Word Celebrity Blog

Two Medal Of Honor Heroes


I am incoporating the accounts of two individual winners Of the Medal Of Honor, since both of these brave soldiers were awarded their medals for doing the same thing, at the same time, in the same place, TOGETHER.


























President Johnson Posing with Medal of Honor Recipients - L/R Spc/4 Raymond R. Wright, 22, Mineville, New York;  President Lyndon Baines Johnson; Sgt. Leonard B. Keller, 21, Rockford, Illinois.


Sergeant Leonard B. Keller and Specialist Fourth Class Raymond R. Wright great acts of heroism took place on May 2, 1967, near the village of Ap Bac in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam. Their company attacked under heavy fire directly into the heavily armed, well-entrenched Viet Cong unit.

Upon reaching the Viet Cong positions Leonard Keller and "Buzz" Wright ran ahead along the line of VC foxholes, throwing hand grenades, and engaging in hand to hand combat, while taking out the enemy positions one at a time. In rapid succession they destroyed an automatic rifle position and a machine gun post and then penetrated the enemy’s main line to take out a mortar.

Inspired by Keller and Wright, who would later be awarded the Medal of Honor, the rest of the company followed their lead and killed most of the remaining VC as they quickly overran the enemy position. Two Americans died in the battle, fifteen were wounded. Over 200 Viet Cong were killed.

Leonard Keller and RaymondWright’s heroic action under fire saved dozens of American lives. Had they not attacked as they did, with total disregard for their own lives, many more lives from Company A would have been lost.













RAYMOND R. WRIGHT


























Raymond R. Wright (December 5, 1945 – September 24, 1999) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration - the Medal of Honor - for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Raymond R. "Buzz" Wright was born in Moriah, New York, December 5, 1945, the son of John and Elizabeth (Reed) Wright.He was the 11th of 13 children (11 boys and two girls).

Raymond attended school in Mineville. He was well-liked by his classmates who gave him the nickname "Buzz" which stayed with him throughout his adult life.

Hunting, fishing, and playing cards were some of Buzz's favorite pastimes.

He was employed by the New York State Department of Transportation. Buzz was drafted into the Army in 1965, He served two years,  During his tour of duty in Vietnam, Buzz engaged the enemy in a combat mission in May of 1967, whereby his actions and heroism earned him the nation's highest award for military valor-the Congressional Medal of Honor.



























The following year, Raymond R. Wright was decorated in a ceremony in Washington, DC.  He was discharged late in 1967.

Buzz was a member of the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Mineville Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5802.





















Medal Of Honor Citation


RAYMOND R. WRIGHT,

Rank and organization:
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army,
Company A, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division.

Place and date:
Ap Bac Zone, Republic of Vietnam,
May  2, 1967.

Entered service at:
Moriah, N.Y.

Born:
December 5, 1945,
Moriah, N.Y.


Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While serving as a rifleman with Company A, Sp4 Wright distinguished himself during a combat patrol in an area where an enemy ambush had occurred earlier. Sp4 Wright's unit suddenly came under intense automatic weapons and small-arms fire from an enemy bunker system protected by numerous snipers in nearby trees. Despite the heavy enemy fire, Sp4 Wright and another soldier leaped to the top of a dike to assault the position. Armed with a rifle and several grenades, he and his comrade exposed themselves to intense fire from the bunkers as they charged the nearest one. Sp4 Wright raced to the bunker, threw in a grenade, killing its occupant.

The 2 soldiers then ran through a hail of fire to the second bunker. While his comrade covered him with his machinegun, Sp4 Wright charged the bunker and succeeded in killing its occupant with a grenade. A third bunker contained an automatic rifleman who had pinned down much of the friendly platoon. While his comrade again covered him with machinegun fire, Sp4 Wright charged in and killed the enemy rifleman with a grenade.

The 2 soldiers worked their way through the remaining bunkers, knocking out 4 of them. Throughout their furious assault, Sp4 Wright and his comrade had been almost continuously exposed to intense sniper fire from the treeline as the enemy desperately sought to stop their attack. Overcoming stubborn resistance from the bunker system, the men advanced into the treeline forcing the snipers to retreat, giving immediate chase, and driving the enemy away from the friendly unit so that it advanced across the open area without further casualty. When his ammunition was exhausted, Sp4 Wright returned to his unit to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. This 2-man assault had driven an enemy platoon from a well prepared position, accounted for numerous enemy casualties, and averted further friendly casualties.

