- SURNAME
Spencer
- FORENAME
Herman
- UNIT
7 SF Group (Company C)
- RANK
Master Sergeant
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Silver Star
- PLACE
North Vietnam 1970 (Son Tay)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Master Sergeant Herman Spencer, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 21 November 1970 as a member of an all-volunteer joint U.S. Army and Air Force raiding force in the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed heliborne assault mission to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at Son Tay prison in North Vietnam. This valiant effort was motivated by deep compassion for his imprisoned fellow men-at-arms, and by a strong sense of military duty and national pride. Sergeant Spencer, while maneuvering his element toward the building complex outside the prison compound, came under automatic weapons fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he continuously exposed himself to direct the fire of his maneuvering element while placing accurate fire on the enemy position. As he entered the building complex, Sergeant Spencer once again came under automatic weapons and small arms fire. Again, with total disregard for his own personal safety, he assaulted and destroyed these enemy positions. While another member of his element was maneuvering to clear his assigned building, Sergeant Spencer observed enemy forces moving from his blind side. Sergeant Spencer immediately exposed himself to attract their attention and then unhesitatingly engaged them. Sergeant Spencer's sense of duty and display of extraordinary heroism insured the complete success of his elements mission, Sergeant Spencer's conspicuous disregard for his own safety, extraordinary heroism against an armed hostile force, and extreme devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army.
WEB LINKS:
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/24766
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