- SURNAME
Bach
- FORENAME
Albert William
- UNIT
3 Recon Bn (B Company) (3 MarDiv)
- RANK
Sergeant
- NUMBER
1994442
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
South Vietnam 1967
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Hialeah,Florida
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Albert William Bach (MCSN: 1994442), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Patrol Leader with Company B, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 18 January 1967. During a patrol deep into enemy controlled territory, Sergeant Bach skillfully led his seven man patrol against numerically superior enemy forces. Advancing down a trail, he observed fresh foot prints along the path and quickly positioned his men for an ambush. A few moments later, twenty North Vietnamese soldiers proceeded down the trail toward their position. Immediately, the patrol aggressively engaged the enemy force, ambushing the rear of their march column and killing six North Vietnamese. Sergeant Bach then directed his men to search the dead for weapons, munitions and documents. The Marines took the heavy packs which the North Vietnamese had been carrying and pursued the remainder of the enemy force, which had fled into the thick undergrowth. After directing artillery fire on the fleeing enemy, Sergeant Bach advanced with his unit and encountered a second enemy force of between twenty and twenty-five members. The Marines immediately opened fire, killing six North Vietnamese and wounding three others. The enemy, caught completely by surprise, dropped their packs and retreated in confusion into the underbrush. Again, Sergeant Bach directed his men to search the battle area and retrieve as much equipment as they could carry. While searching the bodies, the patrol observed and captured a North Vietnamese who was attempting to hide. As they proceeded down the trail to locate a helicopter landing zone they came under mortar and small arms fire from the remainder of the enemy unit. With fearless determination, Sergeant Bach daringly and skillfully called in artillery fire only fifty meters from his position, effectively silencing the North Vietnamese weapons and resulting in an additional ten enemy probable killed. The patrol and their captive, who later provided valuable information regarding enemy operations, morale, training and equipment, were successfully extracted without further incident. As a result of Sergeant Bach's professional leadership and presence of mind, the Marines captured several hundred propaganda leaflets, medical supplies, numerous grenades, and documents of intelligence value, as well as large amounts of ammunition, without suffering any casualties. By his outstanding tactical skill, aggressiveness, initiative and inspiring leadership, Sergeant Bach materially contributed to the accomplishment of his unit's mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/23215
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