The Medal of Honor

Citation
for the award of the
Medal of Honor
to

STEPHEN HOLDEN DOANE

Rank and organization:

First Lieutenant, U .S. Army
Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry
25th Infantry Division

Place and Date:

Hau Nghia Province,
Republic of Vietnam
25 March 1969

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1LT Doane was serving as a platoon leader when his company, engaged in a tactical operation, abruptly contacted an enemy force concealed in protected bunkers and trenches.

Three of the leading soldiers were pinned down by enemy crossfire. One was seriously wounded. After efforts of one platoon to rescue these men had failed, it became obvious that only a small group could successfully move close enough to destroy the enemy position and rescue or relieve the trapped soldiers.

1LT Doane, although fully aware of the danger of such an action, crawled to the nearest enemy bunker and silenced it. He was wounded but continued to advance to a second enemy bunker. As he prepared to throw a grenade, he was again wounded. Undaunted, he deliberately pulled the pin on the grenade and lunged with it into the enemy bunker, destroying this final obstacle.

1LT Doane's supreme act enabled his company to rescue the trapped men without further casualties. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by this officer were an inspiration to his men and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

Steve Doane was one of my classmates during Officer Training at Ft. Benning, GA, and at U.S. Army Ranger School. He deserves to be remembered even by those that didn’t know him, for his selfless service and sacrifice to the United States of America.

When I heard that he had been KIA it came with the story that he was put in for the Medal of Honor and it was downgraded to a Silver Star. I always felt bad about that, until just a few weeks ago, when I found the on-line Vietnam Wall and checked Steve's spot. Apparently at some point since my first knowledge of it, they did in fact award him the MOH. Steve got to Vietnam ahead of me, and was already dead by the time I got there; he accomplished a lot in a few short months.

Ray Heltsley
Oak Harbor
Ranger 11-68
Rangers Lead the Way!


Graphic by and courtesy of Ray Heltsley. All rights reserved.