WALTER RONALD BROWN, Captain, United States Army, 101st Abn. Div: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. during the period 9 June 1966 to 11 June 1966, Captain Brown, the company commander of Company A, had the mission of reinforcing a company that was surrounded by a Viet Cong battalion near Dak To. Upon receiving the mission, Captain Brown immediately assembled his company and began the 3,000 meter move through darkness and treacherous terrain to the battle area. As his company reached the top of the mountain overlooking the beleaguered company, it received intense hostile fire. With complete disregard for his safety, Captain Brown led a squad to the flank of the insurgent positions and initiated an assault that killed nine Viet Cong and forced the remainder of the insurgents to flee. During the assault, Captain Brown charged a machine gun emplacement and personally killed three Viet Cong. Although the situation was extremely tense, Captain Brown positioned himself with the lead element and continued to advance toward the stricken company. Upon entering a valley, the lead element again received Viet Cong fire from the surrounding high ground. While the rest of the company continued forward, Captain Brown maneuvered his machine guns into a position where they placed suppressive fire on the insurgents. As his unit reached the perimeter of the beleaguered company, the rear element was attacked by a determined Viet Cong force and one trooper fell seriously wounded. Captain Brown immediately raced 30 meters down the slope to the wounded trooper and carried him to safety. He then assumed command of the perimeter and positioned his men to repel the repeated Viet Cong attacks. Throughout the next 30 hours, Captain Brown continuously exposed himself to carry ammunition, call in air strikes, and adjust artillery fire. During a mortar attack on 10 June 1966, Captain Brown moved about the battlefield helping move wounded soldiers from exposed positions. Working against superior odds, he organized his company and rallied his men to successfully fight their way through the viet Cong encirclement. Although confronted with the arduous task of transporting 45 litter casualties over rough terrain to an evacuation point 1,000 meters away, he never relented from his determined efforts to accomplish his mission. while moving toward the landing zone, they were again hit by a Viet Cong element. Despite the fact that he was wounded by a grenade explosion, Captain Brown ordered a charge that overran the insurgent position. After reaching the landing zone, he returned down the mountain to help his comrades carry the litter patients to the extraction point. Through his courage and outstanding leadership, he contributed immeasurably to the defeat of the Viet Cong force. Captain Brown’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty in close combat against a numerically superior hostile force were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Mrl. Brown joined the Legion of Valor in 2005 and resides in Texas.