Jerry Wayne Wickam

Charged successive bunkers to shield his men caught in fire.

Jerry Wayne Wickam was born in Rockford, Illinois, on 19 January 1942 and attended Leaf River High School. He entered the United States Army in September 1966. After basic and specialist training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he served with the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor, in Germany. In June 1967 he joined Troop F of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam.

By January 1968 Wickam was a corporal in the regiment’s 2nd Squadron. On 6 January, his troop was conducting a reconnaissance southwest of Loc Ninh when concealed bunkers opened fire with rockets, automatic weapons and rifles. Wickam left his armoured vehicle and attacked a bunker with a grenade. Entering the position with another soldier, he heard a second grenade being armed and pushed his companion out of danger.

He then attacked another bunker under fire, killed a defender and captured a prisoner who supplied useful information. After the American force withdrew for an air strike, Wickam helped lead the return to inspect the position. Enemy fire erupted again. He charged the firing bunker, enabling the other soldiers to find cover, and destroyed it with a grenade. Moments later he was mortally wounded.

Wickam was buried in Lightsville Cemetery at Leaf River. His family received his posthumous Medal of Honor from Vice President Spiro Agnew at the White House on 18 November 1969. He was twenty-five when he died.

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. Cpl. Wickam distinguished himself while serving with Troop F. Troop F was conducting a reconnaissance-in-force mission southwest of Loc Ninh when the lead element of the friendly force was subjected to a heavy barrage of rocket, automatic-weapons, and small-arms fire from a well-concealed enemy bunker complex. Disregarding the intense fire, Cpl.

Wickam leaped from his armored vehicle and assaulted one of the enemy bunkers and threw a grenade into it, killing two enemy soldiers. He moved into the bunker and, with the aid of another soldier, began to remove the body of one Viet Cong when he detected the sound of an enemy grenade being charged. Cpl. Wickam warned his comrade and physically pushed him away from the grenade thus protecting him from the force of the blast.

When a second Viet Cong bunker was discovered, he ran through a hail of enemy fire to deliver deadly fire into the bunker, killing one enemy soldier. He also captured one Viet Cong who later provided valuable information on enemy activity in the Loc Ninh area. After the patrol withdrew and an air strike was conducted, Cpl. Wickam led his men back to evaluate the success of the strike. They were immediately attacked again by enemy fire.

Without hesitation, he charged the bunker from which the fire was being directed, enabling the remainder of his men to seek cover. He threw a grenade inside of the enemy's position killing two Viet Cong and destroying the bunker. Moments later he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. Cpl. Wickam's 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 and the U.S. Army.