Between April 4 and April 8, 1970, while serving on Advisory Team 21 of I Corps Advisory Group, in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, Sergeant First Class Littrell was a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor with the 23rd Battalion, 2nd Ranger Group. The battalion was under intense mortar attack — all advisors except Littrell were killed. Unrelentingly, over four days, Littrell kept the battalion inspired, while he directed artillery and air support, distributed ammunition, strengthened faltering defenses, cared for the wounded, and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language. For his "sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness", he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
The Medal of Honor was presented to Littrell in a White House ceremony by President Richard Nixon on October 15, 1973.
Medal of Honor citationEdit
Medal of Honor
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS GARY L. LITTRELL UNITED STATES ARMY
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Littrell, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Advisory Team 21, distinguished himself while serving as a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor with the 23d Battalion, 2nd Ranger Group, Republic of Vietnam Army, near Dak Seang. After establishing a defensive perimeter on a hill on April 4, the battalion was subjected to an intense enemy mortar attack which killed the Vietnamese commander, one adviser, and seriously wounded all the advisors except Sfc. Littrell. During the ensuing 4 days, Sfc. Littrell exhibited near superhuman endurance as he singlehandedly bolstered the besieged battalion. Repeatedly abandoning positions of relative safety, he directed artillery and air support by day and marked the unit's location by night, despite the heavy, concentrated enemy fire. His dauntless will instilled in the men of the 23d Battalion a deep desire to resist. Assault after assault was repulsed as the battalion responded to the extraordinary leadership and personal example exhibited by Sfc. Littrell as he continuously moved to those points most seriously threatened by the enemy, redistributed ammunition, strengthened faltering defenses, cared for the wounded and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language. When the beleaguered battalion was finally ordered to withdraw, numerous ambushes were encountered. Sfc. Littrell repeatedly prevented widespread disorder by directing air strikes to within 50 meters of their position. Through his indomitable courage and complete disregard for his safety, he averted excessive loss of life and injury to the members of the battalion. The sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Sfc. Littrell over an extended period of time were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him and the U.S. Army.
In 1993, Littrell was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame,[2] which serves to "honor and preserve the contributions of the most extraordinary U.S. Rangers in American history, to identify and highlight individuals as role models for current era Rangers, and to educate the public on the culture of the U.S. Army Rangers."[3]
As of October 2019, Littrell lives in St. Pete Beach, Florida. He makes speaking appearances as part of the Medal of Honor Foundation's Character Development Program to raise public awareness about the legacy of the Medal of Honor. Addressing area high school students, for example, he extols the importance of living a virtuous life, saying, "Integrity is the most important word in the world".[4]
^"Officers". Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
^. The Ranger Regiment Association. Archived from the original on 2006-11-27. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
^. The Ranger Regiment Association. Archived from the original on 2006-11-27. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
^Lewis, Bobby (October 23, 2019). "Students learn core values from local Medal Of Honor recipient". WTSP. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
"Gary Lee Littrell". mishalov.com. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
LTC JD Lock. . The Vietnam War. ArmyRanger.com. Archived from the original on 2006-12-08. Retrieved 2006-12-27. (Details Littrell's Medal of Honor action)
Further readingEdit
Col Jimmy Dean Coy (2003). Valor — A Gathering of Eagles. Evergreen Press. ISBN1581691114. OCLC 57246298. 117 Medal of Honor recipients share advice on leadership, courage, and success.
External linksEdit
Sgt. Tara Teel (April 7, 2005). . DefendAmerica News. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on December 26, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-27. (Four Medal of Honor recipients, including Littrell, visit troops in Afghanistan.)
W. Thomas Smith Jr. (July 12, 2006). "The Very Best Men: Those who are awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor". National Review. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
Richard Gray (September 25, 2005). "The harrowing command of Gary Littrell". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
"Gary L. Littrell: Medal of Honor Series" (webcast/podcast, interview by Ed Tracy). Pritzker Military Museum & Library. January 12, 2006.
