SGT Eddie Chervony 

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Military Awards

Sergeant Chervony distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 5 May 1968 at Landing Zone Peanuts, west of Khe Sanh.

Late at night he detected the start of an attack against his battery position by an estimated North Vietnamese's Army sapper battalion. He immediately organized his three-man bunker, which was on the portion of the perimeter facing the brunt of the attack, and directed his companions' fire into the assaulting troops. His element's ammunition was soon expended and close fighting developed along the perimeter.

Sergeant Chervony led his men across and expanse of unprotected exposed terrain to secure an unmanned machine gun. After directing his men to obtain additional ammunition for the weapon, he began placing withering fire into the aggressors. After exhausting his ammunition for the weapon, he took charge of personnel in adjacent positions and directed their deadly fire into the enemy, blunting the attack.

Learning that several positions had been overrun, Sergeant Chervony unselfishly exposed himself to the continuing hostile fusillade to assist in rescuing the casualties in them.

On separatetrips, he evacuated five seriously wounded across one hundred meters of open terrain to a place of safety. When carrying a sixth man to the friendly lines he was cut off by enemy force and was attacked with grenades and satchel charges. While protecting his wounded companion from the satchel charge by covering him with his own body, he received a mortal wound.

Sergeant Chervony'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.

Sergeant Chervony distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 5 May 1968 while serving as a communications chief with Battery A, 1st Battalion, 77th Artillery. During a combat mission in the Republic of Vietnam. When his unit's perimeter came under an intense ground attack from a numerically superior enemy force, Sergeant Chervony exposed himself to the hostile fire as he temporarily repelled the enemy attack.

Disregarding his own safety, he rushed across an open area to secure a machine gun site and began to place accurate suppressive fire upon the enemy. While carrying an injured comrade to safety, Sergeant Chervony was mortally wounded by grenade fragments as he protected his wounded comrade with his body.

His gallant action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS MEDAL  Read My Dad's Citation
Instituted: 1918
Criteria:  Extraordinary  heroism in action against an enemy of the U.S. while engaged in  military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with     friendly foreign forces
SILVER STAR MEDAL Read My Dad's Citation
Instituted: 1932
Criteria: Gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United States or while serving with friendly foreign forces
PURPLE HEART MEDAL
Instituted: 1932
Criteria: Awarded to any member of  the U.S. Armed Forces killed or wounded in an          armed conflict.
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
Instituted: 1945
Dates: (retro to 1941)
Criteria: Heroism,  meritorious achievement or service.
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
Instituted: 1953
Dates: 1950-54, 1961-74
Criteria: Any honorable active duty service during any of the above periods.
Notes: Reinstituted in 1966 and 1991 for Vietnam and Southwest Asia (Gulf War) actions     respectively.
VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL
Instituted: 1965
Dates: 1965-73
Criteria: Service in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand during the above period
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (RVN) GALLANTRY CROSS MEDAL W/PALM
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (RVN) CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/DATE
Instituted: 1966
Dates: 1965-1973
Criteria: 6 months service in the Republic of Vietnam between 1965 and 1973 or if wounded, captured or killed in action during the above period
Notes: Bar inscribed 1960- is the only authorized version

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