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Every weekday for 110 straight days we will feature a different living recipient of the Medal of Honor. These are the men who have received their nation's highest military honor. Brian is a board member of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. The words and photos are courtesy of Artisan Books, publishers of "Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty" by Peter Collier with photographs by Nick Del Calzo.
NICKY D. BACON
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Company B, 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry, 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division
The son of an Arkansas sharecropper, Nicky Bacon grew up working on farms. After serving in the Arizona National Guard, he volunteered for active duty in Vietnam in 1964. He ended his first tour in 1967, after having fought mainly in small unit engagements against the Vietcong.
Early the next year, he was sent to Hawaii to help train the 21st Infantry -- the "jungle warriors" -- of the Americal Division. That fall, Bacon, now a staff sergeant, returned with the 21st to Vietnam for his second tour. But the war had changed. Well-supplied and disciplined units of the North Vietnamese Army, filtering into the Republic of Vietnam down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, had begun to take over the brunt of the fighting from the Vietcong. The engagements were larger and far bloodier, particularly during and after the Tet Offensive early in 1968.
On August 26, 1968, Bacon's company was returning to base for a respite after a month of fighting. The men expected steak and beer and long showers. Instead, they were hustled onto helicopters and sent to help a unit of the 1st Cavalry under heavy attack near Tam Ky.
The stalled tanks and armored personnel carriers of the 1st Cavalry were ready to move forward by the time Staff Sgt. Bacon's unit arrived. As they were deploying, a reinforced and well-camouflaged North Vietnamese regiment dug into the hillside opened fire.
Bacon organized his men and began an assault. He assaulted one enemy bunker and destroyed it with grenades. Seconds later, several GIs, including the lieutenant leading his platoon, were hit by machine-gun fire. Bacon took command: he got the badly wounded officer back to a personnel carrier, then returned to destroy the machine gun. Another platoon moved up to support his position; when its lieutenant went down, Bacon assumed command of that unit as well.
Armored personnel carriers were needed to evacuate the wounded, but they were unable to reach the American position because of heavy fire from rocket-propelled grenades. Bacon killed four more of the enemy and destroyed an antitank weapon with a grenade. Now that the American armor could move again, Bacon climbed onto the deck of the tank and directed fire in the enemy position while the wounded were evacuated. The company commander then called in air strikes, which took the pressure off Bacon's unit and allowed it to advance.
Several weeks after this engagement, Staff Sgt. Bacon was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He didn't know that because of the reports about his conduct from his company commander, the cavalry troop commander, and others both in the air and on the ground who had watched the action, an upgrade in his medal was being considered. The following year, he was back at Fort Hood when Gen. William Westmoreland phoned to tell him that he was to receive the Medal of Honor. Bacon was out on a date and missed the call; his buddies went looking for him to make sure he'd be there when the general called again.
Bacon received the medal from President Richard Nixon on November 24, 1969. Afterward, he tried to get back into the war one last time, even though Medal of Honor recipients weren't supposed to return to combat. His request for a volunteer reassignment had almost passed through the chain of command when he got a call from Gen. John K. Bowles berating him for trying to sneak back into actions.
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Thursday -- back in the city
Staff Sgt. Nick D. Bacon, as I write this post I am overwhelmed with pride. I find my self in awe as I read of your sacrifice, and heroism. My father served three tours in Vietnam. I am humbled as I sit and think about the selfless acts of courage displayed daily, during war time, by men such as yourself and my father. I'm sure you've heard this many times, but Thank you.
Crystal T Tonihka-Hutchison daughter of SFC John J. Tonihka, USA ret.
Crystal Tonihka-Hutchison, Portland, Oregon (Sent Jun 18, 2007 6:11:09 PM)
I was read the heroic deeds of SSG Bacon directly from the award itself in 1983. At that time First Sergeant Bacon was our company First Sergeant at Echo Company, 12th Battalion at Ft McClellan,Alabama. His leadership and heroism rolled over into his training regimens for us as well. After leaving basic training in December 1983 I proceeded to my first duty assignment (after a breif stop at Jump school) in the 82nd Airborne at Ft Bragg. After 2 years there I went overseas. I started running into a lot of my old classmates from Echo 12 and the funny thing was is that we were all Sergeants. Ordinarily to become sergeants you needed 3and half to 4 years service. All of us had under 3 years service. It just goes to show you that the kind of impact true leaders can have influencing, guiding, and teaching 18 year old boys to become men. Thanks Top, you'll never know how many beers have been hoisted in your name or many times your name has been dropped when talking about famous people I know.
Robert Neblett, Jacksonville, FL (Sent Jun 5, 2007 11:26:16 AM)
To paraphrase someone who was far wiser than I, and humbler, and with more Honor and Integrity: "The Needs of the Many outweigh the needs of the One". These Valient, Honorable, Gracious, Forgiving, and Stalwart Men of Integrity did what they did for the same reasons that have been written for all of us...."Greater love hath no man than to give his life for another's". I know from my readings that every one of these Men say the same thing, "I wear this not for me, but for all those who can't". The Medal is a burden carried proudly and preciously, for they know of the cost associated with the presentation. And the standards which they must rise and adhere to in every way and every day, so as to not Dishonor those who gave their fullest measure of love........and in their deaths, brought peace and tranquility to those who had known neither. IT is only fitting and proper that each Medal recipient be afforded a Salute, in deference and in respect for their own sacrifices. And in Honor of those who gave before, and will give after. May God grant you all Peace, Charity and Love. From one old veteran to another, Thank You, Brother, and Well Done.
