William Blakely United States Army: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry, 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). Private First Class Blakely distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 14 February 1968 during a search and clear operation in the Hai Lang Area of Quang Tri Province. He was acting as point man for his platoon as it swept through a village. He discovered a line of bunkers manned by North Vietnamese Army Regulars, and the platoon was immediately hit with hostile automatic weapons fire and command detonated mines. Although wounded by the initial barrage, Private Blakely began hurling hand grenades onto the enemy positions, killing two North Vietnamese soldiers. He then sought cover behind a haystack to his platoon’s front, and from there he saw his squad leader lying wounded and unconscious fifteen meters from the enemy bunkers. With complete disregard for his safety, Private Blakely crawled forward under intense fire to rescue the man and brought him back to the shelter of the haystack. Ignoring the pain of his injuries, he then continued to engage the enemy with rifle fire and hand grenades. While in an act of throwing a grenade, he was seriously wounded by an exploding enemy rocket round. He clutched the activated grenade and fell forward on it, saving the lives of his squad leader and a medic, and preventing injuries to other members of his squad who were close by. Private First Class Blakely’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.
Blakely was born on 16 April 1948. His home or record was Castro Valley, California.