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Private First Class, U.S. Army
Milton Lee Olive III was a United States Army soldier who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Olive joined the Army in 1964 and was assigned to the 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, serving as a private first class in Vietnam.
On October 22, 1965, while participating in a search-and-destroy operation near Phu Cuong, Olive's platoon came under heavy fire. When an enemy grenade was thrown into the midst of his squad, Olive courageously sacrificed his own life by throwing himself onto the grenade to absorb the blast. His selfless act saved the lives of four of his fellow soldiers.
For his gallantry, Olive was awarded the Medal of Honor, becoming the first African-American recipient of the award during the Vietnam War. He is also a recipient of the Purple Heart.
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