THE WALL OF FACES

THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION-WHOM SHALL I FEAR?

THE LORD IS THE STRONGHOLD OF MY LIFE-OF WHOM SHALL I BE

AFRAID? THANK-YOU AND ALL THE BRAVE MEN THAT GAVE ALL OR PART

OF THEIR LIVES, TO KEEP THIS NATION FREE.

JOHN UNDERWOOD SR.-SGT.CLIFFORD SIMS BROTHER-IN-LAW
ESSIA UNDERWOOD
JOHN UNDERWOOD JR,
TA'CHALLA LYNNESSEE UNDERWOOD

STAFF SERGEANT


CLIFFORD CHESTER SIMS


served as a


SQUAD LEADER


with


COMPANY ' D '

2nd BATTALION ( AIRBORNE )

501st INFANTRY

101st AIRBORNE DIVISION


" THE SCREAMING EAGLES "


and was a posthumous recipient of the


CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR


who rests in honored glory in


BARRANCAS NATIONAL CEMETERY


PENSACOLA, FLORIDA



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


CITATION

FOR AWARD OF THE


CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR


NEAR HUE

REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

21 FEBRUARY 1968



For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life
above and beyond the call of duty. Staff Sergeant Sims distinguished
himself while serving as a squad leader with Company D. Company D
was assaulting a heavily fortified enemy position concealed within a
dense wooded area when it encountered strong enemy defensive fire.
Once within the woodline, Staff Sergeant Sims led his squad in a
furious attack against an enemy force which had pinned down the
1st Platoon and threatened to overrun it. His skillful leadership provided
the platoon with freedom of movement and enabled it to regain the
initiative. Staff Sergeant Sims was then ordered to move his squad to a
position where he could provide covering fire for the company command
group and to link up with the 3rd Platoon, which was under heavy enemy
pressure. After moving no more than 30 meters Staff Sergeant Sims
noticed that a brick structure in which ammunition was stocked was on fire.
Realizing the danger, Staff Sergeant Sims took immediate action to move
his squad from this position. Though in the process of leaving the area
two members of his squad were injured by the subsequent explosion of
the ammunition, Staff Sergeant Sims' prompt actions undoubtedly
prevented more serious casualties from occuring. While continuing through
the dense woods amidst heavy enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Sims and his
squad were approaching a bunker when they heard the unmistakable
noise of a concealed boobytrap being triggered immediately to their front.
Staff Sergeant Sims warned his comrades of the danger and unhesitatingly
hurled himself upon the device as it exploded, taking the full impact of
the blast. In so protecting his fellow soldiers, he willingly sacrificed his
life. Staff Sergeant Sims extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life is in
keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects
great credit upon himself and the United States Army.



*************************************************************



The award of the


CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR


was presented to his family

on 2 December 1969

at

The White House

by the

Vice President of the United States of America

Spiro T. Agnew



*************************************************************





THE PROUD YOUNG VALOR THAT ROSE ABOVE THE MORTAL

AND THEN, AT LAST, WAS MORTAL AFTER ALL





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


An auxilliary guest house at

Fort Campbell, Kentucky

the home of the

101st Airborne Division ( Air Assault )

is named in his honor

for this hero of the division