President Donald Trump on Monday, March 2, awarded three Army veterans, including retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson, of Cass City, the Congressional Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House.
According to the U.S. Army, Richardson distinguished himself by acts of gallantry while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, near Loc Ninh, Vietnam, on Sept. 14, 1968. His actions, the Army said, saved 85 American lives.
In addition to receiving the nation’s highest medal for military service, Richardson, who served from 1967-69, was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Joining Richardson in receiving the Medal of Honor on Monday were Michael H. Ollis, who served in the Army during Operation Enduring Freedom, and Roderick W. Edmonds, who served during World War II, who both received the honor posthumuously. The three were honored by President Trump during a ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday.
What happened to Richardson in Vietnam
During a reconnaissance mission between Loc Ninh and the Cambodian border on Sept. 14, 1968, Richardson’s unit “was engaged by intense automatic weapons and small-arms fire from a well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army battalion,” his Army biography says.
Richardson’s company attempted to advance in tandem with several other companies from the 1st Infantry Division.
“Richardson maneuvered through a hail of hostile rounds and deployed his men into defensive positions while directing their suppressive fire. During the attack, he dragged three wounded soldiers back to safety,” the Army says.
Moving through gunfire, he rescued each of the wounded soldiers, marking the nearest enemy machine gun bunkers with smoke grenades so they could be targeted by air strikes.
Realizing that his surrounded unit would be overrun without air strikes, Richardson sneaked up Hill 222 and, while hiding in an irrigation ditch, directed U.S. fighter bombers as they dropped their ordnance on enemy positions, the Army said.
An hour into his efforts, Richardson was shot in the leg by a sniper. After being shot, he remained on the radio for seven more hours, calling in about 32 air strikes and saving 85 American lives.
“His efforts proved instrumental in saving his company and breaking the North Vietnamese grip on Hill 222,” the Army says.
What to know about Terry Richardson
Richardson graduated from Akron-Fairgrove School in 1966 and worked with his father and grandfather on the farm until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in May 1967 at 19 years old.
Richardson completed basic combat training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and was sent to Fort McClellan, Alabama, to undergo Infantry Advanced Individual Training.
Shortly after, he was selected to attend Non-Commissioned Officer School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He graduated with honors and was promoted to staff sergeant on Jan. 22, 1968.
Richardson was then assigned as a tactical non-commissioned officer at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Then, he received orders to deploy to Vietnam with Company A, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division in May 1968.
Richardson was assigned as the squad leader for 1st Platoon, until his radio telephone operator was killed in action during a clearing operation on Highway 13. Richardson moved into the position of platoon leader.
Richardson was honorably discharged from active duty on May 9, 1969, and returned to Michigan.
He worked in the construction and gas industry, married in 1971, and joined the Michigan National Guard in 1978 after a nine-year break in service. Richardson had a distinguished career and became the post command sergeant major of the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center.
He retired from military service on Jan. 31, 2008.
What is the Medal of Honor?
The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their own lives above and beyond the call of duty while:
The meritorious conduct must involve great personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. There must be incontestable proof of the performance of the meritorious conduct, and each recommendation for the award must be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit, according to the Army.
More than 3,500 service members have received the honor. About 65 are still alive.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan man receives Medal of Honor. How Vietnam veteran saved dozens
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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