James A. Gardner

He charged through gunfire to destroy the concealed bunkers.

James Alton Gardner received the Medal of Honor for leading attacks on fortified positions in Vietnam. Born in Dyersburg, Tennessee, on February 7, 1943, he served as a first lieutenant with the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.

Classmates recalled his years at Dyersburg High School, where he played sports and belonged to 4-H. He attended West Point but left during his first year. He subsequently completed Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning in 1964, followed by Ranger and Airborne training before joining the 101st Airborne Division. On February 7, 1966, his platoon advanced to relieve a company pinned down at My Canh. Gardner crossed an open rice paddy under fire and attacked successive enemy bunkers. After the main position was seized, he reorganized his men and continued the assault. When another fortified machine gun stopped the platoon, he again advanced with rifle and grenades. Gravely wounded near a final bunker, he destroyed it before falling dead. His actions inspired the platoon to resume its attack.

His posthumous Medal of Honor was presented to his family at the Pentagon on October 19, 1967. Gardner was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Dyersburg. His award commemorates leadership and sacrifice on his twenty-third birthday.

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Gardner's platoon was advancing to relieve a company of the 1st Battalion that had been pinned down for several hours by a numerically superior enemy force in the village of My Canh, Vietnam. The enemy occupied a series of strongly fortified bunker positions which were mutually supporting and expertly concealed. Approaches to the position were well-covered by an integrated pattern of fire including automatic weapons, machine guns, and mortars. Air strikes and artillery placed on the fortifications had little effect. 1st Lt. Gardner's platoon was to relieve the friendly company by encircling and destroying the enemy force. Even as it moved to begin the attack, the platoon was under heavy enemy fire. During the attack, the enemy fire intensified. Leading the assault and disregarding his own safety, 1st Lt. Gardner charged through a withering hail of fire across an open rice paddy. On reaching the first bunker he destroyed it with a grenade and without hesitation dashed to the second bunker and eliminated it by tossing a grenade inside. Then, crawling swiftly along the dike of a rice paddy, he reached the third bunker. Before he could arm a grenade, the enemy gunner leaped forth, firing at him. 1st Lt. Gardner instantly returned the fire and killed the enemy gunner at a distance of six feet. Following the seizure of the main enemy position, he reorganized the platoon to continue the attack. Advancing to the new assault position, the platoon was pinned down by an enemy machine gun emplaced in a fortified bunker. 1st Lt. Gardner immediately collected several grenades and charged the enemy position, firing his rifle as he advanced to neutralize the defenders. He dropped a grenade into the bunker and vaulted beyond. As the bunker blew up, he came under fire again. Rolling into a ditch to gain cover, he moved toward the new source of fire. Nearing the position, he leaped from the ditch and advanced with a grenade in one hand and firing his rifle with the other. He was gravely wounded just before he reached the bunker, but with a last valiant effort he staggered forward and destroyed the bunker, and its defenders, with a grenade. Although he fell dead on the rim of the bunker, his extraordinary actions so inspired the men of his platoon that they resumed the attack and completely routed the enemy. 1st Lt. Gardner's conspicuous gallantry were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.