- SURNAME
McKinney
- FORENAME
James Odos
- UNIT
1 Recon Bn (C Company) (1 MarDiv)
- RANK
Private First Class
- NUMBER
2055426
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
South Vietnam 1966
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
ROLL OF HONOUR:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/mckinney-james-odos-jim.48585/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class James Odas McKinney (MCSN: 2055426), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company C, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 16 June 1966. As a scout with the First Platoon, Private McKinney and the other seventeen members of his platoon were occupying an observation post on Hill 488 near the village of Chi Tu, Quang Tin Province, deep in enemy controlled territory. During the early morning hours a North Vietnamese force of battalion size launched an extremely vicious assault on their position. Because of the difficult terrain the enemy troops were able to creep close to the Marine forward elements and suddenly charged from their concealed location, employing intense small arms fire, automatic weapons, and accurate mortar fire. Private McKinney and his valiant companions withdrew under the hail of fire to nearby pre-designated defensive positions and immediately engaged the determined enemy with accurate rifle fire and hand-to-hand combat. Aggressively and instantaneously, Private McKinney reacted to the desperate situation and courageously fired into the advancing horde until he was mortally wounded by an enemy hand grenade. By his heroic action and fighting spirit, he assisted in repulsing the first and most ferocious wave of the assault and thus enabled the beleaguered platoon to continue to withstand the onslaught of the enemy throughout the night. Private McKinney's initiative and fearless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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