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Rank and organization: Chaplain (Capt.), U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 199th Infantry Brigade. place and date: Near Phuoc-Lac, Bien Hoa province, Republic of Vietnam, 6 December 1967 . Entered service at: Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Born: 14 February 1931, Washington, D.C.
Citation... Chaplain Liteky distinguished
himself by exceptional heroism while serving with Company A, 4th
Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was
participating in a search and destroy operation when Company A came
under intense fire from a battalion size enemy force. Momentarily
stunned from the immediate encounter that ensued, the men hugged the
ground for cover. Observing 2 wounded men, Chaplain Liteky moved to
within 15 meters of an enemy machine gun position to reach them,
placing himself between the enemy and the wounded men. |
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When there was a brief respite in the
fighting, he managed to drag them to the relative safety of the
landing zone. Inspired by his courageous actions, the company
rallied and began placing a heavy volume of fire upon the
enemy's positions. In a magnificent display of courage and
leadership, Chaplain Liteky began moving upright through the
enemy fire, administering last rites to the dying and evacuating
the wounded. Noticing another trapped and seriously wounded man,
Chaplain Liteky crawled to his aid. Realizing that the wounded
man was too heavy to carry, he rolled on his back, placed the
man on his chest and through sheer determination and fortitude
crawled back to the landing zone using his elbows and heels to
push himself along. pausing for breath momentarily, he returned
to the action and came upon a man entangled in the dense, thorny
underbrush. Once more intense enemy fire was directed at him,
but Chaplain Liteky stood his ground and calmly broke the vines
and carried the man to the landing zone for evacuation. On
several occasions when the landing zone was under small arms and
rocket fire, Chaplain Liteky stood up in the face of hostile
fire and personally directed the medivac helicopters into and
out of the area. With the wounded safely evacuated, Chaplain
Liteky returned to the perimeter, constantly encouraging and
inspiring the men. Upon the unit's relief on the morning of 7
December 1967, it was discovered that despite painful wounds in
the neck and foot, Chaplain Liteky had personally carried over
20 men to the landing zone for evacuation during the savage
fighting. Through his indomitable inspiration and heroic
actions, Chaplain Liteky saved the lives of a number of his
comrades and enabled the company to repulse the enemy. Chaplain
Liteky's actions reflect great credit upon himself and were in
keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army. | |
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