Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces
Place: Near Lang Vei, Republic of Vietnam
ASHLEY, EUGENE, JR.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 5th Special
Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces
Place: Near Lang Vei, Republic of Vietnam
Date: 6th and 7th February 1968
Entered service at: New York, New York
Born: 12 October 1931, Wilmington, North Carolina
Citation:
Sfc. Ashley, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity
while serving with Detachment A-101, Company C.
Sfc. Ashley was the senior Special
Forces adviser of a hastily
organized assault force whose mission was to rescue entrapped U.S. Special
Forces advisers at Camp Lang Vei. During the initial attack on the Special
Forces camp by North Vietnamese army forces, Sfc. Ashley supported the camp
with high explosive and illumination mortar rounds. When communications
were lost with the main camp, he assumed the additional responsibility of
directing air strikes and artillery support. Sfc. Ashley organized and equipped
a small assault force composed of local friendly personnel. During the ensuing
battle. Sfc. Ashley led a total of 5 vigorous assaults against the enemy,
continuously exposing himself to a voluminous hail of enemy grenades, machine
gun and automatic weapons fire. Throughout these assaults, he was plagued
by numerous boobytrapped satchel charges in all bunkers on his avenue of
approach. During his fifth and final assault, he adjusted air strikes nearly
on top of his assault element, forcing the enemy to withdraw and resulting
in friendly control of the summit of the hill. While exposing himself to
intense enemy fire, he was seriously wounded by machine gun fire but continued
his mission without regard for his personal safety. After the fifth Assault
he lost consciousness and was carried from the summit by his comrades only
to suffer a fatal wound when an enemy artillery round landed in the area.
Sfc. Ashley displayed extraordinary heroism in risking his life in an attempt
to save the lives of his entrapped comrades and commanding officer. His
total disregard for his personal safety while exposed to enemy observation
and automatic weapons fire was an inspiration to all men committed to the
assault. The resolute valor with which he led 5 gallant charges placed critical
diversionary pressure on the attacking enemy and his valiant efforts carved
a channel in the overpowering enemy forces and weapons positions through
which the survivors of Camp
Lang Vei eventually escaped to freedom. Sfc. Ashley's bravery, at the cost
of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service, and reflects
great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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--- General / Personal ---
Last name: ASHLEY
First name: EUGENE JR
Home of Record (official): WILMINGTON
State (official): NC
Date of Birth: Tuesday, October 20, 1931
Sex: Male
Race: Negro
Marital Status: Married
--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: SFC
Serial Number: 12392673
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E7
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 11F4S
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Friday, January 12, 1968
Date of Casualty: Wednesday, February 7, 1968
Age at time of loss: 36
Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died
Reason: Artillery, rocket, mortar (Ground casualty)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Quang Tri
The Wall: Panel 37E - Row 077
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