David R. Ray

Shielding a wounded Marine during the attack at Phu Loc Six.

David Robert Ray earned the Medal of Honor at Phu Loc 6 near An Hoa, South Vietnam, on March 19, 1969. A Navy hospital corpsman second class serving with Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, he moved between gun positions to treat casualties during an enemy assault.

Seriously wounded, Ray continued providing aid and fought attackers threatening his patients. After sustaining fatal wounds, he shielded a wounded Marine with his body as a grenade exploded nearby, saving the man’s life.

Born in McMinnville, Tennessee, on February 14, 1945, Ray graduated from high school in 1963 and studied at the University of Tennessee. He enlisted in the Navy in March 1966, trained as a hospital corpsman, and served aboard USS Haven and at Naval Hospital Long Beach. After field medical training, he joined the Marines in Vietnam in July 1968. Ray was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in McMinnville, Tennessee. His family received his posthumous Medal of Honor on April 20, 1970.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HC2c. with Battery D, 2d Battalion, at Phu Loc 6, near An Hoa. During the early morning hours, an estimated battalion-size 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, HC2c. 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, HC2c. 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. HC2c. 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, HC2c. 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.