CAMPBELL, KEITH ALLEN
CAMPBELL, KEITH ALLEN
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry
Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate),
Date of Action: February 8, 1967
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Keith
Allen Campbell, Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile
force in the Republic of Vietnam while serving with Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry, 173d Airborne
Brigade. Specialist Four Campbell distinguished himself by exceptionally
valorous actions on 8 February 1967 while serving with elements of the 503d
Infantry assaulting a Viet Cong bunker complex. During the initial engagement,
the lead company had suffered numerous casualties, including the medical
personnel. Specialist Campbell volunteered to assist in treating the wounded,
and dauntlessly moved up to the front line. Exposing himself to the intense
hostile fire, he began to administer aid to the wounded soldiers. Discovering
that one casualty lay fifty meters in front of the friendly lines and next to an
insurgent bunker, Specialist Campbell called for covering fire as he maneuvered
forward. Disregarding the extreme dangers, he fearlessly ran through a hail of
bullets and exploding grenades, but was forced to take cover behind a low mound
of dirt. From this position, he killed a Viet Cong sniper who was firing on him
from a tree. Undeterred from his mission, Specialist Campbell then crawled the
last twenty meters to the stricken man. Dragging the soldier to the cover of a
nearby tree, he started to administer first aid. As he fearlessly protected the
man from further hostile fire, Specialist Campbell was mortally wounded. His
unimpeachable valor and selfless sacrifice against insurmountable odds succeeded
in saving a fellow soldier's life. Specialist Four Campbell'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.
HQ US
Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1178 (March 17, 1967)
Born:
3/3/1946 at Long Beach, California
Home Town: Arlington, Virginia
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