THE WALL OF FACES

CITATION FOR POSTHUMOUS RECIPIENT OF

THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS


SPECIALIST FOURTH CLASS

VERNON CHARLES WILDERSPIN

served with

Troop B

3d Squadron

4th Cavalry

25th Infantry Division


Citation:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Vernon Charles Wilderspin (US54959220), Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Troop B, 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Specialist Four Wilderspin distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 as medical aidman for an armor platoon on a combat mission near Tan Son Nhut Air Base. His unit was moving to engage a combined Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army force which had attacked the air base. It was suddenly subjected to intense automatic weapons and anti-tank rocket fire from the numerically superior enemy. Specialist Wilderspin unhesitantly leaped from his armored personnel carrier to administer first aid to wounded comrades. Exposing himself to a devastating curtain of hostile fire, he gallantly moved throughout the raging battlefield to conduct his lifesaving mission. After aiding many casualties, including his seriously wounded platoon leader, Specialist Wilderspin saw his platoon sergeant lying helplessly wounded in an open area. With a hail of enemy bullets striking all around him, he fearlessly raced to the side of his smitten comrade and performed skillful emergency medical treatment which saved the man's life. Just as he had finished tending the platoon sergeant's wounds, Specialist Wilderspin was hit by the withering hostile fire and instantly killed. Specialist Four Wildersin's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam

General Orders No. 1841 ( 20 April 1968 )





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





1 AUGUST 1999

Vernon, Although we never met,
I just want you to know you are
not forgotten. You gave the ultimate
sacrifice, your life for what you believed
in. Sleep well my friend, and thank you
for protecting the freedoms we enjoy
today.
A true American Hero.

SPECIALIST 4


VERNON CHARLES WILDERSPIN



served as a


COMBAT MEDIC


with


COMPANY ' A '

3rd BATTALION

47th INFANTRY REGIMENT



and was posthumously awarded the



DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS


PURPLE HEART





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





2-14-1999