Paul H. Foster

He covered a live grenade with his vest to save five Marines

Paul Hellstrom Foster was born on 17 April 1939 in San Mateo, California. He served as a sergeant and artillery liaison operations chief with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division in the Marine Corps Reserve.

After high school, he worked as a mechanic helper before enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve in November 1961. He trained in California and then served with a reserve artillery battery at Treasure Island. Called to active duty in November 1966, he joined the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines in Vietnam that December.

On 14 October 1967 near Con Thien, Vietnam, Foster's battalion defended a bridge when an enemy assault penetrated its perimeter. Wounded by a grenade, he continued directing mortar and artillery fire. When another grenade landed among him and five companions, he warned them, covered it with his armored vest and placed himself over it. He was mortally wounded, saving his comrades from further injury or death.

President Richard Nixon presented Foster's posthumous Medal of Honor to his family on 20 June 1969. He is buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an artillery liaison operations chief with the 2d Battalion. In the early morning hours the 2d Battalion was occupying a defensive position which protected a bridge on the road leading from Con Thien to Cam Lo. Suddenly, the marines' position came under a heavy volume of mortar and artillery fire, followed by an aggressive enemy ground assault. In the ensuing engagement, the hostile forces penetrated the perimeter and brought a heavy concentration of small-arms, automatic-weapons, and rocket fire to bear on the battalion command post. Although his position in the fire support coordination center was dangerously exposed to enemy fire and he was wounded when an enemy hand grenade exploded near his position, Sgt. Foster resolutely continued to direct accurate mortar and artillery fire on the advancing North Vietnamese troops. As the attack continued, a hand grenade landed in the midst of Sgt. Foster and his five companions. Realizing the danger, he shouted a warning, threw his armored vest over the grenade, and unhesitatingly placed his body over the armored vest. When the grenade exploded, Sgt. Foster absorbed the entire blast with his body and was mortally wounded. His heroic actions undoubtedly saved his comrades from further injury or possible death. Sgt. Foster's courage, extraordinary heroism, and unfaltering devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.