Ruppert L. Sargent

He shielded nearby comrades from the blasts of two grenades.

Ruppert Leon Sargent was born in Hampton, Virginia, on 6 January 1938. He enlisted in the Army in 1959 and became an infantry officer after completing Officer Candidate School in 1965. He deployed to Vietnam in September 1966. By 1967 he was a first lieutenant leading a platoon in Company B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in Vietnam.

On 15 March 1967, in Hau Nghia Province, his platoon investigated a reported enemy meeting place and weapons cache. Sargent found a booby-trapped tunnel entrance. After grenades failed to destroy it, he moved closer with a demolition man. One enemy soldier emerged and was killed. As Sargent, the platoon sergeant and a forward observer approached, another man appeared and threw two grenades among them.

Sargent fired at the enemy, turned and threw himself over both grenades. Their explosion killed him while saving the platoon sergeant and forward observer and shielding nearby soldiers. He was 29.

His widow received his posthumous Medal of Honor at her Hampton home on 10 March 1969. He is buried in Hampton National Cemetery.

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. While leading a platoon of Company B, 1st Lt. Sargent was investigating a reported Viet Cong meetinghouse and weapons cache. A tunnel entrance which 1st Lt. Sargent observed was booby-trapped. He tried to destroy the booby trap and blow the cover from the tunnel using hand grenades, but this attempt was not successful.

He and his demolition man moved in to destroy the booby trap and cover which flushed a Viet Cong soldier from the tunnel, who was immediately killed by the nearby platoon sergeant. First Lt. Sargent, the platoon sergeant, and a forward observer moved toward the tunnel entrance. As they approached, another Viet Cong emerged and threw two hand grenades that landed in the midst of the group. First Lt. Sargent fired three shots at the enemy then turned and unhesitatingly threw himself over the two grenades.

He was mortally wounded, and his two companions were lightly wounded when the grenades exploded. By his courageous and selfless act of exceptional heroism, he saved the lives of the platoon sergeant and forward observer and prevented the injury or death of several other nearby comrades. First Lt. Sargent’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.