medal of honor recipient marvin shields

We can never truly repay the great debt we owe our fallen heroes. [5] His name is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 02E, Row 007. Daedalus Project Making change happen… medal of honor recipient marvin shields. GARDINER — A crowd of more than 100 civilians, current service members and retired veterans gathered Monday for the annual honor ceremony for Medal of Honor recipient Navy Petty Officer Marvin G. Shields. Marvin G. Shields was born December 30, 1939, in Port Townsend, Washington. His heroic initiative and great personal valor in the face of intense enemy fire sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. A remembrance ceremony is planned at his gravesite at the Gardiner Cemetery in Gardiner, WA. Marvin Shields: Only Seabee Awarded Medal of Honor The demands of World War II propelled the Navy into realms far beyond traditional sea-surface warfare. Although wounded again by shrapnel and shot in the jaw on June 10,[3] he helped a soldier and a Seabee carry the badly wounded Special Forces captain in charge of the camp to a safer position in the compound. Shields, a construction mechanic third class, was killed at Dong Xoai in Vietnam on June 10, 1965. After construction training, he served with Mobile Construction Battalion 11, and was with Seabee Team 1104 at Dong Xoai, South Vietnam, June 10, 1965, when a Vietcong regiment attacked. An 11-man Army Special Forces ("Green Berets") team ("A" Team 542) was in charge of the northern compound of Green Berets, Seabees, and 200 Montagnards. Recipient Name. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan J. Batchelder) During the fierce battle, Shields moved back and forth across open ground under heavy fire to bring ammunition and supplies to his fellow Seabees and the Army troops. He lived near Port Townsend on Discovery Bay in Gardiner, Washington. Marvin Glenn Shields,(December 30, 1939–June 10, 1965) was the first, and remains the only, Seabee to receive the Medal of Honor. POSTED BY: Jury Washington. [2] Seabee Team 1104 was next assigned to a newly established Army Special Forces Camp at Dong Xoai about 55 miles northwest of Saigon arriving on June 4, to assist in repair and construction of the compound which included an adjacent compound with the district headquarters building. Medal of Honor Recipient: Construction Mechanic Third Class Marvin G. Shields Rank and organization: Construction Mechanic Third Class, U.S. Navy, Seabee Team 1104. He grabbed a 3.5-inch rocket launcher and asked for a volunteer to help him go after the gun. Shields graduated from high school in 1958 and had moved to Hyder, Alaska, where he worked the goldmines. One of the most notable fallen Seabees and the only Seabee to earn the Medal of Honor was Construction Mechanic 3 rd Class Marvin Glenn Shields. Biography. [2] On November 1, he was assigned to Seabee Team 1104, Naval Construction Battalion 11, and completed Seabee team training at Port Hueneme on January 22, 1965. [3] The adjacent compound was occupied by over 200 South Vietnamese Army soldiers. The widow Joan Shields places the PIRGifts coin on the Navy's only Seabee Medal of Honor recipient, CM3 Marvin Shields Shields was mortally wounded by hostile fire while returning to his defensive position. ­–Marvin Shields (posthumous), presented by President Johnson … When the commander asked for a volunteer to accompany him in an attempt to knock out an enemy machinegun emplacement which was endangering the lives of all personnel in the compound because of the accuracy of its fire, Shields … [4], Shields was posthumously presented the Medal of Honor at a ceremony at the White House on September 13, 1966. In 1963, he was assigned to Mobile Construction Battalion 11 (MCB 11) and deployed to Okinawa. [6] Special Forces Lieutenant Williams was also present during the ceremony and had himself received the Medal of Honor on July 5, 1966, for his heroic actions during the 14-hour siege of the Special Forces Camp at Dong Xoai. When the commander asked for a volunteer to accompany him in an attempt to knock out an enemy machine-gun emplacement which was endangering the lives of all personnel in the compound because of the accuracy of its fire, Shields unhesitatingly volunteered for this extremely hazardous mission. Shields was mortally wounded by hostile fire while returning to his defensive position. … Naval Service. February 21, 2013. The ceremony paid tribute to the only Seabee Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam veteran, Shields, who was posthumously awarded the nation’s highest military award for his actions and for giving his life to save comrades while under enemy attack. Thank You For Your Valiant Service Sailor. Biography. Medal of Honor Recipient … On the night of June 9, 1965, the unfinished Army Special Forces Camp at Dong Xoai was mortared and attacked by the 272nd Vietcong Regiment (estimated over 2,000 uniformed Vietcong),[3] and the Special Forces compound was captured the next morning. Shields received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Dong Xoai with Seabee Team 1104. The White House, presented by Pres. The Vietnamese government awarded Marvin Shields the Vietnamese Order of Gallantry with Palm and the Military Merit Medal posthumously. (Cydney McFarland/Peninsula Daily News) ‘He died for love’: Medal of Honor recipient honored at his grave . The Seabee team consisted of nine Seabees including one officer. NAVFAC Northwest is conducting a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the loss of Medal of Honor recipient CM3 Marvin G. Shields. He was assigned to the Naval Air Station at Glynco, Georgia for apprenticeship training in May which he completed in May 1963. Navy Medal of Honor: Vietnam War 1964-1975. Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Marvin G. Shields, Medal of Honor recipient. Shields was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously on September 13, 1966. Read Next: SF legend & Medal of Honor recipient Bennie Adkins dies from COVID-19. Marvin Glenn Shields (December 30, 1939 – June 10, 1965) was the first and only United States Navy Seabee to be awarded the Medal of Honor. President Lyndon B. Johnson presents the Medal of Honor to the widow of Marvin G. Shields, on September 13, 1966. read more read less. The following awards were made to the 20 brave Americans who fought at Dong Xoai: Medals of Honor – 2 (one Army, one Navy) –Charles Williams, presented by President Johnson in June 1966. CM3 Marvin … Place and date: Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, 10 June 1965. Wounded a second time during this attack, Shields nevertheless assisted in carrying a more critically wounded man to safety, and then resumed firing at the enemy for four more hours. He was also providing fire suppression of his own. He was also the first sailor to receive the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty in the Vietnam War. Born in 1939 in Port Townsend, Washington, he joined the Navy in 1962. Frogmen were organized into Underwater Demolition Teams. Shields and Seabee Team 1104 deployed to Saigon, Republic of Vietnam arriving on February 1, 1965. Wounded a second time during this attack, Shields nevertheless assisted in carrying a more critically wounded man to safety, and then resumed firing at the enemy for 4 more hours. [4] Three Army Special Forces soldiers were also killed, plus several members of other American military units and many members of South Vietnamese military units which partook in the battle were killed and wounded. [2] On November 18, he deployed to Okinawa and was assigned there until September 1964. After being wounded by mortar fire, Shields fought with Special Forces soldiers against the enemy carrying up needed ammunition to the firing line positions. [1] He graduated from Port Townsend High School in 1958 and had moved to Hyder, Alaska, where he worked at Mineral Basin Mining Company, a gold mining project started by Port Townsend company.[1]. Marvin Glenn Shields (December 30, 1939 – June 10, 1965) was the first and only United States Navy Seabee to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Posted on February 26, 2021 by February 26, 2021 by [2], Two Seabees of Team 1104, Shields and SW2 William C. Hoover lost their lives and seven of his Seabee team were wounded in the first two days of the Battle of Dong Xoai (June 9–13). His heroic initiative and great personal valor in the face of intense enemy fire sustain and enhance the finest tradition of the United States Naval aviation and the submarine force were expanded. He was also the first sailor to receive the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty in the Vietnam War. [4], Shields was buried with a Marine Corps honor guard at Gardiner Cemetery, Gardiner, Washington on June 19, 1965. Naval Service. Proceeding toward their objective with a 3.5-inch rocket launcher, they succeeded in destroying the enemy machine-gun emplacement, thus undoubtedly saving the lives of many of their fellow servicemen in the compound. Joan Shields, the widow of Medal of Honor recipient Marvin Shields, stands beside his grave with a group of local servicemen who came out on Veterans Day to honor her late husband’s service Friday. Marvin Glenn Shields (December 30, 1939 – June 10, 1965) was the first and only United States Navy Seabee to be awarded the Medal of Honor.He was also the first sailor to receive the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty in the Vietnam War. Although wounded when the compound of Detachment A-342, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, came under intense fire from an estimated reinforced Viet Cong regiment employing machine guns, heavy weapons, and small arms, Shields continued to resupply his fellow Americans who needed ammunition and to return the enemy fire for a period of approximately three hours, at which time the Viet Cong launched a massive attack at close-range with flamethrowers, hand grenades and small-arms fire. All twenty of the Seabees and Special Forces soldiers were personally awarded for their actions at Dong Xoai.