ZABITOSKY, FRED WILLIAM
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class (then S/Sgt.), U.S. Army, 5th
Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Place: Republic of Vietnam
Date: 19 February 1968
Entered service at: Trenton, New Jersey
Born: 27 October 1942, Trenton, New Jersey
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty.
Sfc. Zabitosky, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as an assistant team leader of a 9-man Special Forces long range reconnaissance patrol.
Sfc. Zabitosky's patrol was
operating deep within enemy controlled territory when they were attacked
by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army unit. Sfc. Zabitosky rallied
his team members, deployed them into defensive positions, and, exposing
himself to concentrated enemy automatic weapons fire, directed their return
fire. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sfc. Zabitosky
ordered his patrol to move to a landing zone for helicopter
extraction while he covered their withdrawal with rifle fire and grenades.
Rejoining the patrol under increasing enemy pressure, he positioned each
man in a tight perimeter defense and continually moved from man to man,
encouraging them and controlling their defensive fire. Mainly due to his
example, the outnumbered patrol maintained its precarious position until
the arrival of tactical air support and a helicopter extraction team. As
the rescue helicopters arrived, the determined North Vietnamese pressed
their attack. Sfc. Zabitosky repeatedly exposed himself to their fire to
adjust suppressive helicopter gunship fire around the landing zone. After
boarding 1 of the rescue helicopters, he positioned
himself in the door delivering fire on the enemy as the ship took off. The
helicopter was engulfed in a hail of bullets and Sfc. Zabitosky was thrown
from the craft as it spun out of control and crashed. Recovering consciousness,
he ignored his extremely painful injuries and moved to the flaming wreckage.
Heedless of the danger of exploding ordnance and fuel, he pulled the severely
wounded pilot from the searing blaze and made repeated attempts to rescue
his patrol members but was driven back by the intense heat. Despite his
serious burns and crushed ribs, he carried and dragged the unconscious pilot
through a curtain of enemy fire to within 10 feet of a hovering rescue helicopter
before collapsing. Sfc. Zabitosky'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 U.S. Army.
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