HEROES:MOH Recipient Paul William Bucha Traditional Cache
HEROES:MOH Recipient Paul William Bucha
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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While caching this summer across the U.S. we discovered a
“Power Cache” series in Nevada. There were 120
caches
placed along a dirt road and they were close enough for us to
log
100 caches in one day! It was a real thrill to log so many
caches
in one day… so we would like to give all of you the
opportunity to do the same.
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!!
Paul William Bucha
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company D, 3d
Battalion.
187th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Place
and
date: Near Phuoc Vinh, Binh Duong Province, Republic of
Vietnam,
16- 19 March 1968. Entered service at: U .S. Military Academy,
West
Point, N.Y. Born: 1 August 1943, Washington, D.C. Citation:
For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of
his
life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Bucha
distinguished
himself while serving as commanding officer, Company D, on a
reconnaissance-in-force mission against enemy forces near
Phuoc
Vinh, The company was inserted by helicopter into the
suspected
enemy stronghold to locate and destroy the enemy. During this
period Capt. Bucha aggressively and courageously led his men in
the
destruction of enemy fortifications and base areas and
eliminated
scattered resistance impeding the advance of the company. On
18
March while advancing to contact, the lead elements of the
company
became engaged by the heavy automatic weapon, heavy machine
gun,
rocket propelled grenade, Claymore mine and small-arms fire of
an
estimated battalion-size force. Capt. Bucha, with complete
disregard for his safety, moved to the threatened area to
direct
the defense and ordered reinforcements to the aid of the lead
element. Seeing that his men were pinned down by heavy machine
gun
fire from a concealed bunker located some 40 meters to the front
of
the positions, Capt. Bucha crawled through the hail of fire
to
single-handedly destroy the bunker with grenades. During this
heroic action Capt. Bucha received a painful shrapnel wound.
Returning to the perimeter, he observed that his unit could
not
hold its positions and repel the human wave assaults launched
by
the determined enemy. Capt. Bucha ordered the withdrawal of
the
unit elements and covered the withdrawal to positions of a
company
perimeter from which he could direct fire upon the charging
enemy.
When 1 friendly element retrieving casualties was ambushed and
cut
off from the perimeter, Capt. Bucha ordered them to feign death
and
he directed artillery fire around them. During the night
Capt.
Bucha moved throughout the position, distributing ammunition,
providing encouragement and insuring the integrity of the
defense.
He directed artillery, helicopter gunship and Air Force
gunship
fire on the enemy strong points and attacking forces, marking
the
positions with smoke grenades. Using flashlights in complete
view
of enemy snipers, he directed the medical evacuation of 3
air-ambulance loads of seriously wounded personnel and the
helicopter supply of his company. At daybreak Capt. Bucha led
a
rescue party to recover the dead and wounded members of the
ambushed element. During the period of intensive combat,
Capt.
Bucha, by his extraordinary heroism, inspirational example,
outstanding leadership and professional competence, led his
company
in the decimation of a superior enemy force which left 156 dead
on
the battlefield. His bravery and gallantry at the risk of his
life
are in the highest traditions of the military service, Capt.
Bucha
has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S.
Army.
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