MARVIN GLEN SHIELDS

Medal of Honor · awarded posthumously

For conspicuous gallantry

Marvin Glen Shields received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, for his actions on June 10, 1965. The official citation reads:

Shield's Medal of Honor Citation reads:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

CONSTRUCTION MECHANIC THIRD CLASS MARVIN G. SHIELDS

UNITED STATES NAVY

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with United States Navy Seabee Team 1104 at Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, on 10 June 1965. Although wounded when the compound of Detachment A-342, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, came under intense fire from an estimated reinforced Viet Cong regiment employing machine gun, heavy weapons and small arms, Shields continued to resupply his fellow Americans with needed ammunition and to return the enemy fire for a period of approximately three hours, at which time the Viet Cong launched a massive attack at close range with flame throwers, hand grenades and small-arms fire. Wounded a second time during this attack, Shields nevertheless assisted in carrying a more critically wounded man to safety, and then resumed firing at the enemy for four more hours. When the Commander asked for a volunteer to accompany him in an attempt to knock out an enemy machine gun emplacement which was endangering the lives of all personnel in the compound because of the accuracy of its fire, Shields unhesitatingly volunteered for this extremely hazardous mission. Proceeding toward their objective with a 3.5-inch rocket launcher, they succeeded in destroying the enemy machine gun emplacement, thus undoubtedly saving the lives of many of their fellow servicemen in the compound. Shields was mortally wounded by hostile fire while returning to his defensive position. His heroic initiative and great personal valor in the face of intense enemy fire sustain and enhance the finest tradition of the United States Naval Service.

LYNDON B. JOHNSON

^ "Navy Medal of Honor: Vietnam War 1964-1975". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved October 18, 2017.

Citation text as reproduced in Wikipedia’s article on Marvin Glen Shields; Medal of Honor citations are official U.S. government records. See also the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and all Medal of Honor recipients on the Wall.