STAFF SERGEANT OLIVER J. FUGERE, JR., (then Sergeant), distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism on 5 December 1965 while serving as Squad Leader, Company B, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry Division during a military operation near Ap Nha Mat, Republic of Vietnam. Staff Sergeant Fugere’s battalion had been conducting a search and destroy operation in the jungle for seven days and had sustained many casualties when it contracted a well-entrenched Viet Cong force, estimated four battalions in size. As the forward elements of the squad were hit by .50 caliber machine gun fire of the Viet Cong to direct his squad’s actions against the insurgents. After repelling the initial onslaught and inflicting heavy casualties on the insurgent force, he again exposed himself to the intense gun fire, moved his squad forward to relieve the mortar section, and personally set up a machine gun and delivered a devastating barrage of gun fire into the counterattacking Viet Cong. The effectiveness of his timely support resulted in the repulsion of three insurgent attacks and approximately fifty Viet Cong casualties. Although these hostile forces were driven off, hidden snipers continued to cause friendly casualties and pinned down his squad. Then, with complete disregard for his own safety, he walked up and down a roadway to draw the Viet Cong fire and to detect their positions. While moving on the roadway and using his rifle and grenades, he destroyed the sniper positions and at least two automatic weapons positions. He also marked the position of his unit with smoke to enable accurate airstrikes, and then administered first aid to the wounded and assisted in their evacuation to safety. His indomitable courage, determination, and devotion to duty contributed to the success of the search and destroy operation. Staff Sergeant Fugere’s extraordinary heroism on the battlefield is in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.

Mr.Fugere joined the Legion of Valor in 1985 and resided in New Hampshire.