James W. Fous

He covered a grenade to save three soldiers serving with him

James William Fous attended Omaha Central High School and Omaha University, studying business before joining the Army in 1967. He was an Army private first class with Company E, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. On May 14, 1968, his unit established a night perimeter during a reconnaissance mission in Kien Hoa Province, South Vietnam. He spotted approaching enemy soldiers, alerted his companions and opened fire.

When an enemy grenade landed in their position, Fous warned the three nearby Americans and threw himself onto it, sacrificing his life to save them. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, on October 14, 1946, he was buried at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell. His family received his posthumous Medal of Honor in April 1970.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Fous distinguished himself at the risk of his life while serving as a rifleman with Company E. Pfc. Fous was participating in a reconnaissance-in-force mission when his unit formed its perimeter defense for the night. Pfc. Fous, together with three other American soldiers, occupied a position in a thickly vegetated area facing a woodline. Pfc. Fous detected three Viet Cong maneuvering toward his position and, after alerting the other men, directed accurate fire upon the enemy soldiers, silencing two of them. The third Viet Cong soldier managed to escape in the thick vegetation after throwing a hand grenade into Pfc. Fous' position. Without hesitation, Pfc. Fous shouted a warning to his comrades and leaped upon the lethal explosive, absorbing the blast with his body to save the lives of the three men in the area at the sacrifice of his life. Pfc. Fous' extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.