A Note from The Virtual Wall
The contact by 2LT Hibbs's ambush patrol developed into what is now known as the "Battle of the Lo Ke Rubber Plantation" - but regretably it's far from the only fight that took place at or near Lo Ke.
On this occasion 14 American soldiers died - six of them when a resupply helicopter was shot down. They were
- A Co, 2nd Bn, 28th Infantry
- SP4 Roy F. Harbison, Vancouver, WA
- B Co, 2nd Bn, 28th Infantry
- 2LT Robert J. Hibbs, Cedar Falls, IA (Medal of Honor)
- SP4 James H. Page, Eagle River, WI
- PFC Dennis M. Lyden, Warren, MI
- PFC Dennis R. Ortwine, Detroit, MI
- C Co, 2nd Bn, 28th Infantry
- PSGT Clifton Winningham, Junction City, KS (Dist Svc Cross)
- PFC Henry D. Lankford, Union, SC
- PFC Richard E. Nutt, Champaign, IL
- UH-1D tail number 63-12995:
Aircrew, all B Co, 1st Avn Bn:
- MAJ Lewis D. Bell, Fort Worth, TX, pilot (Dist Svc Cross)
- CPT Robert M. Caliboso, Honolulu, HI, copilot (Dist Svc Cross)
- SP5 Ray M. Barnwell, Newport, AR, gunner
- SP5 Danny A. Neth, Richland, WA, crew chief
Passengers, both HHC, 2nd Bn, 28th Infantry
- CPT Richard N. Gereau, Muskegon, MI
- SFC Gary W. Emmett, Lawton, OK
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Washington, DC
1 December 1966
GENERAL ORDERS
NUMBER 45
AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously.
Clifton Winningham, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
Company C, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment
| Awarded: |
Distinguished Service Cross |
| Date action: |
5 March 1966 |
| Theater: |
Republic of Vietnam |
| Reason: |
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Clifton Winningham, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism on 5 March 1966 while serving as a member of the 1st Platoon, Company C, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry and engaged in military operations in the Republic of Vietnam. During a vicious assault by the Viet Cong, Platoon Sergeant Winningham displayed indomitable courage. When informed that a man stationed at a listening post was wounded and unable to return to the friendly lines, Platoon Sergeant Winningham attempted to reach the wounded man by crawling out of the perimeter but was stopped by hostile gun fire. He then rallied four men to follow behind him to cover his movement to the listening post. After they reached this position and found their comrade dead, he unhesitatingly volunteered to remain alone at the listening post to cover the return of the men with their deceased comrade. With complete disregard for his own safety, he remained at the post until the men reentered the friendly lines before proceeding behind them. As the hostile action intensified, he continued to encourage the men and to demonstrate his gallant efforts until felled by hostile gun fire. Platoon Sergeant Winningham's extraordinary heroism on the battlefield reflects great credit upon himself, the United States Army, and the armed forces of his country.
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| Authority: |
By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 9 July 1918. |
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