SERGEANT FIRST CLASS SAMUEL T. GIBSON, United States Army, 1st Infantry Division Advisory Detachment, I Corps Advisory Group, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant First Class Gibson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 7 January 1968 as a psychological operations/civic actions advisor during an attack on the Phu Loc District Headquarters. Enemy forces launched a devastating night mortar barrage on the compound, and sappers entered it through a break in the defensive perimeter wire. As Sergeant Gibson secured his weapon and equipment to move a bunker, the door was blown off his quarters and he was thrown across the room by the blast. Although shaken, he picked himself up, crossed the open compound and manned a machine gun position atop the command bunker to repel the furious hostile attack. An exploding satchel charge threw him to the ground and wounded him. Refusing aid, he climbed back to his position through a curtain of fire and hurled hand grenades at the assaulting insurgents. When the Viet Cong moved to defilade positions, he braved the barrage of small arms fire and exploding grenades to reach a place from which he could direct more effective fire on them. The enemy launched another fierce ground attack, and he engaged a sapper in deadly hand-to-hand fighting until an insurgent’s satchel charge detonated nearby, killing the Viet Cong soldier and rendering Sergeant Gibson unconscious. After regaining his senses, he crawled to a nearby building and secured a rifle. Firing it as he maneuvered, he moved throughout the compound to locate his fellow advisors. After aiding a wounded man from the rubble of a demolished bunker, he noticed an ammunition truck parked beside a burning building. Sprinting to the vehicle, he started it rolling, jumped inside and drove it to safety. His aggressive and fearless actions throughout the fierce three hour battle were instrumental in repelling the determined Viet Cong forces. Sergeant First Class Gibson’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 United States Army.

Mr. Gibson resides in Florida.