On May 2, 1968 SFC Leroy Wright was tasked with leading his 12 men SOG Recon team deep into Cambodia in order to steal an NVA truck. The purpose of the mission was to acquire physical proof that the NVA was funneling supplies through the neutral country.
Upon insertion, the team wiped out 2 sentries with their knives and 12 more by rifle fire. With their position now compromised, Wright decided to call in an emergency exfil.
With the choppers coming in, hundreds of NVA forces surrounded the team and a massive battle ensued.
Wright courageously moved about his beleaguered team encouraging them and repositioning them to defend the LZ.
At one point, he was shot multiple times and lost the use of his legs. Then two enemy grenades fell between Wright and his teammates. Wright threw one grenade back at the enemy but only had time to roll his body onto the second grenade before it exploded, lifting him into the air.
Miraculously, Wright survived the explosion and kept firing his weapon until he was killed by a shot in his head.
The team was eventually rescued by Roy Benavidez, an action which would earn him the Medal of Honor.
Out of the original 12, 6 were killed and the rest seriously wounded.
SFC Wright was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He did not receive the MOH himself because the citation report omitted that he had jumped on the grenade, despite the sole eyewitnesses account which got Benavidez the Medal also witnessed Wright's actions. #macvsog #zerofoxtrot #stayzero