The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*STEWART, JIMMY G.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant,
U.S. Army, Company B, 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Place
and Date: Republic of Vietnam, 18 May 1966. Entered service at: Ashland, Ky.
Born: 25 December 1942, West Columbia, W. Va.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty. Early in the morning a reinforced North Vietnamese company
attacked Company B, which was manning a defensive perimeter in Vietnam. The surprise
onslaught wounded 5 members of a 6-man squad caught in the direct path of the enemy's
thrust. S/Sgt. Stewart became a lone defender of vital terrain--virtually 1 man against a
hostile platoon. Refusing to take advantage of a lull in the firing which would have
permitted him to withdraw, S/Sgt. Stewart elected to hold his ground to protect his fallen
comrades and prevent an enemy penetration of the company perimeter. As the full force of
the platoon-sized man attack struck his lone position, he fought like a man possessed;
emptying magazine after magazine at the determined, on-charging enemy. The enemy drove
almost to his position and hurled grenades, but S/Sgt. Stewart decimated them by
retrieving and throwing the grenades back. Exhausting his ammunition, he crawled under
intense fire to his wounded team members and collected ammunition that they were unable to
use. Far past the normal point of exhaustion, he held his position for 4 harrowing hours
and through 3 assaults, annihilating the enemy as they approached and before they could
get a foothold. As a result of his defense, the company position held until the arrival of
a reinforcing platoon which counterattacked the enemy, now occupying foxholes to the left
of S/Sgt. Stewart's position. After the counterattack, his body was found in a shallow
enemy hole where he had advanced in order to add his fire to that of the counterattacking
platoon. Eight enemy dead were found around his immediate position, with evidence that 15
others had been dragged away. The wounded whom he gave his life to protect, were recovered
and evacuated. S/Sgt. Stewart's indomitable courage, in the face of overwhelming odds,
stands as a tribute to himself and an inspiration to all men of his unit. His actions were
in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and the Armed Forces of his country.
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