Sp4 Wright's extraordinary heroism, courage, and indomitable fighting spirit saved the lives of many of his comrades and inflicted serious damage on the enemy. His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.


























On September 24, 1999, Sp4 Raymond R. Wright died at age 53 and was buried in the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville, New York. (Section 7, Site 1035).





















The Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery has an Honor Guard Association, which consists of six squads of 12-18 volunteers each. The principal duty of the Honor Guard is to ensure that every veteran receives a proper military burial service. This service is available at no charge to all eligible veterans.


















The Essex County Leathernecks of Ticonderoga and the 962nd Ordnance Co., U.S. Army Reserve of Plattsburgh stand at attention as Leonard Keller unveils one of the monuments. Images in top left corner include Bagpiper Sgt. Domenic Rickert, Bugler Bill Martin, and Leonard Keller, Medal of Honor Recipient.

The "Fly-Over" of a Black Hawk helicopter was piloted by Neil Goodrich and Bill Bosserdet. Top right images include Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient, Shirley Allen (sister of Mr. Wright) and Committee Member, Dick Finnessey after unveiling of Park sign, and Walter Rushby, Town of Moriah Supervisor, assisted by Mr. Wright's grandchildren, revealing roadway sign for "Raymond R. Wright Way."

Five lost their lives in Vietnam and the sixth, Raymond "Buzz" Wright, was awarded the Medal of Honor. Raymond returned home - a hero - and was presented with the actual medal by the President. Mr. Raymond Wright passed away in September 1999.

A ceremony was held  Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000, dedicating the "new" park - renaming it after Mr. Wright.

Among the additions is a monument in tribute to Raymond and a monument honoring the other five servicemen who were killed:
    John P. Drake, PFC US Army
    David L. Jarvis, HM3 US Navy
    Joseph J. Ribeiro, PFC US Army
    Marcus W. Stoddard, PFC USMC
    Michael D. Baker, SN US Navy




LEONARD B. KELLER


























Leonard B. "Len" Keller (February 25, 1947 – October 18, 2009) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War.

A native of Rockford, Illinois, Leonard Keller was drafted into the U.S. Army from Chicago in the spring of 1966. He was just 19 when he attended basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He then had advanced infantry training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Sent to Vietnam that summer with the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, Len Keller and his unit performed reconnaissance missions in the Mekong Delta.


























Keller's days took on a predictable rhythm: going out "into the bush" by helicopter or boat for several days on a reconnaissance mission, then returning to base for a day of rest and relaxation, then out into the field again. There were constant firefights with the enemy.

By May 2, 1967, Len Keller was serving as a sergeant in Company A, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. On that day, in the Ap Bac Zone, Republic of Vietnam, Keller and fellow soldier Specialist Four Raymond R. Wright stormed a series of enemy bunkers which were firing on their unit. For their actions, both Keller and Wright were awarded the Medal of Honor.The medal was formally presented to him on September 19, 1968, by President Lyndon B. Johnson during a ceremony at the White House.

In the summer of 1968, Keller, now a sergeant, was back in the United States and he was informed that he was to receive the Medal of Honor. However, he left the Army that August having heard nothing more about the medal. He assumed that there had been a mistake or the brass had changed its mind. Soon thereafter he was on the West Coast when a team of Secret Service agents contacted him and told him he had to go to Washington, D.C.

Leonard Keller was awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House on September 19, 1968. It was a moving occasion for him and for President Lyndon Johnson as well. Keller noticed that tears coursed down LBJ's cheeks throughout the entire ceremony.

After being discharged from the military in August 1968, Sgt.Keller married a United States Navy veteran and eventually moved to Milton, Florida. For more than 20 years, he was supervisor of the supply department at Whiting Field Naval Air Station, a training base near the Pensacola Naval Air Station.



























