- Other Entry
- [ US PARAS 2 ENTRY ]
- SURNAME
Dexter
- FORENAME
Herbert John
- UNIT
former 1 SF Group (Det A-232)
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
OF104408
- DATE OF DEATH
18th September 1965
- AGE
33
- GRAVESITE
Camp Butler National Cemetery,Springfield,Sangamon County,Illinois Section D Site 205
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Decatur,Illinois
born 1.3.1932 Decatur,Illinois
son of Henry George and Ella Oline (nee Foale) Dexter
husband of Beverly Louise (nee Funk) Dexter (1932-2013) (married 18.9.1952) (5 children)
graduated Decatur High School
entered service 1949
served Korean War
graduated Infantry OCS,Fort Benning,Georgia 1952
US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM),82nd Airborne Division 1955-59
1 Special Forces Group (Det A-232) 1962-64
US Army FORSCOM,101st Airborne Division 1964-65
502 Infantry Regiment (2 Bn) 1965
awards D.S.C. (posthumous),Silver Star,Army Commendation Medal (dates ?)
KIA An Ninh,Binh Dinh Province,South Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 02E Line 86
see US PARAS 2 Roll of Honour also
DATE OF DEATH:
18-Sep-1965CITATION:
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 Major (Infantry) Herbert John Dexter (ASN: OF-104408), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 September 1965, Major Dexter, the S3 Officer of the 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, was accompanying his battalion on a search and destroy mission in the vicinity of Binh Khe, Republic of Vietnam. The battalion was airlifted to the operational area and upon arriving encountered increasingly heavy hostile fire from various insurgent positions. A friendly platoon, which had landed in a previous life, was forced to withdraw from a tactically important hill along the landing zone perimeter. Realizing the importance of the hill as a defensive position, Major Dexter, with complete disregard for his personal safety, voluntarily rushed to the now heavily infested hostile area and successfully reorganized the friendly forces positioned there. He quickly issued competent instructions and personally led the left flank element up the hill, despite the intense hostile small arms and mortar fire being directed at the platoon. While securing the crest, Major Dexter personally killed two insurgents who were at a deadly close range and sustained a leg wound from the murderous Viet Cong fire. Realizing that his leadership and encouragement were needed to inspire the members of the besieged platoon to hold the hill position, Major Dexter, although in great pain from his wound, continually refused to be evacuated. As the battle raged on, he was mortally wounded. Major Dexter’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.
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Infantry) Herbert John Dexter (ASN: OF-104408), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Infantry) Herbert John Dexter (ASN: OF-104408), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
• https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-4882/
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