapons fire and antitank grenade attack from a company-sized NVA ambush, disabling the platoon's tractor and wounding several Marines. Cpl Ralya, heedless of his own safety, unhesitatingly left the relative security of the AAV and advanced to the open ground on one side of the vehicle and courageously remained exposed to the intense hostile fire, while he delivered accurate M-79 grenade fire against the enemy, destroying two automatic weapons positions. Displaying exceptional combat skill and initiative he fearlessly moved to an open area in front of the tractor where his accurate fire destroyed the North Vietnamese antitank grenade launcher that had damaged his vehicle. He steadfastly remained in his exposed situation and delivered highly effective covering fire that enabled the wounded to be moved to safety behind the vehicle. Ignoring a painful injury and refusing to move to the protection of the vehicle, Cpl Ralya continued to fire his weapon until he was wounded a second time and knocked to the ground. He had risen from the ground and continued to place accurate fire toward the enemy when he was hit for the third time. Refusing medical attention, he handed his weapon to another Marine and, armed with hand grenades, began to crawl toward the enemy positions. He had traveled only a short distance when he succumbed to his wounds."
