YABES, MAXIMO
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 4th
Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.
Place: Near Phu Hoa Dong, Republic of Vietnam
YABES, MAXIMO
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 4th
Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.
Place: Near Phu Hoa Dong, Republic of Vietnam
Date: 26 February 1967.
Entered service at: Eugene, Oregon
Born: 29 January 1932, Lodi, Calif.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty.
1st Sgt. Yabes distinguished himself with Company A, which was providing security for a land clearing operation. Early in the morning the company suddenly came under intense automatic weapons and mortar fire followed by a battalion sized assault from 3 sides. Penetrating the defensive perimeter the enemy advanced on the company command post bunker. The command post received increasingly heavy fire and was in danger of being overwhelmed. When several enemy grenades landed within the command post, 1st Sgt. Yabes shouted a warning and used his body as a shield to protect others in the bunker. Although painfully wounded by numerous grenade fragments, and despite the vicious enemy fire on the bunker, he remained there to provide covering fire and enable the others in the command group to relocate. When the command group had reached a new position, 1st Sgt. Yabes moved through a withering hail of enemy fire to another bunker 50 meters away. There he secured a grenade launcher from a fallen comrade and fired point blank into the attacking Viet Cong stopping further penetration of the perimeter. Noting 2 wounded men helpless in the fire swept area, he moved them to a safer position where they could be given medical treatment. He resumed his accurate and effective fire killing several enemy soldiers and forcing others to withdraw from the vicinity of the command post. As the battle continued, he observed an enemy machinegun within the perimeter which threatened the whole position. On his own, he dashed across the exposed area, assaulted the machinegun, killed the crew, destroyed the weapon, and fell mortally wounded. 1st Sgt. Yabes' valiant and selfless actions saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and inspired his comrades to effectively repel the enemy assault. His indomitable fighting spirit, extraordinary courage and intrepidity at the cost of his life are in the highest military traditions and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
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--- General / Personal ---
Last name: YABES
First name: MAXIMO
Home of Record (official): OAKRIDGE
State (official): OR
Date of Birth: Tuesday, March 29, 1932
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Married
--- Military ---
Branch: Army
Rank: 1SG
Serial Number: 19406251
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E8
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 11C50
--- Action ---
Start of Tour: Saturday, April 16, 1966
Date of Casualty: Sunday, February 26, 1967
Age at time of loss: 34
Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died
Reason: Gun, small arms fire (Ground casualty)
Country: South VietNam
Province: Binh Duong
The Wall: Panel 15E - Row 102
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