Northridge Vietnam Vet Awarded Medal Of Honor

NORTHRIDGE, CA — Retired U.S. Army Capt. Gary Michael Rose, who attended college in the San Fernando Valley before serving as a medic in an elite Special Forces division during the Vietnam War, was presented with the military's highest honor for heroism Monday by President Donald Trump at the White House.

Congress authorized the Medal of Honor for Rose, 70, last summer after years of lobbying by the military on his behalf for his actions in saving and caring for dozens of fellow soldiers during the so-called Secret War in Laos.

Researcher and Army veteran Neil Thorne, who has drafted a number of medal applications for members of the secret Studies and Observations Group in which Rose served, told the New York Times last year that Rose's award is the first Medal of Honor to expressly acknowledge the heroics of a soldier on the ground in Operation Tailwind, which played out from Sept. 11-14, 1970, in Chavane, Laos.

At the time, President Richard M. Nixon was denying that American troops were even in the southeast Asian country bordering Vietnam.

Trump acknowledged the secrecy during Monday's ceremony, noting that "for many years, the story of Mike's heroism has gone untold. But today we gather to tell the world of his valor and proudly present him with our nation's highest military honor."

According to the White House, Rose was chosen for the medal "for voluntarily risking his life on multiple occasions during combat operations, while serving as a medic with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). From Sept. 11 through September 14, 1970, while his unit was engaged with a much larger force deep in enemy-controlled territory, then-Sergeant Rose repeatedly ran into the line of enemy fire to provide critical medical aid to his comrades, using his own body on one occasion to shield a wounded American from harm.

On the final day of the mission, although wounded himself, Sergeant Rose voluntarily exposed himself to enemy fire while moving wounded personnel to the extraction point, loading them into helicopters, and helping to repel an enemy assault on the American position. As he boarded the final extraction helicopter, intense enemy fire hit the helicopter, causing it to crash shortly after takeoff. Again, ignoring his own injuries, Sergeant Rose pulled the helicopter crew and members of his unit from the burning wreckage and provided medical aid until another extraction helicopter arrived."

Trump said Rose "rescued those in distress without any though for his own safety."

"I will tell you, the people with him could not believe what they were witnessing," Trump said. "He crawled from one soldier to the next, offering words of encouragement as he tended to their wounds."

On his second day in Laos, Rose was aiding a wounded soldier when he "had a hole blown through my foot about the size of your thumb," he told USA Monday. "That night I took my boot off to see how bad it was. My index finger, my whole finger, slipped into the hole. So I took my finger out. I remember putting my sock back on. I remember thinking, I'll worry about that later."

The Medal of Honor is awarded by the president, in the name of Congress, to members of the armed forces "who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; engaging in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party."

The meritorious conduct "must involve great personal bravery or self- sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. There must be incontestable proof of the performance of the meritorious conduct, and each recommendation for the award must be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit."

Trump hailed Rose, saying, "Mike ... your will to endure, your love for your fellow soldier, your devotion to your country inspires us all. I have to tell you, that is something. Nations are formed out of the strength and patriotism that lives in the hearts of our heroes."

Rose previously was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the country's second-highest award for valor.

Rose enlisted in the Army after taking classes at San Fernando Valley State College, now known as Cal State Northridge. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in general education and military science from Cameron University in 1977, and a master's degree in communication from the University of Oklahoma.

After 20 years in the Army, he worked as a technical consultant in the defense and auto industries, developing user and maintenance manuals and training programs and materials.

The father of three and grandfather of two is now retired and lives with his wife, Margaret, in Huntsville, Alabama, where he is active in a number of charitable organizations.

City News Service; Photos courtesy of the U.S. Army