On Nov 12, 1969, the Marines from D.Co. 1/7 were tasked with reinforcing a pinned down Marine platoon near the Quang Nam province.
With casualties mounting, PFC. Ralph Dias launched a one man assault towards an enemy machine gun bunker which was the principal source of hostile fire.
Severely wounded by enemy snipers while charging across the open area, he pulled himself to the shelter of a nearby rock.
With his men dying around him, he ignored his wounds and braved enemy fire for a second time, until he was again wounded. Unable to walk, he crawled to within 15 meters of the MG, which at this point, was concentrating all of its fire on him.
He threw several hand grenades until he was wounded a third time. Bleeding profusely and in extreme pain, he threw a last grenade which destroyed the enemy position, but was mortally wounded by another enemy round.
PFC Dias would posthumously receive the Medal of Honor. He was just 19 years old.
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