- SURNAME
Bledsoe
- FORENAME
Charles Edward
- UNIT
U.S.N. Seal Team 2
- RANK
Electricians Mate Second Class
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
South Vietnam 1970
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Electrician's Mate Second Class Charles Edward Bledsoe, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as a member of Sea-Air-Land Team TWO (SEAL-2), while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong communist aggressors in the Republic of Vietnam on 27 September 1970 while serving as machine gunner with SEAL Team TWO, Detachment ALFA. All seven men of his unit were wounded by a mine as they encountered the enemy in a heavily booby-trapped Viet Cong base camp. Petty Officer Bledsoe, noting that the squad radioman was seriously wounded and unable to operate the radio, disregarded his own painful wounds and immediately took the radio and began calling for assistance. After considerable effort, he was able to make contact and call for medical assistance, air and ground support. Within minutes of being hit, the squad began to receive reconnaissance fire from the enemy which closed to within twenty meters on two sides of their position. Having established contact with rescue forces, he moved around the squad and administered first aid. Again exposing himself to enemy fire, he then moved to a position from which he could provide defensive fire should the enemy attempt to overrun his squad. Reestablishing radio contact, he directed reaction forces to his position, maintaining continuous radio communications until friendly forces were on the scene and his squad was safely evacuated. Petty Officer Bledsoe's courageous actions and professional manner under the most adverse circumstances were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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