Michael Reinert Blanchfield

He shielded soldiers and civilians from an exploding grenade

Michael Reinert Blanchfield earned a posthumous Medal of Honor in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam, on 3 July 1969. A rifleman with Company A, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, he was guarding a hut during a patrol search when a fleeing man threw a grenade. Although badly wounded by its explosion, Blanchfield resumed the pursuit. A second grenade landed near him and other patrol members. He warned them and covered it with his body. His sacrifice protected four soldiers and several Vietnamese civilians nearby.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Blanchfield distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in Company A on a combat patrol. The patrol surrounded a group of houses to search for suspects. During the search of one of the huts, a man suddenly ran out toward a nearby treeline. Sp4c. Blanchfield, who was on guard outside the hut, saw the man, shouted for him to halt, and began firing at him as the man ignored the warning and continued to run. The suspect suddenly threw a grenade toward the hut and its occupants. Although the exploding grenade severely wounded Sp4c. Blanchfield and several others, he regained his feet to continue the pursuit of the enemy. The fleeing enemy threw a second grenade which landed near Sp4c. Blanchfield and several members of his patrol. Instantly realizing the danger, he shouted a warning to his comrades. Sp4c. Blanchfield unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full and fatal impact of the explosion. By his gallant action and self-sacrifice, he was able to save the lives and prevent injury to four members of the patrol and several Vietnamese civilians in the immediate area. Sp4c. Blanchfield's extraordinary courage and gallantry at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.