In Recognition of Veterans Day
The RESEARCH LIBRARY is Open & FREE

Union Baptist Church Cemetery

Born:  August 27, 1939 at Blackfork, OH

Entered Service in the US Army from Ashland, KY

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Vietnam War For heroism June 30, 1966 at Vietnam

Sergeant Long was conducting a reconnaissance mission along a road when suddenly attacked by a Viet Cong regiment, supported by mortars, recoilless rifles and machineguns, from concealed positions astride the road. He abandoned the relative safety of his armored personnel carrier and braved a withering hail of enemy fire to carry wounded men to evacuation helicopters. As the platoon fought its way forward to re-supply advanced elements, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire at point blank range to provide needed supplies. While assaulting the Viet Cong positions he inspired his comrades by fearlessly standing unprotected to repel the enemy as they attempted to mount his carrier. When the enemy threatened to overrun a disabled carrier nearby, he again disregarded his own safety to help the severely wounded crew to safety. As he was handing arms to the less seriously wounded and reorganizing them to press the attack, an enemy grenade was hurled onto the carrier deck. Immediately recognizing the imminent danger, he shouted a warning to the crew and pushed to safety one man who had not heard his warning over the roar of battle. He then threw himself over the grenade to absorb the blast and save the lives of eight of his comrades.