Oscar P. Austin was born on January 15, 1949 in Nacogdoches, TX. He was a Marine; a Private First Class with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines.
Robert W. Hartsock hailed from Fairmont, WV. He was a Staff Sergeant with the United States Army's 25th Infantry Division.
Lester W. Weber, another Marine, was born in Aurora, IL in 1948 and was a Lance Corporal with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines.
All three men also received our Nation's highest honor.
From Medal of Honor Citations for the Vietnam War (A-L):
*AUSTIN, OSCAR P.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S.
Marine Corps, Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, (Rein),
FMF. Place and date: West of Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, 23 February 1969.
Entered service at: Phoenix, Ariz. Born: 15 January 1948, Nacogdoches, Tex.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an assistant machine gunner
with Company E, in connection with operations against enemy forces. During the
early morning hours Pfc. Austin's observation post was subjected to a fierce
ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force supported by a heavy volume
of hand grenades, satchel charges, and small arms fire. Observing that 1 of his
wounded companions had fallen unconscious in a position dangerously exposed to
the hostile fire, Pfc. Austin unhesitatingly left the relative security of his
fighting hole and, with complete disregard for his safety, raced across the
fire-swept terrain to assist the marine to a covered location. As he neared the
casualty, he observed an enemy grenade land nearby and, reacting instantly,
leaped between the injured marine and the lethal object, absorbing the effects
of its detonation. As he ignored his painful injuries and turned to examine the
wounded man, he saw a North Vietnamese Army soldier aiming a weapon at his
unconscious companion. With full knowledge of the probable consequences and
thinking only to protect the marine, Pfc. Austin resolutely threw himself
between the casualty and the hostile soldier, and, in doing, was mortally
wounded. Pfc. Austin's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless
devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S.
Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
PFC Austin rests in Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix, AZ. His name appears on Panel 32W, Line 88 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. In addition, the USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) is named in his honor.
*HARTSOCK, ROBERT W.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army,
44th Infantry Platoon, 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Hau
Nghia, Province, Republic of Vietnam, 23 February 1969. Entered service at:
Fairmont, W. Va. Born: 24 January 1945, Cumberland, Md. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Hartsock, distinguished himself in action
while serving as section leader with the 44th Infantry Platoon. When the Dau
Tieng Base Camp came under a heavy enemy rocket and mortar attack, S/Sgt.
Hartsock and his platoon commander spotted an enemy sapper squad which had
infiltrated the camp undetected. Realizing the enemy squad was heading for the
brigade tactical operations center and nearby prisoner compound, they concealed
themselves and, although heavily outnumbered, awaited the approach of the
hostile soldiers. When the enemy was almost upon them, S/Sgt. Hartsock and his
platoon commander opened fire on the squad. As a wounded enemy soldier fell, he
managed to detonate a satchel charge he was carrying. S/Sgt. Hartsock, with
complete disregard for his life, threw himself on the charge and was gravely
wounded. In spite of his wounds, S/Sgt. Hartsock crawled about 5 meters to a
ditch and provided heavy suppressive fire, completely pinning down the enemy and
allowing his commander to seek shelter. S/Sgt. Hartsock continued his deadly
stream of fire until he succumbed to his wounds. S/Sgt. Hartsock's extraordinary
heroism and profound concern for the lives of his fellow soldiers were in
keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great
credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Staff Sergeant Hartsock rests in Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery, Flintstone, MD. A picture shown at that link indicates that his Medal of Honor was presented to a special family member: his young son. His name is found on Panel 31W, Line 3 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
*WEBER, LESTER W.
Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine
Corps, Company M, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and
date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, 23 February 1969. Entered service
at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 30 July 1948, Aurora, Ill. Citation: For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of
duty while serving as a machinegun squad leader with Company M, in action
against the enemy. The 2d Platoon of Company M was dispatched to the Bo Ban area
of Hieu Duc District to assist a squad from another platoon which had become
heavily engaged with a well entrenched enemy battalion. While moving through a
rice paddy covered with tall grass L/Cpl. Weber's platoon came under heavy
attack from concealed hostile soldiers. He reacted by plunging into the tall
grass, successfully attacking 1 enemy and forcing 11 others to break contact.
Upon encountering a second North Vietnamese Army soldier he overwhelmed him in
fierce hand-to-hand combat. Observing 2 other soldiers firing upon his comrades
from behind a dike, L/Cpl. Weber ignored the frenzied firing of the enemy and
racing across the hazardous area, dived into their position. He neutralized the
position by wrestling weapons from the hands of the 2 soldiers and overcoming
them. Although by now the target for concentrated fire from hostile riflemen,
L/Cpl. Weber remained in a dangerously exposed position to shout words of
encouragement to his emboldened companions. As he moved forward to attack a
fifth enemy soldier, he was mortally wounded. L/Cpl. Weber's indomitable
courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty upheld the
highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the U.S. Naval Service. He
gallantly gave his life for his country.
Lance Corporal Weber is buried in Clarendon Hills Cemetery, Darien, IL. His name appears on Panel 31W, Line 29 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
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