A Note from The Virtual Wall
The President of the United States
takes pride in presenting the
SILVER STAR MEDAL
posthumously to
FRED W. CARPENTER
Sergeant
United States Army
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, at Hoa Tan, Republic of Vietnam, on 6 March 1967. As Sergeant Carpenter and his company approached the village, heavy fire was received from Viet Cong positions. Realizing that his unit was in a precarious position, Sgt Carpenter immediately maneuvered his squad into position from which it could place effective fire on the enemy. Then with complete disregard for his personal safety, he charged forward and silenced a heavily fortified enemy bunker with two grenades. With this bunker eliminated, the platoon was able to maneuver once more. Throughout the entire encounter, Sgt Carpenter continued to direct his squad, personally positioning and directing the fire of individual members. His heroic actions and decisive leadership contributed to the accomplishment of the unit's mission. Sergeant Carpenter's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit on himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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B Company, 1/35th Infantry, lost four men on 28 June 1967 during a probing attack on their night defensive position:
- SGT Fred W. Carpenter, Hobart, IN;
- SP4 Harry B. Frank, Alpharetta, GA;
- PFC Richard W. Bryant, Sophia, WV; and
- PFC Wesley R. Kelby, Federal Way, WA.
Sergeant Carpenter is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, Old Ridge Road, Hobart, Indiana.
Remembered by the soldiers of the
35th Infantry - the Cacti Regiment
Photo courtesy of the 35th Infantry Assn
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