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Born:
September 9, 1949
(St. Paul , Minn)
Entered Service:
Minneapolis, Minn.
Branch: U.S.
Army
Duty: Vietnam War
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Medal
of Honor:
Portraits of Valor
Beyond the Call to Duty |
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[Purchase
Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond
the Call to Duty]
Since the Civil War, more than 39 million
men and women have answered the call to serve.
Of those, 3,440 served with such uncommon
valor and extraordinary courage that they
were presented with the Medal of Honor, the
nation's highest military award. In this collection,
more than one hundred of America's living
Medal of Honor recipients are honored. Their
tales of bravery are recounted by best-selling
author Peter Collier, and also feature portraits
by award-winning photographer Nick Del Calzo.
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Medal of Honor Profiles
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Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam,
29 November 1969
Robert J. Pruden
Staff Sgt., U.S. Army
75th Infantry, Americal Division |
Article Courtesy of DefenseWatch
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Staff Sgt. Pruden, Company G, distinguished himself while serving as a reconnaissance team leader during an ambush mission.
The six-man team was inserted by helicopter into enemy controlled territory to establish an ambush position and to obtain information concerning enemy movements. As the team moved into the preplanned area, Staff Sgt. Pruden deployed his men into two groups on the opposite sides of a well-used trail. As the groups were establishing their defensive positions, one member of the team was trapped in the open by the heavy fire from an enemy squad.
Realizing that the ambush position had been compromised, Staff Sgt. Pruden directed his team to open fire on the enemy force. Immediately, the team came under heavy fire from a second enemy element. Staff Sgt. Pruden, with full knowledge of the extreme danger involved, left his concealed position and, firing as he ran, advanced toward the enemy to draw the hostile fire.
He was seriously wounded twice but continued his attack until he fell for a third time, in front of the enemy positions. Staff Sgt. Pruden's actions resulted in several enemy casualties and withdrawal of the remaining enemy force. Although grievously wounded, he directed his men into defensive positions and called for evacuation helicopters, which safely withdrew the members of the team.
Staff Sgt. Pruden's outstanding courage, selfless concern for the welfare of his men, and intrepidity in action 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 U.S. Army.
© 2005 DefenseWatch.
All opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not
necessarily reflect those of Military.com.
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