- SURNAME
Bingham
- FORENAME
Oran Lothier
- UNIT
5 SF Group (MACV-SOG)
- RANK
Sergeant + Staff Sergeant
- NUMBER
529506492
- AWARD
Silver Star with oak leaf cluster,Bronze Star with V device
- PLACE
South Vietnam 1967 (BSV) 1968 (SS) 1971 (SS)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
ROLL OF HONOUR:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/bingham-oran-lothier-jr.9515/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/24106FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148856830/oran-lothier-bingham
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