War Stories with Preston and Sayre
Society & Culture
SP4 Jesus Duran (E/2-5 CAV, 1st CAV DIV) Vietnam War, 10APR1969
10APR1969: Serving as a M-60 machine gunner in Vietnam, SP4 Jesus Duran and his unit came across an elaborate set of enemy bunkers. Shortly upon entering the complex, the unit came under heavy enemy fire from all sides. With the command post at risk of being overrun, SP4 Duran ran forward and stood tall in a defensive position, firing from the hip. With rounds and grenades impacting all around him, SP4 Duran stayed on his machine gun pouring deadly fire into the rapidly advancing enemy fighters.
Learning that two American Soldiers were seriously wounded and pinned down, SP4 Duran pushed forward into the teeth of the enemy ambush firing his machine gun as he ran. Eventually reaching an enemy position, he jumped on top of a fallen log and fired directly into the emplacement, killing all inside. Due in large part to his fearless stand, the enemy assault soon dissipated.
After a congressional review, SP4 Jesus Duran would be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2014.
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