1SG David McNerney (A/1-8IN, 4th ID) Polei Doc, Vietnam 22MAR1967

22MAR1967: 1SG David McNerney was on patrol with his company near Polei Doc, Vietnam when they came under intense enemy fire from an enemy force about three times their size. As the engagement kicked off, 1SG McNerney ran towards the heaviest point of contact to check on his men and assess the situation. In the process, he identified an enemy machine gunner who he killed before a grenade detonated, wounding McNerney and blowing him off his feet.

Moving back to the center of the formation, 1SG McNerney learned that all officers were either killed or incapacitated and he was now in command of the unit, originally numbering 108 men. He immediately went about calling in air strikes and artillery fires, some as close as 20m from friendly positions to help push the enemy back. Due to the dense jungle canopy, helicopter gunships circling overhead were unable to identify friendly lines and in turn couldn't engage. Without concern for his own safety, 1SG McNerney climbed a tree, fully exposed to enemy fire, in order to place a signal panel top the highest branch so incoming aircraft could identify their position.

Continuing to move among his men, 1SG McNerny began to coordinate the evacuation of their wounded Soldiers but was in need of a landing zone. He then moved out past friendly lines to obtain demolition charges that had been dropped in the initial assault and used those to blow a clearing for the inbound birds.

Refusing medical evacuation himself, despite being seriously wounded, 1SG McNerney stayed with his men and led them through the vicious attack until a new commander arrived the following day. For his leadership and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, 1SG David McNerney would be awarded the Medal of Honor in 1968 before volunteering for a fourth deployment to Vietnam in 1969. McNerney would survive the war and passed away at the age of 79 in 2010.