We thought it would be nice to put these caches out for Veterans
Day, so we chose 100 of the 246 Medal of Honor Recipients from the
Vietnam War, and each one of the caches will honor one of these
American Heroes. Of the 246 MOH Recipients from the Vietnam War 63%
were awarded posthumously. ( ** Represents MOH Awarded
Posthumously) Please take the time to read the citation for each
and remember them this Veterans Day. HAVE FUN!!
Gary Burnell Beikirch
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 5th
Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. Place and date: Kontum
Province, Republic of Vietnam, 1 April 1970. Entered service at:
Buffalo, N.Y. Born: 29 August 1947, Rochester, N.Y. Citation: For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Beikirch, medical
aidman, Detachment B-24, Company B, distinguished himself during
the defense of Camp Dak Seang. The allied defenders suffered a
number of casualties as a result of an intense, devastating attack
launched by the enemy from well-concealed positions surrounding the
camp. Sgt. Beikirch, with complete disregard for his personal
safety, moved unhesitatingly through the withering enemy fire to
his fallen comrades, applied first aid to their wounds and assisted
them to the medical aid station. When informed that a seriously
injured American officer was lying in an exposed position, Sgt.
Beikirch ran immediately through the hail of fire. Although he was
wounded seriously by fragments from an exploding enemy mortar
shell, Sgt. Beikirch carried the officer to a medical aid station.
Ignoring his own serious injuries, Sgt. Beikirch left the relative
safety of the medical bunker to search for and evacuate other men
who had been injured. He was again wounded as he dragged a
critically injured Vietnamese soldier to the medical bunker while
simultaneously applying mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to sustain his
life. Sgt. Beikirch again refused treatment and continued his
search for other casualties until he collapsed. Only then did he
permit himself to be treated. Sgt. Beikirch's complete devotion to
the welfare of his comrades, at the risk of his life are in keeping
with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect
great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.