10-12-2010, 01:12 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_H._McNerney
First Sergeant David H. McNerney (US Army, Retired), lost his battle with lung cancer
early Sunday morning at the DeBakey VA Med. Ctr. in Houston.
Born June 2, 1931, 1SG McNerney first enlisted in the USN and did two tours in Korea during the "Korean Conflict".
He was discharged from the Navy in 1952.
In 1953 David enlisted in the US Army. He retired from the Army in December 1969 as a First Sergeant.
He holds the distinction of being one of the first military advisers to serve in RVN {1962}.
1SG McNerney served a total of three tours in Vietnam.
David was also a U.S. Customs Inspector at the Port of Houston from 1970 until his retirement in 1995.
1SG McNerney's valiant actions on 22 March 1967 in Polei Doc, RVN {near the Cambodian border};
while serving as 1SG of A-Co, 1/8, 4th Infantry Div; saved the lives of many of his
men and eliminated the threat of capture by an NVA battalion.
The documentary film Honor in the Valley of Tears
by Eric S. Dow relates the unit's experience and the respect they all share for their First Sergeant. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1342116/
On 19 September, 1968, he was formally presented with the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House.
The Medal of Honor Citation:
1st Sgt. McNerney distinguished himself when his unit was attacked by a North Vietnamese battalion near Polei Doc. Running through the hail of enemy fire to the area of heaviest contact, he was assisting in the development of a defensive perimeter when he encountered several enemy at close range. He killed the enemy but was painfully injured when blown from his feet by a grenade. In spite of this injury, he assaulted and destroyed an enemy machinegun position that had pinned down 5 of his comrades beyond the defensive line. Upon learning his commander and artillery forward observer had been killed, he assumed command of the company. He adjusted artillery fire to within 20 meters of the position in a daring measure to repulse enemy assaults. When the smoke grenades used to mark the position were gone, he moved into a nearby clearing to designate the location to friendly aircraft. In spite of enemy fire he remained exposed until he was certain the position was spotted and then climbed into a tree and tied the identification panel to its highest branches. Then he moved among his men readjusting their position, encouraging the defenders and checking the wounded. As the hostile assaults slackened, he began clearing a helicopter landing site to evacuate the wounded. When explosives were needed to remove large trees, he crawled outside the relative safety of his perimeter to collect demolition material from abandoned rucksacks. Moving through a fusillade of fire he returned with the explosives that were vital to the clearing of the landing zone. Disregarding the pain of his injury and refusing medical evacuation 1st Sgt. McNerney remained with his unit until the next day when the new commander arrived. First Sgt. McNerney's outstanding heroism and leadership were inspirational to his comrades. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
We all won the Medal of Honor that day.
I just have the privilege of wearing it. - 1SG McNerney
R.I.P. TOP
First Sergeant David H. McNerney (US Army, Retired), lost his battle with lung cancer
early Sunday morning at the DeBakey VA Med. Ctr. in Houston.
Born June 2, 1931, 1SG McNerney first enlisted in the USN and did two tours in Korea during the "Korean Conflict".
He was discharged from the Navy in 1952.
In 1953 David enlisted in the US Army. He retired from the Army in December 1969 as a First Sergeant.
He holds the distinction of being one of the first military advisers to serve in RVN {1962}.
1SG McNerney served a total of three tours in Vietnam.
David was also a U.S. Customs Inspector at the Port of Houston from 1970 until his retirement in 1995.
1SG McNerney's valiant actions on 22 March 1967 in Polei Doc, RVN {near the Cambodian border};
while serving as 1SG of A-Co, 1/8, 4th Infantry Div; saved the lives of many of his
men and eliminated the threat of capture by an NVA battalion.
The documentary film Honor in the Valley of Tears
by Eric S. Dow relates the unit's experience and the respect they all share for their First Sergeant. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1342116/
On 19 September, 1968, he was formally presented with the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House.
The Medal of Honor Citation:
1st Sgt. McNerney distinguished himself when his unit was attacked by a North Vietnamese battalion near Polei Doc. Running through the hail of enemy fire to the area of heaviest contact, he was assisting in the development of a defensive perimeter when he encountered several enemy at close range. He killed the enemy but was painfully injured when blown from his feet by a grenade. In spite of this injury, he assaulted and destroyed an enemy machinegun position that had pinned down 5 of his comrades beyond the defensive line. Upon learning his commander and artillery forward observer had been killed, he assumed command of the company. He adjusted artillery fire to within 20 meters of the position in a daring measure to repulse enemy assaults. When the smoke grenades used to mark the position were gone, he moved into a nearby clearing to designate the location to friendly aircraft. In spite of enemy fire he remained exposed until he was certain the position was spotted and then climbed into a tree and tied the identification panel to its highest branches. Then he moved among his men readjusting their position, encouraging the defenders and checking the wounded. As the hostile assaults slackened, he began clearing a helicopter landing site to evacuate the wounded. When explosives were needed to remove large trees, he crawled outside the relative safety of his perimeter to collect demolition material from abandoned rucksacks. Moving through a fusillade of fire he returned with the explosives that were vital to the clearing of the landing zone. Disregarding the pain of his injury and refusing medical evacuation 1st Sgt. McNerney remained with his unit until the next day when the new commander arrived. First Sgt. McNerney's outstanding heroism and leadership were inspirational to his comrades. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
We all won the Medal of Honor that day.
I just have the privilege of wearing it. - 1SG McNerney
R.I.P. TOP