GREEN BERETS Theriault, Samuel Silver (Sam)

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Theriault
  • FORENAME
Samuel Silver (Sam)
  • UNIT
5 SF Group (Company A,Det A-344)
  • RANK
Master Sergeant
  • NUMBER
11252308​
  • DATE OF DEATH
27th November 1967
  • AGE
33
  • GRAVESITE
Rochester Cemetery,Rochester,Strafford County,New Hampshire
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Rochester,New Hampshire
born 6.1.1934 Rochester,New Hampshire
husband of Rose (nee Sielian) Theriault (2 children Henry Charles and Kim Servart Theriault)
14 years service
award D.S.C.,Bronze Star with V
KIA approx 6k north of Bunard,Phuoc Long Province,South Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 30E Line 100
 

DATE OF DEATH:

27-Nov-1967

AWARD:

https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/theriault-samuel-silver.31033/

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 Master Sergeant Samuel Silver Theriault (ASN: RA-11252308), 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-344, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Master Sergeant Theriault distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 November 1967 while serving as senior Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese company on a search and destroy operation deep in hostile territory. While moving through dense jungle, his unit was savagely attacked by a large Viet Cong force firing automatic weapons, small arms and machine guns. The initial barrage wounded Sergeant Theriault, but he ignored his injury and moved through a curtain of fire to deploy his men in a hasty defense and direct their fire on the enemy. With his every move drawing intense fire from the Viet Cong, he organized his troops for an assault. He personally led the vicious charge into the point of heaviest fighting and forced the insurgents to pull back under lethal fire. Constantly exposed to enemy weapons, he moved among his men to encourage their aggressive attack on the insurgents. He was mortally wounded while gallantly leading their pursuit of the enemy, and his valiant actions inspired his men to overwhelm the Viet Cong. Master Sergeant Theriault'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.
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