On this day in 1966, SGT Richard C. Youngbear (A/2-502) earned the Silver Star for his actions during Vietnam.


On this day in 1966, SGT Richard C. Youngbear (A/2-502) earned the Silver Star for his actions during Vietnam.  Full citation:

SGT Richard C. Youngbear (A/2-502 IN) was awarded the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) for distinguishing himself on 3 February 1966 while serving as fire team leader of a reconnaissance patrol in the vicinity of Tuy Hoa, Republic of Vietnam.  

At approximately 0330 hours, while on guard on the patrol’s perimeter, Sergeant Youngbear detected a hostile patrol that had approached to within ten meters of his position under concealment of darkness.  Sergeant Youngbear, realizing that he had no time to alert the whole patrol, immediately engaged the insurgents with a deadly volume of automatic weapons fire. 

 Although wounded in both legs by the Viet Cong fire, he courageously engaged the insurgents.  As two of his men were coming to help him he shouted for them to pull back and take cover.  Although hit several more times, Sergeant Youngbear continued firing, forcing the now disorganized Viet Cong to concentrate their fire on him.  This enabled the rest of the small patrol to get in better firing positions to repel the hostile assault.  

Inspired by Sergeant Youngbear’s fighting spirit against seemingly insurmountable odds, the patrol was able to repulse the attack.  After the fierce fight, the patrol found Sergeant Youngbear mortally wounded with six dead Viet Cong around him.  Had it not been for his devotion to duty, courage, and willingness to sacrifice his life, the entire patrol might have been taken by surprise and overrun. 

 Sergeant Youngbear’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

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