Post by bazooka on Sept 19, 2021 20:37:12 GMT
Corporal Barry Duff single-handedly held the top of a knoll fighting back advancing Viet Cong. Several of his fellow Marines lay wounded on the field ahead of him, and Duff kept the enemy from capturing or killing them. He was shot in the leg, sending him tumbling down the hill off the knoll. He used it as an opportunity to grab more ammo and grenades, then proceeded back up the hill. As he stood exposed to throw a grenade, Duff was mortally wounded. For his heroic actions enabling the recovery of his fellow Marines, Duff was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.
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"...serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, in the Republic of Vietnam on 21 May 1966. While on a patrol, Cpl Duff's squad came under intense rifle, machine-gun, mortar, and recoilless rifle fire from a reinforced Viet Cong company. The initial burst of enemy fire caused several casualties. Realizing that the casualties were lying fully exposed to the enemy fire, Cpl Duff immediately moved to a small knoll overlooking the enemy and his wounded comrades. During the next half hour the enemy launched three assaults in an effort to annihilate the wounded Marines and capture their weapons. With complete disregard for his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to turn back the enemy's attacks with accurate rifle fire. Although wounded during the second attack when he was shot in the leg and knocked from the knoll, he gathered more ammunition and hand grenades and gallantly regained his position to protect his wounded comrades. He courageously held his position until mortally wounded while exposing himself to throw a hand grenade. By his bold initiative, indomitable fighting spirit and loyal devotion to duty, Corporal Duff was instrumental in saving his comrades from further injury or possible death."