View Full Version : Army Capt. Gary Rose, risked his life to save others in Vietnam War, awarded Medal of
A hero among heroes. Well done, Captain Rose. Very well deserved recognition.
Army Capt. Gary Rose, risked his life to save others in Vietnam War, awarded Medal of Honor
Officially, retired Army Capt. Gary “Mike” Rose was never in Laos at the height of the Vietnam War.
Rose, now 69, served as a medic in the Military Assistance Command Studies and Observations Group, an elite division of the Special Forces. It was so secret that, for more than four decades, he never spoke about it to anyone – not even the people he served with.
Those that served with him, however, never forgot the bravery he showed during a four-day mission, called “Operation Tailwind,” in the landlocked country in September 1970.
Rose, then a sergeant, ran through a hail of gunfire to treat more than 50 soldiers who were fighting the North Vietnamese Army – using one hand to hoist wounded men onto his back while he fired on the enemy with his other hand.
In spite of his own injuries, he didn’t sleep for days to make sure all 16 American soldiers deployed with him made it home.
They did.
(more)
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/10/23/army-capt-gary-rose-risked-his-life-to-save-others-in-vietnam-war-to-get-medal-honor.html
Here is some more info,
Captain Gary M. Rose
BORN
October 17, 1947
HOMETOWN
Huntsville, Alabama
ENLISTMENT DATE
April 4, 1967
MILITARY OCCUPATION (MOS)
18D Special Forces Medical Sergeant
UNIT
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
TOURS OF DUTY
Thailand, 1969; Republic of Vietnam, 1970; Panama, 1971-1973
U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Gary M. Rose during U.S. Army Jump School at Fort Benning, Ga., September 1967. Photo courtesy of Gary M. Rose.
Retired Capt. Gary “Mike” Rose enlisted in the U. S. Army, April 4, 1967. He attended basic training at Fort Ord, California, and Infantry Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. After graduating from AIT, he was promoted to private first class and attended the U.S. Army Jump School at Fort Benning, Georgia.
In October 1967, Rose began Special Forces Training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. A year later, he graduated as a Special Forces medic and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group. In April 1969, Rose was assigned to the 46th Special Forces Company, headquartered in Lopburi, Thailand. In April 1970, Rose was reassigned to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group, 5th Special Forces Group.
In April 1971, Rose attended the Spanish Language School in Anacostia, D.C., then assigned to the 8th Special Forces Group (later designated the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Group) in Panama until August 1973.
In August 1973, Rose was selected to attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in Field Artillery in December 1973, and attended Field Artillery Officer Basic at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 1978, Rose attended the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course followed by various field artillery assignments in Germany, New Mexico, Korea and Fort Sill.
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Gary M. Rose, Field Artillery, Fort Sill, Okla., Feb. 10, 1975. Photo courtesy of Gary M. Rose.
Gary M. Rose promoted to the rank of Captain at Fort Sill, Okla., on Dec. 19, 1977. Photo courtesy of Gary M. Rose.
Rose graduated in December 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in General Education and Military Science from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, and a Masters of Arts in Communication from the University of Oklahoma in December 1989.
Rose retired from the U. S. Army in May 1987. He then worked as an instructional designer writing operator, user and maintenance manuals, as well as designing training for the manufacturing industry. He permanently retired in 2010. Rose has been married to his wife Margaret since 1971. They have three adult children and two grandchildren. In retirement, Rose has remained involved in charity activities primarily through the Knights of Columbus.
Rose’s military awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster and “V” device, the Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal with two knots, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign with star, Presidential Unit Citation (MAC SOG), Vietnam Civic Action Honor Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation – with Palm Combat Medical Badge, Special Forces Tab, U.S. Army Parachute Badge, Thai Army Parachute Badge, Vietnam Parachute Badge, and several service ribbons
Badger52
10-23-2017, 15:11
As this is posted now, I'll go ahead & post the link to the ceremony here. If Team Sergeant or a Moderator determine moving it into the "Above & Beyond" area it can go along.
Ceremony is at the Whitehouse.gov site under Briefs, Live Events, but is also archived nicely here at C-SPAN (https://www.c-span.org/video/?436139-1/president-awards-medal-honor-vietnam-war-army-medic) and runs pretty smooth.
Having read much about him over time it was so nice to see this happen with his family as well as some of his team mates there.
Hand Salute!
;)
bblhead672
10-23-2017, 15:49
Well done Capt. Rose! God bless you.
Golf1echo
10-23-2017, 21:51
22 year old medic Gary Rose's actions in the field were certainly worthy of the Medal of Honor and even today he represents much more than himself. In his own words he received the medal for all the personnel in MACV SOG bringing in to focus the many lives saved by keeping so many of the enemy occupied in those theaters. Not much doubt about his sincerity regarding his statement bringing recognition to all involved...deservedly so!
Real integrity...
Here are better pictures of Captain Rose and during the ceremony.
From the above FOX News report:
"Rose, then a sergeant, ran through a hail of gunfire to treat more than 50 soldiers who were fighting the North Vietnamese Army – using one hand to hoist wounded men onto his back while he fired on the enemy with his other hand.
In spite of his own injuries, he didn’t sleep for days to make sure all 16 American soldiers deployed with him made it home.
They did."
That says it all. Well done Capt. Rose.
A truly humble Warrior! Congratulations, Sir!
The following quote from the article says a lot about Captain Rose's legacy....
“I can’t think of an individual who deserves this more. I’m proud of him, [and] because of my association with him, I feel like I am a better man.” - Retired Lt. Col. Eugene McCarley
The Reaper
10-24-2017, 19:33
Long delayed, but extremely well-deserved.
Thank you for your service and your sacrifice on behalf of your fellow soldiers.
Incredible bravery.
Sorry you had to wait.
TR
SGT Rose put forward astounding effort and achieved astounding results! Outstanding! Great to see it finally acknowledged. Salute, CPT Rose.
Pat
It is about time.
Well deserved......
gwbarnes
10-25-2017, 09:58
Upthread is a picture of President Trump awarding the Medal of Honor to SP5 Rose, wearing 2 rows of ribbons. During the public ceremony, Rose is wearing Captains bars, and additional ribbons. Such attention to detail, having photographs of him wearing his rank and awards from 1970 (presumably), and another wearing his retired rank. Congratulations to Captain Rose on a much deserved, and long delayed award.
Premsore
10-26-2017, 06:27
FWIW, looks like Capt. Rose is wearing a beret from the era. Our berets looked and sat differently than the ones the guys are wearing these days. We didn't have to shave them, they were pretty much ready to go when they were issued to us.
Had a couple of friends come back from the 5th to group in Bragg after serving in C and C with some stories that would sound incredible. Those guys like Sgt Rose were in places and did things that are stuff of movies.
So proud that Sgt Rose finally got what he so valiantly earned and deserved....Well done, Green Beret!