MICHAEL P. PERRY, Sergeant E5 United States Army, Company C, 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Perry (then Specialist Four) distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 29 September 1967 while serving as squad leader of an airborne infantry company on a search and destroy mission near Chu Lai. The forward platoons of the company received a heavy volume of enemy automatic weapons fire that pinned them down and inflicted several casualties. Sergeant Perry’s platoon was contacted and requested to move forward and flank the Viet Cong. While advancing toward its sister elements, his unit was suddenly subjected to intense hostile fire from fortified and well concealed bunkers. While the rest of the troops provided supporting fire, Sergeant Perry and his platoon sergeant charged through a hail of bullets, firing their rifles and throwing hand grenades into the Viet Cong position. Several enemy grenades landed near Sergeant Perry, and he unhesitantly grabbed them and hurled them back at the insurgents. Although wounded by fragments from an exploding grenade, he refused to withdraw for medical treatment and continued his fierce assault until he had destroyed four enemy bunkers. He then quickly helped reorganize the platoon’s troops and led them to relieve their beleaguered comrades. When savage automatic weapons fire again erupted on the platoon, Sergeant Perry and his platoon sergeant braved murderous fire to assault a Viet Cong position, successfully destroying it with hand grenades. Having expended his grenades, Sergeant Perry armed himself with enemy grenades and continued the attack through a curtain of fire.

Mr. Perry is a life member and resides in Florida.