For years, weeks, months, and days, I have dreamt of returning to Vietnam to complete the mission from my previous visit over four years ago. With my father's cancer accelerating on my last visit, I could barely focus on what I was mapping and why I was there mapping locations.
This embedded map tells the story of what took me to Vietnam four years ago and why I must return.
Today, that purpose is clear and my return begins in a few hours. See the embedded map below as the points are the places I traveled in 2014 along with a new set of points that I received from my MTSU connection on where all the Medal of Honor recipients earned their award. These points are just as personal.
During my time at Waren County Senior High school in McMinnville, Tennessee, I walked past the painted portrait of HM2 Robert Ray every day. His portrait showed a young man in a sailor's uniform wearing the Medal of Honor around his neck with a ship in the background. I always assumed the actions that lead to the award had been in WWII. It never occurred to me Navy Corpsmen were awarded the highest medal in the United States for their bravery in Vietnam, too. That's Bobby Ray's story and after reading the medal citation documents and the accounts of the events of March 19, 1969, it all makes sense why his portrait hung in my high school and a local elementary school is named in his honor.
According to the account, HM2 Robert Ray's Medal of Honor citation:
Medal of Honor citation[edit]
Rank and organization: Hospital Corpsman Second Class, U.S. Navy, 2d Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced),
III Marine Amphibious Force. Place and date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, March 19, 1969. Entered service at: Nashville, Tenn. Born: February 14, 1945, McMinnville, Tenn.
Citation[edit]
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HM2 with Battery D, 2d Battalion, at Phu Loc 6, near An Hoa. During the early morning hours, an estimated battalion-sized enemy force launched a determined assault against the battery's position, and succeeded in effecting a penetration of the barbed-wire perimeter. The initial burst of enemy fire caused numerous casualties among the Marines who had immediately manned their howitzers during the rocket and mortar attack. Undaunted by the intense hostile fire, HM2 Ray moved from parapet to parapet, rendering emergency medical treatment to the wounded. Although seriously wounded himself while administering first aid to a Marine casualty, he refused medical aid and continued his lifesaving efforts. While he was bandaging and attempting to comfort another wounded Marine, HM2 Ray was forced to battle two enemy soldiers who attacked his position, personally killing one and wounding the other. Rapidly losing his strength as a result of his severe wounds, he nonetheless managed to move through the hail of enemy fire to other casualties. Once again, he was faced with the intense fire of oncoming enemy troops and, despite the grave personal danger and insurmountable odds, succeeded in treating the wounded and holding off the enemy until he ran out of ammunition, at which time he sustained fatal wounds. HM2 Ray's final act of heroism was to protect the patient he was treating. He threw himself upon the wounded Marine, thus saving the man's life when an enemy grenade exploded nearby. By his determined and persevering actions, courageous spirit, and selfless devotion to the welfare of his Marine comrades, HM2 Ray served to inspire the men of Battery D to heroic efforts in defeating the enemy. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the finest traditions of the
U.S. Naval Service.
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