US Army 1LT Brian Thacker: Medal of Honor Recipient Vietnam War

On March 31, 1971, 1st Lt. Brian Thacker displayed extraordinary heroism while serving with Battery A, 1st Battalion, 92d Artillery at Fire Base 6 in Vietnam.

As dawn broke, a massive North Vietnamese assault struck the isolated hilltop base, breaching the perimeter with rockets, grenades, and flamethrowers. Lt. Thacker rallied both U.S. and South Vietnamese defenders in brutal, close-quarters combat, refusing to yield.

From an exposed observation post, he directed airstrikes and artillery for hours, repelling wave after wave of attacks. His calm leadership under fire helped prevent the base from being completely overrun.

When evacuation became the only option, he organized the withdrawal of all remaining personnel. Choosing to stay behind, Lt. Thacker covered their retreat with his M16 and, in a final act of defiance, called artillery onto his own position to slow the enemy.

Wounded and alone, he evaded capture for eight days until friendly forces retook the base.

For his unwavering courage and self-sacrifice, 1st Lt. Brian Thacker was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Thacker, Field Artillery, Battery A, distinguished himself while serving as the team leader of an Integrated Observation System collocated with elements of two Army of the Republic of Vietnam units at Fire Base 6. A numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force launched a well-planned dawn attack on the small, isolated, hilltop fire base. Employing rockets, grenades, flamethrowers, and automatic weapons, the enemy forces penetrated the perimeter defenses and engaged the defenders in hand-to-hand combat. Throughout the morning and early afternoon, 1st Lt. Thacker rallied and encouraged the U.S. and Republic of Vietnam soldiers in heroic efforts to repulse the enemy. He occupied a dangerously exposed observation position for a period of four hours while directing friendly air strikes and artillery fire against the assaulting enemy forces. His personal bravery and inspired leadership enabled the outnumbered friendly forces to inflict a maximum of casualties on the attacking enemy forces and prevented the base from being overrun. By late afternoon, the situation had become untenable. 1st Lt. Thacker organized and directed the withdrawal of the remaining friendly forces. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he remained inside the perimeter alone to provide covering fire with his M-16 rifle until all other friendly forces had escaped from the besieged fire base. Then, in an act of supreme courage, he called for friendly artillery fire on his own position to allow his comrades more time to withdraw safely from the area and, at the same time, inflict even greater casualties on the enemy forces. Although wounded and unable to escape from the area himself, he successfully eluded the enemy forces for eight days until friendly forces regained control of the fire base. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by 1st Lt. Thacker were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the military service.

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Photos Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

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