HOLCOMB, JOHN NOBLE
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Place: Near Quan Loi, Republic of Vietnam
HOLCOMB, JOHN NOBLE
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 7th
Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Place: Near Quan Loi, Republic of Vietnam
Date: 3 December 1968
Entered service at: Corvallis, Oregon
Born: 11 June 1946, Baker City, Oregon
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Sgt. Holcomb distinguished himself
while serving as a squad leader in Company D during a combat assault mission.
Sgt. Holcomb's company assault had landed by helicopter and deployed into
a hasty defensive position to organize for a reconnaissance-in-force mission
when it was attacked from 3 sides by an estimated battalion-size enemy force.
Sgt. Holcomb's squad was directly in the path of the main enemy attack.
With complete disregard of the heavy fire, Sgt. Holcomb moved among his
men giving encouragement and directing fire on the assaulting enemy. When
his machine gunner was knocked out, Sgt. Holcomb seized the weapon, ran
to a forward edge of the position, and placed withering fire on the enemy.
His gallant actions caused the enemy to withdraw. Sgt. Holcomb treated and
carried his wounded to a position of safety and reorganized his defensive
sector despite a raging grass fire ignited by the incoming enemy mortar
and rocket rounds. When the enemy assaulted the position a second time,
Sgt. Holcomb again manned the forward machine gun, devastating the enemy
attack and forcing the enemy to again break contact and withdraw. During
the enemy withdrawal an enemy rocket hit Sgt. Holcomb's position, destroying
his machine gun and severely wounding him. Despite his painful wounds, Sgt.
Holcomb crawled through the grass fire and exploding mortar and rocket rounds
to move the members of his squad, everyone of whom had been wounded, to
more secure positions. Although grievously wounded and sustained solely
by his indomitable will and courage, Sgt. Holcomb as the last surviving
leader of his platoon organized his men to repel the enemy, crawled to the
platoon radio and reported the third enemy assault on his position. His
report brought friendly supporting fires on the charging enemy and broke
the enemy attack. Sgt. Holcomb's inspiring leadership, fighting spirit,
in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions
of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit,
and the U.S. Army.
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--- General / Personal ---
Last name: HOLCOMB
First name: JOHN NOBLE
Home of Record (official): RICHLAND
State (official): OR
Date of Birth: Tuesday, June 11, 1946
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single
--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: SGT
Serial Number: 18801905
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E5
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 11B40
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Saturday, March 23, 1968
Date of Casualty: Tuesday, December 3, 1968
Age at time of loss: 22
Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died
Reason: Burns (Ground casualty)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Phuoc Long
The Wall: Panel 37W - Row 032
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