John E. Warren, Jr.
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| John Earl Warren, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| 16 November 1946 – 14 January 1969 | |
| Place of birth | Brooklyn, New York |
| Allegiance | United States Army |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Unit | Company C, 2d Battalion, (Mechanized), 22d Infantry, 25th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
John Earl Warren, Jr. (16 November 1946 – 14 January 1969) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War.
On 14 January 1969, as a First Lieutenant, Warren was commanding a platoon in Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam when the unit came under attack. During the fight, Warren fell on an enemy-thrown grenade to shield others from the blast. The action cost him his life.
1st Lt. Warren's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Warren, distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a platoon leader with Company C. While moving through a rubber plantation to reinforce another friendly unit, Company C came under intense fire from a well-fortified enemy force. Disregarding his safety, 1st Lt. Warren with several of his men began maneuvering through the hail of enemy fire toward the hostile positions. When he had come to within 6 feet of one of the enemy bunkers and was preparing to toss a hand grenade into it, an enemy grenade was suddenly thrown into the middle of his small group. Thinking only of his men, 1st Lt. Warren fell in the direction of the grenade, thus shielding those around him from the blast. His action, performed at the cost of his life, saved 3 men from serious or mortal injury. First Lt. Warren's ultimate action of sacrifice to save the lives of his men was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Warren is buried in Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, New York.
[edit] References
- Find a Grave (2000-06-29). John E. Warren (1946 - 1969). Retrieved on September 11, 2006.
- Center of Military History (2003-10-03). Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipients (M-Z). Medal of Honor Citations. Retrieved on September 11, 2006.
Categories: 1946 births | 1969 deaths | American Vietnam War killed in action | African Americans | African Americans in the United States military | Army Medal of Honor recipients | Black history in the United States military | Burials at Long Island National Cemetery | People from New York City | United States Army officers
