Gary B. Beikirch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gary B. Beikirch | |
|---|---|
| Born August 29, 1947 | |
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| Place of birth | Rochester, New York |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1967-? |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 5th Special Forces Group |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Gary B. Beikirch (b. 1947) a native of Rochester, New York is a United States Army soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in April 1970 during the Vietnam War.
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[edit] Early life
Beikirch was born on 29 August 1947 in Rochester, New York.
[edit] Military service
Gary Beikirch joined the United States Army in August 1967. He had just finished his second year of college in upstate New York. He was interested in becoming a Green Beret from the very beginning. He completed basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and then went on to Fort Benning, Georgia for jump school. He completed jump school, passed the Special Forces test and went on to training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After completing phase one special forces training, he went on to phase one and phase two of medical training to become a medic. He was sent to Vietnam in July 1969.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
Citation:
- For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Beikirch, medical aidman, Detachment B-24, Company B, distinguished himself during the defense of Camp Dak Seang. The allied defenders suffered a number of casualties as a result of an intense, devastating attack launched by the enemy from well-concealed positions surrounding the camp. Sgt. Beikirch, with complete disregard for his personal safety, moved unhesitatingly through the withering enemy fire to his fallen comrades, applied first aid to their wounds and assisted them to the medical aid station. When informed that a seriously injured American officer was lying in an exposed position, Sgt. Beikirch ran immediately through the hail of fire. Although he was wounded seriously by fragments from an exploding enemy mortar shell, Sgt. Beikirch carried the officer to a medical aid station. Ignoring his own serious injuries, Sgt. Beikirch left the relative safety of the medical bunker to search for and evacuate other men who had been injured. He was again wounded as he dragged a critically injured Vietnamese soldier to the medical bunker while simultaneously applying mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to sustain his life. Sgt. Beikirch again refused treatment and continued his search for other casualties until he collapsed. Only then did he permit himself to be treated. Sgt. Beikirch's complete devotion to the welfare of his comrades, at the risk of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.[1]
[edit] Post War years
Gary is a middle-school guidance counselor and is on the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Congressional Medal of Honor Society
- Gary Beikirch Oral History
- McGough, Ann “At Saint Brendan's, A Lesson in History and Bravery” Dorchester Reporter 1 Nov 2001
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester
