Two hundred forty-one men received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary valor during the Vietnam War. One of them received his award three decades late. On February 8, 2000, in a White House ceremony, President Bill Clinton belatedly draped the award around the neck of Alfred Rascon, a native of Chihuahua, Mexico. Rascon, who now serves as inspector general of the U.S. Selective Service, was badly wounded in the March 1966 action that earned him the award, but he saved two lives. Others in his unit — who bucked the Pentagon and Congress to insist that he be recognized — say his bravery under fire turned around a losing situation.

It was the second time Rascon had been wounded in Vietnam. The first was on September 20, 1965. But the action for which he received the medal occurred six months later, when he was serving as a medic with a reconnaissance platoon. He had joined the Army three years earlier at age 17, and by late 1963 had been assigned to the Medical Platoon, 1st Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate), based in Okinawa. In May 1965, the 173rd was the first Army combat unit committed to Vietnam.

Rascon saw fighting almost immediately and was wounded the following fall. He was back in action by the time the 1st Infantry Division mounted a major joint air and land offensive in March 1966 — dubbed Operation Silver City — in War Zone D, Long Khanh province. The offensive included units from the 173rd, elements of the 1st Infantry Division, the ARVN 10th Division and Civil Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) forces and supporting artillery and other units.

The area targeted, according to intelligence reports, contained a major enemy installation, the headquarters for the Viet Cong’s Military Region Seven (MR-7). With its affiliated civil organizations, MR-7 controlled VC activities in an area roughly corresponding to the Republic of Vietnam’s III Corps area, and included food and weapons depots, an important communications center and housing for military planning and political committees. U.S. reports also stated that three VC Main Force regiments — the 271st, 272nd and 273rd — had been spotted in the area in recent weeks.

Six task forces, including an element of an Australian regiment, and support units were brought together for the operation. One week into the offensive, the recon platoon was ambushed and pinned down on a narrow jungle trail as they moved to reinforce the 2nd Battalion (TF 2/503), which was encircled and under fire by an NVA regiment.

Rascon talked to former Vietnam Senior Editor Kathy Kadane about why he joined the Army at such a young age, the early phase of Operation Silver City and the firefight in which he saved two soldiers and was himself badly wounded. He also offered his thoughts on being the recipient of the nation’s highest citation for valor. ‘I’m not a hero,’ he said emphatically. ‘To me, the definition of a hero is someone who shows valor every day. The true heroes are those who were with me on the trail that day, as well as all those in Vietnam who every day faced down being in harm’s way.’

Vietnam: As the son of Mexican immigrants living in California, why did you decide to join the Army? And why so young?

Rascon: My family in Oxnard lived near three military bases, and as a child I watched troop convoys heading for embarkation points for Korea during the Korean War. From this, I became fascinated with the military life. I especially wanted to be a paratrooper. At age 7, I jumped off the roof of our house with a parachute that I had made, but the chute had what you might call a ‘total malfunction.’ I ended up with a broken wrist. Nevertheless, I continued to dream about being a paratrooper, and when I graduated from high school I persuaded my parents to sign a waiver permitting me to join even though I was not yet 18. In 1963, I completed basic and advanced individual training and airborne school. Toward the end, I was also given medical training, then I was sent to Okinawa to join the 173rd as an airborne medic.

VN: You were not yet a citizen, I understand.

Rascon: That’s right. I had the status of legal permanent resident. I became a citizen in 1967 upon my return to the States. But my status was never an issue — the men I served with did not even know that I was not a citizen, nor did they care. They just called me ‘Doc.’

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