On January, 18 1968 Sgt.Gordon Yntema was a Green Beret with 5th SFG conducting a patrol near the village of Thong Binh, Vietnam. The small group of Americans and South Vietnamese Irregulars came under heavy fire as they came up against a battalion size NVA force.
With casualties mounting, Sgt. Yntema set up a line of defense and began rescuing wounded soldiers while under intense MG and mortar fire. With the dwindling force coming close to being surrounded, he began to provide covering fire and ordered the survivors to escape. Despite being seriously wounded himself, he refused to withdraw and opted to stay along side his wounded and dead brothers. He repulsed the attacking NVA until he ran out of ammo.
At this point, he was now completely surrounded and was offered the opportunity to surrender. Refusing to do so, Sgt. Yntema stood his ground, using his rifle as a club to fight off the approx 15 NVA soldiers attempting to capture him. His resistance was so fierce that the enemy was forced to shoot him in order to overcome him.
At 22 years old, Sgt. Yntema would posthumously receive the Medal of Honor.
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