gary, littrell, gary, littrell, born, october, 1944, retired, united, states, army, command, sergeant, major, while, serving, adviser, army, republic, vietnam, ranger, units, during, vietnam, acted, with, extraordinary, courage, during, four, siege, battalion,. Gary Lee Littrell born October 26 1944 is a retired United States Army command sergeant major who while serving as an adviser to Army of the Republic of Vietnam s Ranger units during the Vietnam War acted with extraordinary courage during a four day siege on his battalion for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor Gary L LittrellBorn 1944 10 26 October 26 1944 age 78 Henderson KentuckyAllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchUnited States ArmyYears of service1961 1985RankCommand Sergeant MajorBattles warsVietnam WarAwardsMedal of HonorLegion of MeritBronze Star Medal 3 Purple HeartMeritorious Service MedalAir MedalArmy Commendation MedalCross of Gallantry Vietnam Other workPresident Congressional Medal of Honor Society 1 Contents 1 Medal of Honor action 2 Medal of Honor citation 3 Honors 4 In later years 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksMedal of Honor action EditBetween April 4 and April 8 1970 while serving on Advisory Team 21 of I Corps Advisory Group in Kontum Province Republic of Vietnam Sergeant First Class Littrell was a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor with the 23rd Battalion 2nd Ranger Group The battalion was under intense mortar attack all advisors except Littrell were killed Unrelentingly over four days Littrell kept the battalion inspired while he directed artillery and air support distributed ammunition strengthened faltering defenses cared for the wounded and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language For his sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness he was awarded the Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor was presented to Littrell in a White House ceremony by President Richard Nixon on October 15 1973 Medal of Honor citation Edit Medal of HonorThe President of the United States of America authorized by Act of Congress March 3 1863 has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor toSERGEANT FIRST CLASS GARY L LITTRELLUNITED STATES ARMY For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Sfc Littrell U S Military Assistance Command Vietnam Advisory Team 21 distinguished himself while serving as a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor with the 23d Battalion 2nd Ranger Group Republic of Vietnam Army near Dak Seang After establishing a defensive perimeter on a hill on April 4 the battalion was subjected to an intense enemy mortar attack which killed the Vietnamese commander one adviser and seriously wounded all the advisors except Sfc Littrell During the ensuing 4 days Sfc Littrell exhibited near superhuman endurance as he singlehandedly bolstered the besieged battalion Repeatedly abandoning positions of relative safety he directed artillery and air support by day and marked the unit s location by night despite the heavy concentrated enemy fire His dauntless will instilled in the men of the 23d Battalion a deep desire to resist Assault after assault was repulsed as the battalion responded to the extraordinary leadership and personal example exhibited by Sfc Littrell as he continuously moved to those points most seriously threatened by the enemy redistributed ammunition strengthened faltering defenses cared for the wounded and shouted encouragement to the Vietnamese in their own language When the beleaguered battalion was finally ordered to withdraw numerous ambushes were encountered Sfc Littrell repeatedly prevented widespread disorder by directing air strikes to within 50 meters of their position Through his indomitable courage and complete disregard for his safety he averted excessive loss of life and injury to the members of the battalion The sustained extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Sfc Littrell over an extended period of time were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him and the U S Army Honors Edit Capt John J McGinty III left Col Robert L Howard center and CSM Gary L Littrell right at Camp Taqaddum Iraq on November 11 2006 In 1993 Littrell was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame 2 which serves to honor and preserve the contributions of the most extraordinary U S Rangers in American history to identify and highlight individuals as role models for current era Rangers and to educate the public on the culture of the U S Army Rangers 3 In later years EditLittrell retired from the army in 1985 as a command sergeant major As of October 2019 Littrell lives in St Pete Beach Florida He makes speaking appearances as part of the Medal of Honor Foundation s Character Development Program to raise public awareness about the legacy of the Medal of Honor Addressing area high school students for example he extols the importance of living a virtuous life saying Integrity is the most important word in the world 4 See also Edit Biography portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gary L Littrell List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam WarReferences Edit Officers Congressional Medal of Honor Society Retrieved 2006 12 27 The Ranger Hall of Fame Inductees The Ranger Regiment Association Archived from the original on 2006 11 27 Retrieved 2006 12 27 The Ranger Hall of Fame Bylaws The Ranger Regiment Association Archived from the original on 2006 11 27 Retrieved 2006 12 27 Lewis Bobby October 23 2019 Students learn core values from local Medal Of Honor recipient WTSP Retrieved November 11 2019 Gary Lee Littrell mishalov com Retrieved 2006 12 27 LTC JD Lock To Fight with Intrepidity The Vietnam War ArmyRanger com Archived from the original on 2006 12 08 Retrieved 2006 12 27 Details Littrell s Medal of Honor action Further reading EditCol Jimmy Dean Coy 2003 Valor A Gathering of Eagles Evergreen Press ISBN 1581691114 OCLC 57246298 117 Medal of Honor recipients share advice on leadership courage and success External links EditSgt Tara Teel April 7 2005 Medal of Honor recipients Visit Troops in Afghanistan DefendAmerica News Department of Defense Archived from the original on December 26 2006 Retrieved 2006 12 27 Four Medal of Honor recipients including Littrell visit troops in Afghanistan W Thomas Smith Jr July 12 2006 The Very Best Men Those who are awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor National Review Retrieved 2006 12 27 Richard Gray September 25 2005 The harrowing command of Gary Littrell The Arizona Republic Retrieved 2006 12 27 Gary L Littrell Medal of Honor Series webcast podcast interview by Ed Tracy Pritzker Military Museum amp Library January 12 2006 Appearances on C SPAN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gary L Littrell amp oldid 1087461363, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
