Captain (then First Lieutenant) James D Birchim, Chemical Corps, Special Forces Augmentation, Command and Control Central, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 15 November 1968, while serving as the team leader of a Special Forces long-range reconnaissance team operating deep within enemy-controlled territory with the mission of locating a missing team. After three days of fruitless search, Captain Birchim’s team was ambushed by an enemy force. As they had been trained, the team executed immediate action to break contact. During the withdrawal, which scattered the team, Captain Birchim’s ankle was broken by an exploding enemy grenade. In spite of his wounds, he successfully reassembled the team, led them out of the ambush area, and directed airstrikes against the enemy. As the team moved toward an extraction zone, they were attacked twice by enemy forces. On both occasions, Captain Birchim’s aggressive and courageous leadership enabled the team to break contact and continue toward the extraction site. During the last exchange, Captain Birchim was again wounded by an enemy grenade, suffering fragment wounds in his back. At the pick-up site, one of the helicopter’s extraction ropes was rendered useless when it became tangled in the trees. After insuring that all other members of the team were secured in the remaining harnesses, Captain Birchim seized one of the extraction ropes in an attempt to ride double out of the jungle to safety. Weak from his wounds and exhausted by his efforts, Captain Brichim fell from the extraction rope during a storm on the return trip. Captain Birchim’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest military traditions and reflect great honor on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

Birchim continues to be listed as MIA in the Army records. The above information was provided by his wife, Barbara Birchim, who wrote a book titled “Is Anybody Listening? A True Story About POW/MIAs in The Vietnam War.