FULTON, WILLIAM B.
FULTON, WILLIAM B.
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
1st Battalion (Attached), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade,
Date of Action: October 5, 1965
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William
B. Fulton, 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. On 5 October 1965, Specialist Fulton was
attached as a medical corpsman to the 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry, 173d
Airborne Brigade which was participating in a battalion-sized search and destroy
mission in the vicinity of Hill 55, War Zone "D", Republic of Vietnam. During
the course of action, the second platoon of Company A had accumulated
approximately twenty casualties while acting as the assault force on the Viet
Cong left flank and were now in dire need of medical assistance. Notwithstanding
the fact hat he had sustained a painful shoulder wound earlier in the battle,
Specialist Fulton refused to be evacuated and continued to aid wounded men of
the embattled platoon. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, he
exposed himself on numerous occasions to the intense hostile automatic weapons
and mortar fire to administer first aid to the wounded and curtain certain
death. While performing these critical duties, he sustained a second wound but
still refused medical aid and evacuation until the battle had subsided and all
the wounded personnel were evacuated. Upon arriving at the casualty collection
point, Specialist Fulton's professional competence and devotion to duty, despite
his own painful wounds, were determining factors in saving the lives of at least
ten men. Specialist Four Fulton's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty
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, Pacific, General Orders No. 17 (January 27, 1966)
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