Medal Of Honor Citation


Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sweeping through an area where an enemy ambush had occurred earlier, Sgt. Keller's unit suddenly came under intense automatic weapons and small-arms fire from a number of enemy bunkers and numerous snipers in nearby trees. Sgt. Keller quickly moved to a position where he could fire at a bunker from which automatic fire was received, killing 1 Viet Cong who attempted to escape. Leaping to the top of a dike, he and a comrade charged the enemy bunkers, dangerously exposing themselves to the enemy fire. Armed with a light machine gun, Sgt. Keller and his comrade began a systematic assault on the enemy bunkers. While Sgt. Keller neutralized the fire from the first bunker with his machine gun, the other soldier threw in a hand grenade killing its occupant. Then he and the other soldier charged a second bunker, killing its occupant. A third bunker contained an automatic rifleman who had pinned down much of the friendly platoon.

Again, with utter disregard for the fire directed to them, the 2 men charged, killing the enemy within. Continuing their attack, Sgt. Keller and his comrade assaulted 4 more bunkers, killing the enemy within. During their furious assault, Sgt. Keller and his comrade had been almost continuously exposed to intense sniper fire as the enemy desperately sought to stop their attack. The ferocity of their assault had carried the soldiers beyond the line of bunkers into the treeline, forcing snipers to flee. The 2 men gave immediate chase, driving the enemy away from the friendly unit. When his ammunition was exhausted, Sgt. Keller returned to the platoon to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. The 2-man assault had driven an enemy platoon from a well prepared position, accounted for numerous enemy dead, and prevented further friendly casualties.

Sgt. Keller's selfless heroism and indomitable fighting spirit saved the lives of many of his comrades and inflicted serious damage on the enemy. His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

"I'm not any different than any of the other people who were there," he said in an interview. "I just received the Medal. A lot of guys out there deserved medals too, they just didn't make it."


























Recently retired, he good-naturedly accepted the ribbing from his fellow Recipients after adopting a longer hair style and a beard after almost 30 years working aboard Navy Air Station, Pensacola.


Killed In Tragic Mishap

Leonard “Len” Keller died at Sunday afternoonon October 18, 2009, at age 62. He was  critically injured in a motorcycle accident only minutes after being honored at the U.S. Navy Fleet Reserve Association in Pensacola Florida. He was leaving a Fleet Reserve Association veterans' club when he lost control of his three wheeled Harley-Davidson.

The vehicle rolled several times and landed on top of him. He was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, where he died.



























A two-tour Army veteran, Keller had recently retired after a 28-year career as a civilian in the supply unit at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

Captain Bill Reavey, commanding officer of Pensacola NAS, called Keller's death "a national loss."















On a rainy morning in Northern Virginia, a black Cadillac meandered through rolling hills. It carried Medal of Honor recipient, Sergeant Leonard B. Keller, to his final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery.




















A caisson with six black horses slowly walked along the rain soaked asphalt. Family members followed, huddled close to each other beneath umbrellas trying to shield themselves from the rainy and dreary cold morning. They came to pay tribute to a father, grandfather, brother, and friend.



















On a cold, rainy Monday morning, a crowd of more than 40 Family members, fellow service members - including four living Medal of Honor recipients - and friends gathered near section 60 of ANC to say farewell to a man who served his country for nearly 30 years.

Soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)'s Caisson platoon led the procession from McClellan Circle to the hero's final resting place. Chap. (Capt.) Jason Nobles said a brief prayer over the casket, before presenting Keller's daughters Michelle and Nichole with a folded American flag.



















Chap. (Capt.) Jason Nobles hands a flag to Nichole Siccardi, daughter of Leonard Keller, a Medal of Honor recipient who was buried at Arlington National Cemetery Monday. Keller received the Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts in Vietnam in May 1967.

 On November 30, 2009, Leonard B. Keller was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Sgt. Keller is remembered by most as a humble man, who simply did what his country asked him to do, and thought of himself as no more special than those that followed in his footsteps to serve America. While he was drafted into service, he held a special regard for the servicemembers who make up today's all-volunteer force. - "I want to say thank you to the young men and women of the armed forces for doing what you do today. I was drafted, you kids today raise your right hand knowing you are going to war," Keller said during his retirement speech in December 2008. ''What a great country we live in. There really is nothing better than America."



















Some of us, when we read the passages of these citations wil recognize a willingness to sacrifice self for the benefit of others. Some will read the same words and rightfully recognize a level of bravery few of us will ever know — a deliberate defiance of death, a split-second decision to fight in a context where there is no guarantee of fairness or outcome. There was no debate, discussion or extended analysis —  just reflexive action based on the innate qualities that define a hero.