Remembering Them Forever (RTF)!
Birdwell, Dwight W.
- Amarillo, Texas, Potter County, United States
Military Information:
- US Army
- Bronze Star Medal
- Silver Star
- Purple Heart (PH)
- Medal of Honor
- Vietnam Veteran
- QR Code
- SPC (Specialist)
- 1-Alpha List
- Vietnam Service Medal
- Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Bio:
Birdwell was assigned to Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. He received his first Silver Star for heroism on 31 January 1968, when his unit raced to defend Tan Son Nhut Air Base, which was under attack during the Tet Offensive. Troop C was the first American ground unit from outside the airbase to respond to the attack. When Birdwell's tank commander was seriously wounded, Birdwell took command and placed intense fire on the attacking People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces until his ammunition was expended. He then retrieved an M60 machine gun and continued firing at the PAVN until the weapon was damaged by PAVN fire, which also wounded Birdwell. With disregard for his own safety, he ran through a hail of PAVN fire to get more ammunition for his men from other damaged vehicles.
On the night of 4 July 1968, he again risked his life to rescue more Americans, some of them wounded, who were stranded in a battle zone in an enemy-occupied village. Seeing a damaged Army personnel carrier, he exposed himself to heavy enemy fire while loading all of the wounded and evacuating them to safety. He then went back into the village to rescue more Americans, for which he was awarded his second Silver Star for bravery.
Birdwell returned to the United States in December 1968.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoljbHKwj6c
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