MSG JAMES L. BONDSTEEL MEDAL OF HONOR GRAVESTONE

MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION-FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY IN ACTION AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. S/SGT BONDSTEEL SPEARHEADED AN ATTACK ON A NORTH VIETNAMESE BATTALION BY DESTROYING 4 ENEMY OCCUPIED BUNKERS. HE THEN RACED SOME 200 METERS UNDER HEAVY ENEMY FIRE TO REACH AN ADJOINING PLATOON WHICH HAD BEGUN TO FALTER. AFTER RALLYING THIS UNIT AND ASSISTING THEIR WOUNDED HE RETURNED TO HIS OWN PLATOON. WITHOUT PAUSING HE MOVED TO THE FOREFRONT AND DESTROYED 4 ENEMY OCCUPIED BUNKERS AND A MACHINE GUN WHICH HAD THREATENED HIS ADVANCING PLATOON. ALTHOUGH PAINFULLY WOUNDED BY AN ENEMY GRENADE, HE REFUSED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND CONTINUED HIS ASSAULT BY NEUTRALIZING 2 MORE ENEMY BUNKERS NEARBY. HE THEN RAN TO THE AID OF A SEVERELY WOUNDED OFFICER AND STRUCK DOWN AN ENEMY SOLDIER WHO WAS THREATENING THE OFFICER’S LIFE. HE THEN CONTINUED TO RALLY HIS MEN AND LED THEM THROUGH THE ENTRENCHED ENEMY UNTIL HIS COMPANY WAS RELIEVED. HIS EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE WAS IN THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT ON HIM, HIS UNIT AND THE U.S. ARMY.