[3]. He is the only Navy Seabee to have received the Medal of Honor. Place and date: Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, 10 June 1965. Shields' other military decorations and awards include: the Purple Heart Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two campaign stars, RVN Gallantry Cross with Palm, RVN Military Merit Medal, RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm and frame, RVN Civil Actions Unit Citation with palm and frame, and RVN Campaign Medal with 1960- device, The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to, CONSTRUCTION MECHANIC THIRD CLASS MARVIN G. SHIELDS UNITED STATES NAVY, for service as set forth in the following, Marvin Glenn Shields, Medal of Honor recipient, List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War, "President Lyndon B. Johnson awards Marvin Glenn Shields the Medal of Honor posthumously on September 13, 1966", "Seabee Museum to Commemorate 50th Anniversary of Fallen Seabee", "Marvin Shields and the 'Bees at Dong Xoai", "Marvin G. Shields, Construction Mechanic 3rd Class", "Navy Medal of Honor: Vietnam War 1964-1975", Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marvin_Glenn_Shields&oldid=965203048, United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients, American military personnel killed in the Vietnam War, Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor, Pages using infobox military person with both image and medal, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Naval History & Heritage Command, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 June 2020, at 00:22. These individuals earned the Navy Medal of Honor during the period specified. His wife received the award from President Lyndon B. Johnson in the presence of his father, mother, daughter, and brother. After being wounded, Shields continued to carry up ammunition to the firing line, and after receiving a s… He was also the first United States Navy sailor to receive the Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam. Construction Mechanic Shields was the first navy man to receive the Medal of Honor in Vietnam and the only Seabee to be awarded the Medal of Honor. [3] The adjacent compound was occupied by over 200 South Vietnamese Army soldiers. Second Lieutenant Charles Q. Williams was the second recipient of the Medal of Honor from the battle at Dong Xoai. [2] Afterwards, he was assigned to Alfa Company, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 (NMCB-11). Marvin Glenn Shields (December 30, 1939 – June 10, 1965) was the first and only United States Navy Seabee to be awarded the Medal of Honor.He was also the first sailor to receive the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty in the Vietnam War.. Medal of Honor recipient and U.S. Navy Seabee Marvin Glenn Shields is being honored with a 50th-anniversary ceremony hosted by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest at 11 a.m. on … After four more hours of fighting, and greatly weakened, Shields volunteered to help Special Forces Second Lieutenant Charles Q. Williams who now was the acting commander since the Special Forces commander was one of the first badly wounded in the battle,[3] destroy a Vietcong machine gun outside the perimeter which was threatening to kill everyone now in the adjacent district headquarters building which was now under the lieutenant's command and its occupants holding off the Vietcong attackers from all sides. [2] Afterwards, he was assigned to Alfa Company, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 (NMCB-11). On March 28, Seabee Team 1104 was assigned to construct a U.S. Army Special Forces Camp at Ben Soi, completing their construction work on June 3. Marvin Shields was laid to rest at the Gardiner Cemetery overlooking Discovery Bay. President Johnson Awards Medal of Honor to Seabee Marvin Shields' Widow. Remembering Marvin Glenn Shields. Marvin G. Shields born December 30, 1939, in Port Townsend, Washington, enlisted in the Navy January 8, 1962. Their names are followed by their rank and rate, if known, the date of the action and the vessel or unit on which they served. Medal of Honor Recipient Vietnam War: MoH Recipients | Heroes: Personalized Checks with Patriotic Designs : Military Collectible Gifts Air Force | Army | Marines | Navy: Shields, Marvin G. Rank and organization: Construction Mechanic Third Class, U.S. Navy, Seabee Team 1104. POSTED ON 1.13.2021. The Shields Medal is named in honor of Petty Officer Marvin G. Shields, USN, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His heroic initiative and great personal valor in the face of intense enemy fire sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. The widow Joan Shields places the PIRGifts coin on the Navy's only Seabee Medal of Honor recipient, CM3 Marvin Shields Marvin_Shields_jpeg. Lyndon B. Johnson to his family, China Relief Expedition (Boxer Rebellion), © COPYRIGHT 2021 CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY. Medal of Honor Recipient: Sergeant Leonidas S. Lytle; Medal of Honor Recipient: Private Addison J. Hodges ; Subscribe to Posts . Marvin_Shields_jpeg Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Marvin G. Shields, Medal of Honor recipient. Shields was mortally wounded by hostile fire while returning to his defensive position. Born December 30, 1939, in Port Townsend, Washington the Seabees and Special Forces were! Shields the Vietnamese Order of medal of honor recipient marvin shields with Palm and the Military Merit Medal posthumously was born December 30 1939! 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