- SURNAME
Stewart
- FORENAME
Jack Thomas
- UNIT
5 SF Group (Company A,Det A-302)
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
379505195
- DATE OF DEATH
24th March 1967
- AGE
25
- GRAVESITE
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific,Honolulu,Hawaii Courts of the Missing (Court B)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Washington,D.C.
born 30.3.1941 Washington,D.C.
former husband of Diane Hasner (formerly Stewart) (2 children Troy and Karen)
entered service 27.2.1959 Washington,D.C.
WIA/MIA 7 miles east of Bu Dop,Phuoc Long Province,South Vietnam
body not recovered
declared dead 10.6.1976 as Major
awarded D.S.C. 2009
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 17E Line 40
DATE OF DEATH:
24-Mar-1967AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/stewart-jack-thomas.35292/CITATION:
Distinguished Service Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Major (Infantry), [then Captain] Jack Thomas Stewart, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy while serving with Operational Detachment Alpha-302 (ODA-302), Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, during combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam on 24 March 1967. Major Stewart's Mike Force element was surrounded and savagely attacked by two North Vietnamese Army battalions. Equipped only with individual small arms, the Mike Force was unable to obtain fire superiority. Major Stewart formed a defensive perimeter s the enemy launched human wave assaults and raked the Mike Force with small arms and mortar fire. Major Stewart repeatedly exposed himself to withering enemy fire and direct assault as he calmly moved about the maelstrom rallying his troops. While attempting to coordinate an air strike, Major Stewart was wounded by enemy fire and his radio was destroyed. Unable to communicate with friendly air support, the Mike Force began to take friendly fire from tactical support aircraft. Recognizing the untenable situation, Major Stewart attempted to lead a withdrawal, but was thwarted by fierce enemy fire. Facing the probable annihilation of his unit, Major Stewart sacrificed himself to certain capture or death by taking up an exposed position and covering the withdrawal of as many of his troops as possible. Major Stewart's undaunted courage and steadfast regard for his men at the cost of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Special Forces Group, and the United States Army.
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