Fort Campbell in Montgomery County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Medal of Honor Recipients
Airborne
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, May 4, 2024
1. Medal of Honor Recipients Marker
Inscription.
Medal of Honor Recipients. Airborne.
Private First Class Milton A. Lee Shreveport, LA CO B, 2D battalion, 502D IN. On 26 Арril 1968, near the city of Phu Bai, Vietnam, Private Lee served as the Radio Telephone Operator for his platoon. While on patrol, his platoon received intense hostile fire from the enemy in well concealed bunkers. The platoon took cover to reorganize and treat the wounded. While advancing toward the enemy bunkers, he observed four enemies with automatic weapons and a rocket launcher. Private Lee passed off his radio and charged the enemy position, killing all occupants and capturing their weapons. He continued his assault on a second position. Grievously wounded, he pressed on the attack, crawling into a firing position and delivered cover fire for his platoon to advance and destroy the bunker. Private Lee succumbed to his wounds shortly after the position was destroyed.,
Staff Sergeant John G. Gertsch Jersey City, NJ CO E, 1ST Battalion, 327TH IN. SSG Gertsch displayed impeccable heroism during the period of 15-19 July 1969 while conducting combat operations in the A Shau Valley, Vietnam. SSG Gertsch's platoon received intense fire from the enemy, which wounded his platoon leader. SSG Gertsch rushed to aid his platoon leader and dragged him to a sheltered position. He then led his men in a fierce counterattack that forced the enemy to withdraw. During a recon mission, his platoon was attacked again. He immediately charged, firing as he advanced, forcing the enemy to withdraw in confusion and made possible the recovery of two wounded men. During a later attack, SSG Gertsch placed himself between a medic working on a fallen soldier and the enemy. He was mortally wounded while protecting his soldiers.,
Corporal Frank R. Fratellenico Sharon, CT CO B, 2D Battalion, 502D IN. On 19 August 1970 while serving as a rifleman, CPL Fratellenico's company was conducting an assault near, Fire Base Barnett, Vietnam. His squad was pinned down by intensive fire from two fortified bunkers. At great personal risk CPL Fratellenico maneuvered forward and, using hand grenades, neutralized the first bunker which was occupied by a number of enemy soldiers. While attacking a second bunker, he was struck by enemy fire, causing him to fall to the ground and drop a grenade he was preparing to throw. Alert to the imminent danger to his comrades, CPL Fratellenico retrieved the grenade and fell upon it the instant before it exploded. His actions prevented death and serious injury to four of his comrades and inspired his unit to overrun the enemy position.
Private First Class Milton A. Lee
Shreveport, LA
CO B, 2D battalion, 502D IN
On 26 Арril 1968, near the city of Phu Bai, Vietnam, Private Lee served as the Radio Telephone Operator for his platoon. While on patrol, his platoon received intense hostile fire from the enemy in well concealed bunkers. The platoon took cover to reorganize and treat the wounded. While advancing toward the enemy bunkers, he observed four enemies with automatic weapons and a rocket launcher. Private Lee passed off his radio and charged the enemy position, killing all occupants and capturing their weapons. He continued his assault on a second position. Grievously wounded, he pressed on the attack, crawling into a firing position and delivered cover fire for his platoon to advance and destroy the bunker. Private Lee succumbed to his wounds shortly after the position was destroyed.
Staff Sergeant John G. Gertsch
Jersey City, NJ
CO E, 1ST Battalion, 327TH IN
SSG Gertsch displayed impeccable heroism during the period of 15-19 July 1969 while conducting combat operations in the A Shau Valley, Vietnam. SSG Gertsch's platoon received intense fire from the enemy, which wounded his platoon leader. SSG Gertsch rushed to aid his platoon leader and dragged him to a sheltered position.
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He then led his men in a fierce counterattack that forced the enemy to withdraw. During a recon mission, his platoon was attacked again. He immediately charged, firing as he advanced, forcing the enemy to withdraw in confusion and made possible the recovery of two wounded men. During a later attack, SSG Gertsch placed himself between a medic working on a fallen soldier and the enemy. He was mortally wounded while protecting his soldiers.
Corporal Frank R. Fratellenico
Sharon, CT
CO B, 2D Battalion, 502D IN
On 19 August 1970 while serving as a rifleman, CPL Fratellenico's company was conducting an assault near, Fire Base Barnett, Vietnam. His squad was pinned down by intensive fire from two fortified bunkers. At great personal risk CPL Fratellenico maneuvered forward and, using hand grenades, neutralized the first bunker which was occupied by a number of enemy soldiers. While attacking a second bunker, he was struck by enemy fire, causing him to fall to the ground and drop a grenade he was preparing to throw. Alert to the imminent danger to his comrades, CPL Fratellenico retrieved the grenade and fell upon it the instant before it exploded. His actions prevented death and serious injury to four of his comrades and inspired his unit to overrun the enemy position.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, May 4, 2024
2. Medal of Honor Recipients Marker
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Location. 36° 38.158′ N, 87° 27.177′ W. Marker is in Fort Campbell, Tennessee, in Montgomery County. It is on Tennessee Avenue south of Screaming Eagle Blvd, on the left when traveling south. Marker is on the campus of Fort Campbell. Visitors must access the base via Gate 7 to access marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5658 Tennessee Ave, Fort Campbell KY 42223, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee and in the Highland Rim. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 127 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2024, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
