James Leroy Bondsteel

He led repeated attacks and destroyed ten fortified bunkers.

James Leroy Bondsteel received the Medal of Honor for leading a U.S. Army platoon through a fortified North Vietnamese base near Lang Sau, An Loc Province, on 24 May 1969. Wounded by a grenade, he refused evacuation and returned repeatedly to the attack, helping rescue a threatened friendly unit and keep his company moving until relief arrived.

Born in Jackson, Michigan, on 18 July 1947, Bondsteel entered the Army in Detroit. In Vietnam he served as a platoon sergeant in Company A, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. His Medal of Honor action lasted about four hours. He organized his men into combat teams, led the assault on enemy bunkers, and then ran roughly 200 metres through heavy fire to rally an adjoining platoon that was faltering and help its wounded. He returned carrying urgently needed ammunition.

Back at the front, Bondsteel destroyed more bunkers and a machine-gun position threatening his platoon. An enemy grenade wounded him, but he declined medical care and continued, neutralizing two additional bunkers. He narrowly escaped another grenade, then went to the aid of a severely wounded officer and struck down an enemy soldier threatening him. He rallied his men again and led them through the entrenched position until the company was relieved. The Army credited him with destroying ten bunkers and two key enemy commanders, and with saving numerous lives.

President Richard Nixon presented Bondsteel the Medal of Honor at the White House on 15 October 1973. He retired in 1985 as a master sergeant and worked as a Veterans Administration counselor in Anchorage, Alaska. He and his wife, Elaine, raised two daughters in Houston, Alaska. Bondsteel died in a car accident on the Glenn Highway near Wasilla on 9 April 1987 and was buried at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Staff Sergeant Bondsteel distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company A, near the village of Lang Sau. Company A was directed to assist a friendly unit which was endangered by intense fire from a North Vietnamese Battalion located in a heavily fortified base camp. Staff Sergeant Bondsteel quickly organized the men of his platoon into effective combat teams and spearheaded the attack by destroying four enemy-occupied bunkers. He then raced some 200 meters under heavy enemy fire to reach an adjoining platoon which had begun to falter. After rallying this unit and assisting their wounded, he returned to his own sector with critically needed munitions. Without pausing he moved to the forefront and destroyed four enemy-occupied bunkers and a machine gun which had threatened his advancing platoon. Although painfully wounded by an enemy grenade, Staff Sergeant Bondsteel refused medical attention and continued his assault by neutralizing two more enemy bunkers nearby. While searching one of these emplacements he narrowly escaped death when an enemy soldier detonated a grenade at close range. Shortly thereafter, he ran to the aid of a severely wounded officer and struck down an enemy soldier who was threatening the officer’s life. Staff Sergeant Bondsteel then continued to rally his men and led them through the entrenched enemy until his company was relieved. His exemplary leadership and great personal courage throughout the four-hour battle ensured the success of his own and nearby units, and resulted in the saving of numerous lives of his fellow soldiers. By individual acts of bravery he destroyed ten enemy bunkers and accounted for a large toll of the enemy, including two key enemy commanders. His extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.”