Then Spec. 5 Dwight W. Birdwell took action as North Vietnamese forces launched the opening assault of what would come to be known as the Tet Offensive, marked by coordinated attacks across Vietnam on U.S. troops, South Vietnamese soldiers and their allies. Birdwell’s unit was called on to repel an attack on a major military installation, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, and was ambushed on the way. Birdwell took charge after his tank commander was gravely wounded, laying down suppressive fire as North Vietnamese soldiers shot at him. Birdwell was hit by shrapnel but kept fighting. Eventually, he was ordered to board a helicopter to evacuate, but he crawled out the opposite side of the aircraft and went back to fighting.
Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
Learn Their Stories
Explore Living Recipients
Robert M. Patterson
Vietnam War
1968 - near La Chu, Republic of Vietnam
James P. Fleming
Vietnam War
1968 - near Duc Co, Republic of Vietnam
Bruce P. Crandall
Vietnam War
1965 - Landing Zone X-Ray, Ia Drang Valley, Vietnam
Earl D. Plumlee
War on Terrorism (Afghanistan)
2013 - Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
Gary M. Rose
Vietnam War
1970 - Laos
Jack H. Jacobs
Vietnam War
1968 - Kien Phong Province, Republic of Vietnam