William Maud Bryant

For 34 hours in March 1969, Sergeant First Class William Maud Bryant led a surrounded company of Vietnamese irregular soldiers through relentless enemy attacks in Long Khanh Province. His leadership, repeated acts of bravery and final assault on an enemy position earned him the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously.

Born on 16 February 1933 in Cochran, Georgia, Bryant enlisted in the United States Army in 1953. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division, completed Ranger and airborne training, and held infantry leadership assignments in the United States and Germany. During his assignment with the 325th Infantry, he also served in the Dominican Republic. After qualifying for Special Forces, he joined the 7th Special Forces Group and subsequently deployed to Vietnam with Company A, 5th Special Forces Group.

In Vietnam, Bryant served as an intelligence sergeant and led Civilian Irregular Defense Group Company 321 of the 3rd Mobile Strike Force Command. During combat in Long Khanh Province, enemy troops surrounded his battalion. Bryant organized the defense, directed fire, distributed ammunition under heavy attack, assisted wounded men and led patrols beyond the perimeter.

When an attempted breakout encountered fortified enemy positions, Bryant was severely wounded. Despite his injuries, he continued leading his men, coordinated helicopter gunship support and charged an enemy automatic-weapons position, destroying its defenders. While regrouping his force, he was mortally wounded by an enemy rocket on 24 March 1969.

His other documented decorations included the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and three awards of the Army Good Conduct Medal. On 16 February 1971, President Richard Nixon presented Bryant's Medal of Honor to his family at the White House. Bryant is buried at Raleigh National Cemetery in North Carolina.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Bryant, assigned to Company A, distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer of Civilian Irregular Defense Group Company 321, 2d Battalion, 3d Mobile Strike Force Command, during combat operations. The battalion came under heavy fire and became surrounded by the elements of three enemy regiments. Sfc. Bryant displayed extraordinary heroism throughout the succeeding 34 hours of incessant attack as he moved throughout the company position heedless of the intense hostile fire while establishing and improving the defensive perimeter, directing fire during critical phases of the battle, distributing ammunition, assisting the wounded, and providing the leadership and inspirational example of courage to his men. When a helicopter drop of ammunition was made to resupply the beleaguered force, Sfc. Bryant with complete disregard for his safety ran through the heavy enemy fire to retrieve the scattered ammunition boxes and distributed needed ammunition to his men. During a lull in the intense fighting, Sfc. Bryant led a patrol outside the perimeter to obtain information of the enemy. The patrol came under intense automatic-weapons fire and was pinned down. Sfc. Bryant singlehandedly repulsed one enemy attack on his small force and by his heroic action inspired his men to fight off other assaults. Seeing a wounded enemy soldier some distance from the patrol location, Sfc. Bryant crawled forward alone under heavy fire to retrieve the soldier for intelligence purposes. Finding that the enemy soldier had expired, Sfc. Bryant crawled back to his patrol and led his men back to the company position where he again took command of the defense. As the siege continued, Sfc. Bryant organized and led a patrol in a daring attempt to break through the enemy encirclement. The patrol had advanced some 200 meters by heavy fighting when it was pinned down by the intense automatic-weapons fire from heavily fortified bunkers and Sfc. Bryant was severely wounded. Despite his wounds he rallied his men, called for helicopter gunship support, and directed heavy suppressive fire upon the enemy positions. Following the last gunship attack, Sfc. Bryant fearlessly charged an enemy automatic-weapons position, overrunning it and singlehandedly destroying its three defenders. Inspired by his heroic example, his men renewed their attack on the entrenched enemy. While regrouping his small force for the final assault against the enemy, Sfc. Bryant fell mortally wounded by an enemy rocket. Sfc. Bryant's selfless concern for his comrades, 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.