Slats Talbot, TN (Sent Jun 4, 2007 11:54:19 PM)
As a vet of both Korea and Nam; I took great pride in
my career and volunteered for the 1st of 5 trips to
Nam b4ecause a C.O. I had served with when he was new in the Navy informed me of his problems. I did it because I knewe there were men like you, and felt
my combat experience would help the young kids grow
up to be better citizens. I have , since retorement
become very disillusioned with people like Gen.Bowles who is probably a mem ber of the golfing-
cocktail circuit. People like you were the shining
lights in my career. A SINCERE SALUTE from fellow
Arkie!
Richard Cole, RMC USN (RET) (Sent Jun 4, 2007 10:58:25 PM)
THank you Sgt. Bacon for your service to your country and also to the friendship that you have provided to your fellow servicemen. My dear father-in-law, Clarence B. Craft was on of those (also a Medal of Honor recipient) that considered you a great friend.
Laura D McCleland, Fayetteville, AR (Sent Jun 4, 2007 3:42:01 PM)
I grew up In Pickens County,South Carolina,and served in the army and am a vietnam era vet I didnt serve in Vietnam and was discharged because of an injury,but I am proud to have served.Like I said I grew up In Pickens County Sc not many people realize.we have More Medal Of Honor Winners then any county, per capita in the USA.and all the guys were from about a 5 mile area,2 were from WWII,1 from Korean and my friend Donnie Howe was from Vietnam(May 70)
Steve Borwn,Lyman,Sc (Sent May 28, 2007 4:54:50 PM)
I read these stories of those awarded the Medal of Honor and am truly impressed with their heroism in combat. However, it appalls me to hear of the many heroic actions of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and finding that only two, I repeat only two, have been awarded this decoration. Does our present day military or does the administration, have a fear about handing out these medals. If a soldier, sailor, or marine commits a heroic act and meets the criteria for this award, they should receive it.
Jim Comeaux, Marrero, LA (Sent May 25, 2007 4:31:04 PM)
Dear MSNBC,
About those onions in Texas rotting in the fields...
I have a lot of difficulty believing that those farmers can't find workers in Uvalde, Texas to go out and harvest those onions when they are willing to pay $7 to $10 an hour for the labor.
Check out this link from the Uvalde, Texas town website
http://www.uvaldetx.com/CITYbusiness.html
Approximately 2,000 Uvalde County residents are currently looking for a job, whether they are now unemployed or are looking for a new job.
· The unemployment rate in Uvalde County is approximately 7.1-10%.
· Southwest Texas Junior College and Sul Ross University offer a ready pool of employees via their students and graduates.
You tell me why a community with college kids and a 7-10% unemployment rate can't find workers to do this work. It's just ridiculous. How many high school and college kids would welcome a casual labor position to pick up extra spending money? How many HUD tenants does this town have that could be picking onions. It's not rocket science. I know. I worked picking vegetables every summer from the time I was about 8 years old until I was a senior in high school for the local farmer here and I picked beans, cucumbers, tomatos, peppers, eggplant, and planted onions and garlic and worked in the sorting and packing shed and it was hard but honest and healthy work. There is NO reason that those onions should be rotting on the ground in Uvalde. If nothing else, the government should be looking at transporting local welfare recipients to the job site or making prisoners work for their keep. Its time our government paid attention to where our tax dollars are being wasted and the answer is not to import Mexicans to pick the produce, its to get the freeloading couch potatoes off their butts and into the fields working for their welfare checks. There is just no excuse for this situation. None at all. It's a lie to say they don't have enough Americans to do these jobs. If able-bodied Americans refuse to work, they should probably spend some time on the hungry side until they are ready to work harvesting these onions for better than the minimum wage. Come on!
Cathy Titchenal, Klickitat, WA (Sent May 25, 2007 1:51:08 AM)
What a wonderful story of bravery and heroism. I just heard a story of a young solider in Iraq who threw himself on a hand grenade in a vehicle to protect the lives of his fellow soldiers. It boggles the mind to think what goes through a young mans mind to give so much for others. I am truely proud of all of our soilders past and present.
David Whyte, Luton, Bedfordshire UK - formerly Detroit, Michigan (Sent May 24, 2007 6:42:30 PM)
Staff Sgt.Nicky Bacon is truly impressive with the actions and command he took during that battle. From taking care of the wounded, shooting at the enemy, commanding units and allowing units to advance. He really does deserve to be honored with the Medal of Honor. Then he requests to be reassigned. I must say that is a truly dedicated and brave soldier. God Bless him and all the Medal of Honor Recipients. Peace to all of them! Peace to our country!
Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia (Sent May 24, 2007 5:27:45 PM)
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