Medal of Honor Recipient: Captain James. E. Livingston
Rank and organization: Captain , U.S.
Marine Corps, Company E, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious
Brigade. place and date: Dai Do, Republic
of Vietnam , 2 May 1968 . Entered service
at: McRae, Ga. Born: 12 January 1940, Towns, Telfair County, Ga.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commanding Officer, Company E, in action against enemy forces. Company E launched a determined assault on the heavily fortifiedvillage
of Dai Do , which had been
seized by the enemy on the preceding evening isolating a marine company from
the remainder of the battalion. Skillfully employing screening agents, Capt.
Livingston maneuvered his men to assault positions across 500 meters of
dangerous open rice paddy while under intense enemy fire. Ignoring hostile
rounds impacting near him, he fearlessly led his men in a savage assault
against enemy emplacements within the village. While adjusting supporting arms
fire, Capt. Livingston moved to the points of heaviest resistance, shouting
words of encouragement to his marines, directing their fire, and spurring the
dwindling momentum of the attack on repeated occasions. Although twice
painfully wounded by grenade fragments, he refused medical treatment and
courageously led his men in the destruction of over 100 mutually supporting
bunkers, driving the remaining enemy from their positions, and relieving the
pressure on the stranded marine company. As the 2 companies consolidated
positions and evacuated casualties, a third company passed through the friendly
lines launching an assault on the adjacent village of Dinh
To, only to be halted by a furious counterattack of an enemy battalion. Swiftly
assessing the situation and disregarding the heavy volume of enemy fire, Capt.
Livingston boldly maneuvered the remaining effective men of his company
forward, joined forces with the heavily engaged marines, and halted the enemy's
counterattack Wounded a third time and unable to walk, he steadfastly remained
in the dangerously exposed area, deploying his men to more tenable positions
and supervising the evacuation of casualties. Only when assured of the safety
of his men did he allow himself to be evacuated. Capt. Livingston's gallant
actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval
Service.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Commanding Officer, Company E, in action against enemy forces. Company E launched a determined assault on the heavily fortified
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