THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Your Medal of Honor citation attests to your courage and devotion to your fellow soldiers. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

The U.S. Army outpost at Khe Gio Bridge on National Route QL-9 near the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Quang Tri Province, RVN, was overrun by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops on March 12, 1970. Of the fourteen Americans who fought in the battle, two were killed, SP4 Terry L. Moser and SGT Mitchell W. Stout, and five were wounded with one captured, 2LT Gary B. Scull. The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) garrison at the site had six killed and nine wounded. The NVA lost about 40 men. The fighting began at 1:30 AM on March 12, 1970, when NVA columns reportedly walked into the camp, reached occupied structures, and were climbing through windows and doors when American GI’s awoke and began shooting from their bunks. The NVA set up rocket pads and mortar tubes in the surrounding hills, and when the shooting began inside the camp, they laid a barrage which killed many of their own men but also pinned the defenders inside their bunkers. One survivor stated, “the rain of shells was so heavy no one could go outside without being killed instantly.” Stout, in a bunker by the road, picked up a grenade tossed inside by the enemy and carried it out where it exploded at the same time a mortar round landed nearby. He died instantly; his action spared four other men. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Moser was killed by a mortar burst during the bombardment as he sprinted across open ground to a defensive position. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal for bravery. When the camp could no longer be defended from the rampaging NVA, the Americans shot their way out and fled to nearby Camp Carroll. Some escaped on a deuce-and-a-half truck; someone else drove a M42 light tank through the camp under fire picking up wounded, then crashed the perimeter at Camp Carroll. The battle had lasted three hours, the enemy hurrying off the battlefield to get away before daylight brought jets and gunships. The missing American, Scull, a Military Assist Command Vietnam advisor to the ARVN garrison, had arrived at the bridge only a few hours before the attack. Survivors of the battle believed Scull was killed in the fighting, but an ARVN officer reported seeing his bunker on fire and watched him being led away by NVA soldiers. On October 16, 1978, the U.S. changed Scull’s status from “missing” to “died while missing” and upgraded his rank to Major. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and information provided by Don Wittenberger (1999) at angelfire.com]

Dear Sgt Mitchell Stout, Thank you for your service as a Light Air Defense Artillery Crewmember, and for receiving the MEDAL OF HONOR. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Memorial Day is soon, and we honor you. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Sergeant Mitchell William Stout, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Battery C, 1st Battalion (Automatic Weapons) (Self Propelled), 44th Artillery Regiment, 108th Artillery Group, in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Vietnam, on 12 March 1970. Sergeant Stout distinguished himself during an attack by a North Vietnamese Army Sapper company on his unit's firing position at Khe Gio Bridge. Sergeant Stout was in a bunker with members of a searchlight crew when the position came under heavy enemy mortar fire and ground attack. When the intensity of the mortar attack subsided, an enemy grenade was thrown into the bunker. Displaying great courage, Sergeant Stout ran to the grenade, picked it up, and started out of the bunker. As he reached the door, the grenade exploded. By holding the grenade close to his body and shielding its blast, he protected his fellow soldiers in the bunker from further injury or death. Sergeant Stout's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, at the cost of his own life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.
See https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/2412

You were one of the brave that answered the call. You honored us by your service and sacrifice. We now honor you each time we stand and sing the words “THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE”. Rest in Peace and Honor Mitchell.