GREEN BERETS Bingham, Oran Lothier,Jr

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Bingham
  • FORENAME
Oran Lothier,Jr
  • UNIT
5 SF Group (MACV-SOG) (Task Force Advisory Element 1) (RT Kansas)
  • RANK
Staff Sergeant
  • NUMBER
529506492
  • DATE OF DEATH
7th August 1971
  • AGE
30
  • GRAVESITE
Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park,Millcreek,Salt Lake County,Utah Mountain 191-4-W
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Salt Lake City, Utah (340 Downington Avenue)
born 8.7.1941 Holbrook, Idaho
son of Oran Lothier (1916-1965) and La Rae Annie (nee Bearnson) Bingham (1920-1974)
husband of Jerry (nee Tremelling) Bingham,1394 West 13200 South, Riverton, Utah (married October 1963) (2 children Richard and Lori Ann)
graduated West High School
entered service 1961
graduated SF Qualification Course April 1963
MACV-SOG-CCC (FOB 2) 1967
award Bronze Star with V
MACV-SOG-CCC (FOB-2) 1968 (Sergeant)
award Silver Star
MACV-SOG_CCS 1970
MACV-SOG-CCN (RT Kansas) 1970
MACV-SOG (TFAE 1) 1971
award 2nd Silver Star (posthumous)
also awarded 2nd Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal
KIA Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C. Panel 03W Line 125
 

DATE OF DEATH:

07-Aug-1971

AWARD:

https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/bingham-oran-lothier.31282/

CITATION:

Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant [then Sergeant] Oran Lothier Bingham, Jr., United States Army, for gallantry in action on 21 January 1968, while serving with an indigenous platoon operating deep in enemy-held territory. The platoon had been assigned the mission of performing a bomb damage assessment. Sergeant Bingham stayed on or near the point of the recon element, exposing himself many times, crossing danger areas and checking likely ambush sites. After being trailed for two days the platoon was ambushed by approximately two company-sized units of NVA. Sergeant Bingham moved immediately to the most heavily engaged part of the fighting. He moved forward under intense enemy fire, exposing himself many times to sniper fire and intense automatic weapons fire with complete disregard for his own personal safety. When the machine gunner was killed Sergeant Bingham manned the machinegun. Being unable to effectively cover his front, he moved the gun to an exposed position where he could and did lay down an effective base of fire. Sergeant Bingham laid down such an intense fire that it was instrumental in halting three NVA direct assaults. Although Sergeant Bingham was wounded by grenade fragments in the arm and back he remained in his position and laid down such a withering fire that the NVA forces were forced to pull back to regroup. When the machinegun malfunctioned Sergeant Bingham continued to fight from his exposed position with his rifle. During the withdrawal of the platoon Sergeant Bingham assisted the withdrawal with the other three Americans by laying down a heavy covering fire while the patrol was moving. Sergeant Bingham again took the point and, through heavy sniper fire, led the patrol to the landing zone. Upon arrival at the landing zone, Sergeant Bingham again exposed himself to enemy fire as he personally fixed plastic explosives and claymore mines to two trees which were delaying the helicopter infiltration and destroyed them. During the extraction, Sergeant Bingham continued to expose himself while he helped load the wounded on the helicopters and guided the helicopters into the landing zone, leaving on the last helicopter. By his outstanding heroism Sergeant Bingham has brought credit on himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

WEB LINKS:

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/24106

FINDAGRAVE:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148856830/oran-lothier-bingham
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