Stephen Holden Doane

Carried a live grenade into a bunker to free his trapped men

Stephen Holden Doane was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, on 13 October 1947 and grew up in Walton, New York. After high school and preparatory study at Tilton, he briefly attended Gettysburg College before joining the U.S. Army in March 1967. He completed Officer Candidate School and Ranger training, served as an instructor and arrived in Vietnam in January 1969. Assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, he had already earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart before his final action.

On 25 March 1969, First Lieutenant Doane led a platoon during a company operation in Hau Nghia Province, South Vietnam. Enemy fire from bunkers and trenches pinned down three soldiers, one seriously wounded. Attempts by another platoon to reach them failed. Realizing that the enemy positions had to be destroyed before the men could be rescued, he crawled forward alone and silenced a bunker.

Although wounded, he advanced toward a second bunker and was hit again as he prepared to throw a grenade. He pulled its pin and lunged into the position, destroying the obstacle and allowing the trapped men to be rescued without further casualties. He was killed at the age of 21; there was no later service career.

His family received his posthumous Medal of Honor from President Richard M. Nixon at the White House on 16 February 1971. He is buried at Arlington 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. First Lt. Doane was serving as a platoon leader when his company, engaged in a tactical operation, abruptly contacted an enemy force concealed in protected bunkers and trenches. Three of the leading soldiers were pinned down by enemy crossfire. One was seriously wounded. After efforts of 1 platoon to rescue these men had failed, it became obvious that only a small group could successfully move close enough to destroy the enemy position and rescue or relieve the trapped soldiers, 1st Lt. Doane, although fully aware of the danger of such an action, crawled to the nearest enemy bunker and silenced it. He was wounded but continued to advance to a second enemy bunker. As he prepared to throw a grenade, he was again wounded. Undaunted, he deliberately pulled the pin on the grenade and lunged with it into the enemy bunker, destroying this final obstacle. 1st Lt. Doane's supreme act enabled his company to rescue the trapped men without further casualties. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by this officer were an inspiration to his men and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.