William T. Perkins Jr.

Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

Vietnam WarOperation Medina †

Awards & Decorations

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
Presidential Unit Citation (Army) — (United States)
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
1 bronze service star
Military Merit Medal (Vietnam)
Vietnam Gallantry Cross
1 bronze palm
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
1960 device

Ribbon Rack

Biography

William Thomas Perkins Jr. was a United States Marine who posthumously received the United States' highest military decoration for valor — the Medal of Honor — for his heroic action on October 12, 1967, during the Vietnam War in which he smothered an exploding grenade with his body to save the lives of three fellow Marines. Perkins is the only combat photographer to have received the Medal of Honor.

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Score Breakdown

Medal of Honor(base 100)

+100

Heroic Score100 pts