Master Sergeant GROVER G. WOLFORD, (then Platoon Sergeant), a member of the 506th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 April 1968 during a reconnaissance-in-force mission near Bien Hoa. While moving through dense jungle undergrowth, his company encountered a reinforced Viet Cong company armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. Sergeant Wolford unhesitatingly exposed himself to the enemy barrage to direct the fires of his men and organize the evacuation of casualties. spotting a wounded man lying at the base of a machine gun emplacement, he fearlessly destroyed the hostile position and rescued the soldier. After carrying two other injured men to safety, he was informed that the third platoon had suffered many casualties, including the platoon leader. Rushing to the beleaguered element, he extracted the platoon leader and two other wounded comrades from the killing zone. He then withdrew his men so that air strikes could be called in. When he discovered that three soldiers were missing, he returned to the bullet-swept area and, locating the men, brought them back to his unit’s position. Platoon Sergeant Wolford’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.

SMG Wolford joined the Legion of Valor in 1969 and resides in Tennessee.