Vietnam. Between 11 and 14 September
1970, Sergeant Rose’s company was
continuously engaged by a well-armed and
numerically superior hostile force deep
in enemy-controlled territory. Enemy B-40
rockets and mortar rounds rained down
while the adversary sprayed the area with
small arms and machine gun fire, wounding
many and forcing everyone to seek
cover. Sergeant Rose, braving the hail of
bullets, sprinted fifty meters to a wounded
soldier’s side. He then used his own body
to protect the casualty from further injury
while treating his wounds. After stabilizing
the casualty, Sergeant Rose carried him
through the bullet-ridden combat zone to
protective cover. As the enemy accelerated
the attack, Sergeant Rose continuously
exposed himself to intense fire as he
fearlessly moved from casualty to casualty,
administering life-saving aid. A B-40 rocket
impacted just meters from Sergeant Rose,
knocking him from his feet and injuring his
head, hand, and foot. Ignoring his wounds,
Sergeant Rose struggled to his feet and
continued to render aid to the other injured
soldiers. During an attempted medevac,
Sergeant Rose again exposed himself
to enemy fire as he attempted to hoist
wounded personnel up to the hovering
helicopter, which was unable to land due
to unsuitable terrain. The medevac mission
was aborted due to intense enemy fire
and the helicopter crashed a few miles
away due to the enemy fire sustained
during the attempted extraction. Over the
next two days, Sergeant Rose continued
to expose himself to enemy fire in order
to treat the wounded, estimated to be
half of the company’s personnel. On 14
September, during the company’s eventual
helicopter extraction, the enemy launched
a full-scale offensive. Sergeant Rose, after
loading wounded personnel on the first set
of extraction helicopters, returned to the
outer perimeter under enemy fire, carrying
friendly casualties and moving wounded
personnel to more secure positions until
they could be evacuated. He then returned
to the perimeter to help repel the enemy
until the final extraction helicopter arrived.
As the final helicopter was loaded, the
enemy began to overrun the company’s
position, and the helicopter’s Marine door
gunner was shot in the neck. Sergeant
Rose instantly administered critical medical
treatment onboard the helicopter, saving
the Marine’s life. The helicopter carrying
Sergeant Rose crashed several hundred
meters from the evacuation point, further
injuring Sergeant Rose and the personnel
on board. Despite his numerous wounds
from the past three days, Sergeant Rose
continued to pull and carry unconscious
and wounded personnel out of the burning
wreckage and continued to administer aid
to the wounded until another extraction
helicopter arrived. Sergeant Rose’s
extraordinary heroism and selflessness
above and beyond the call of duty were
critical to saving numerous lives over
that four-day time period. His actions are
in keeping with the highest traditions of
military service and reflect great credit upon
himself, the 1st Special Forces, and the
United States Army.
US Army photo by Eboni Everson-Myart.
President Donald J Trump hosts the Medal
of Honor ceremony for former Specialist Five
James C McCloughan at the White House in
Washington, DC, 31 July 2017. US Army photo
by Eboni Everson-Myart.
PRIVATE FIRST-CLASS
JAMES C MCCLOUGHAN
Private First Class James C McCloughan
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry
and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty from 13 -15
May 1969, while serving as a combat
medic with Company C, 3d Battalion, 21st
Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade,
Americal Division. The company air
assaulted into an area near Tam Ky and
Nui Yon Hill. On 13 May, with complete
disregard for his life, he ran 100 meters
in an open field through heavy fire to
rescue a comrade too injured to move and
carried him to safety. That same day, 2d
Platoon was ordered to search the area
near Nui Yon Hill when the platoon was
ambushed by a large North Vietnamese
Army force and sustained heavy casualties.
With complete disregard for his life and
136 The TRUMP RALLY Publication