- SURNAME
McCarthy
- FORENAME
John Edward (Jack)
- UNIT
5 SF Group (Det A-302) (Mike Force)
- RANK
Staff Sergeant
- NUMBER
11403641
- DATE OF DEATH
20th February 1967
- AGE
24
- GRAVESITE
St Mary's Cemetery,Salem,Essex County,Massachusetts
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Peabody,Massachusetts
born 12.10.1942 Peabody,Massachusetts
son of Mary L. (nee Leonard) McCarthy,30 Newcastle Road,Peabody,Massachusetts and late Charles James McCarthy
single
attended Thomas Carroll High School
graduated Peabody High School 1961
entered service 1961
101 Airborne Division 1961-64
5 SF Group 1966-67
awards D.S.C.,Bronze Star,Army Commendation Medal
KIA near Bu Dop,Phuoc Long Province,South Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 15E Line 66
DATE OF DEATH:
20-Feb-1967AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/mccarthy-john-edward.30893/CITATION:
Distinguished Service Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant John Edward McCarthy (ASN: RA-11403641), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Detachment A-302, 5th Special Forces (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Staff Sergeant McCarthy distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 20 February 1967 while serving as a Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese Mike Force company during a combat reconnaissance operation near Bo Duc. At 1620 hours, the lead element encountered an entrenched North Vietnamese Army battalion and was quickly pinned down by intense hostile fire from two sides. As the insurgents attempted to encircle the beleaguered company, Sergeant McCarthy moved through the devastating fire to encourage his demoralized men to assault the hostile positions. Noting that the enemy was starting to escape, he dauntlessly charged the emplacements alone. Unmindful of the dangers, Sergeant McCarthy ran across thirty meters of bullet-swept terrain, killed both gun crews and forced another group of insurgents to scatter. Inspired by his gallant actions, several friendly soldiers advanced to his location and took up defensive positions. However, they were soon routed when the North Vietnamese countered with recoilless rifle fire, which seriously wounded Sergeant McCarthy. Ignoring the severe pain, he held his position and single-handedly fought against insurmountable odds to prevent the enemy from retaking the mortars. Demonstrating boundless courage, Sergeant McCarthy killed seven more insurgents before succumbing to his wounds. His unimpeachable valor and selfless sacrifice saved his compound from being overrun by a numerically superior enemy force. Staff Sergeant McCarthy's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/5465
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