James C. Gilbert - Command Sergeant Major (CSM)
Here are two references I found on the internet, describing CSM Gilbert's actions on March 12, 1969
On 12 March 1969, CSM James C. Gilbert, RA 44041639, as a part of the First Brigade Command Group participated in three attempts to land and extract five seriously wounded members of A Company, 1/8th Infantry. The company had made contact with a withdrawing element of NVA forces moving out of the Polei Kleng area. The first time the aircraft approached the emergency LZ, the craft was waived off because of enemy fire. Forty-five minutes later a second attempt was made and although the UH-1 got into the LZ, enemy fire caused the pilot to lift out because the wounded could not be brought the few yards to the aircraft. CSM Gilbert throughout these attempts was firing his weapon directly into the enemy positions from his door seat on the right side of the craft. On the final attempt the aircraft approached to the left of the LZ and CSM Gilbert unfastened his harness, left his seat, and moved into the doorway to fire directly into the enemy positions, directing the door gunner’s fire and pinning the enemy down while the aircraft moved into the LZ. Once again, the wounded could not be moved because of enemy fire. In this interval the aircraft took repeated hits in the fuselage and the plexi-glass on the pilot’s side of the aircraft. The pilot was cut and blinded by the shattered plexi-glass and the door-gunner on the right side was hit and his M-60 incapacitated. CSM Gilbert kept up his steady fire in spite of the enemy fire and the evasive actions of the co-pilot, allowing the aircraft to gain altitude enough to clear the area. Exposing himself without concern for his own safety, he was firing into the last enemy position in the area when he was hit by a burst from an automatic weapon. It was only by his heroism and complete disregard for his personal safety that the aircraft, crew, and Command Group were saved.
CSM Gilbert’s actions were in keeping with the fighting tradition of the Fourth Infantry Division and are deserving of a Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of his valorous actions.
Hale H. Knight
Colonel, Infantry
Commanding
JAMES C. GILBERT
Rank: Sergeant Major
Born: 1 June 1926
Died: 12 March 1969
County: Carter
Hometown: Butler
Service Branch: Army
Division/Assignment: 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
Theater: Not listed
Conflict: Vietnam
Battles: Not listed
Awards: Distinguished Service Cross, National Defense Service Medal, Purple Heart, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal
Burial/Memorial Location: Elk Mills Christian Church Cemetery, Elk Mills, TN
Location In Memorial: Pillar XXII, Middle Panel
Sponsored by: Contact us to sponsor James C. Gilbert
Sergeant Major James Caroll Gilbert was born on June 1, 1926, and was originally from Butler, Tennessee. He served his country in the Vietnam War in the United States Army, in HHC, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. He was a 22-year veteran of the Army when his tour in Vietnam began on September 15, 1966. On March 12, 1969, he was killed under hostile conditions while aboard a helicopter evacuating wounded men from a combat site; he was 42 years old. SM Gilbert received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at the time of his death. He is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 29W, Line 19.
Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
The President of the United States of American, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (posthumously) to Sergeant Major James Caroll Gilbert, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Sergeant Major Gilbert distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 March 1969 while flying in a command-and-control helicopter with his brigade commander near Kontum. An ambulance helicopter evacuated a load of casualties from an infantry company in heavy contact with a battalion-size North Vietnamese Army force, but it was so badly damaged by enemy fire that it was unable to return for the remaining wounded. Realizing that the ground unit would be unable to maneuver until the injured men were extracted, Sergeant Major Gilbert urged the brigade commander to use his aircraft to complete the evacuation. He fired at the communists from the tree-top level and directed the fire of the door gunners on two flights to the landing zone. On both attempts, however, the infantrymen were pinned down by hostile fire and unable to reach the ship. Although the helicopter had received a number of hits in the fuselage, Sergeant Major Gilbert directed the pilot to fly over the North Vietnamese nearest the pickup site and exposed himself to a hail of bullets by leaning out and firing into the enemy positions. During an approach to the landing zone, automatic weapons fire wounded the pilot and door gunner, forcing the copilot to wrench the ship into a series of evasive actions. Sergeant Major Gilbert detached his seat harness and braced himself in the doorway to shield the brigade commander and bring the most effective fire against the North Vietnamese. He succeeded in silencing one emplacement and was engaging another as the helicopter was nearing safety when he was struck and killed by the hostile fusillade. Command Sergeant Major Gilbert’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
On 12 March 1969, CSM James C. Gilbert, RA 44041639, as a part of the First Brigade Command Group participated in three attempts to land and extract five seriously wounded members of A Company, 1/8th Infantry. The company had made contact with a withdrawing element of NVA forces moving out of the Polei Kleng area. The first time the aircraft approached the emergency LZ, the craft was waived off because of enemy fire. Forty-five minutes later a second attempt was made and although the UH-1 got into the LZ, enemy fire caused the pilot to lift out because the wounded could not be brought the few yards to the aircraft. CSM Gilbert throughout these attempts was firing his weapon directly into the enemy positions from his door seat on the right side of the craft. On the final attempt the aircraft approached to the left of the LZ and CSM Gilbert unfastened his harness, left his seat, and moved into the doorway to fire directly into the enemy positions, directing the door gunner’s fire and pinning the enemy down while the aircraft moved into the LZ. Once again, the wounded could not be moved because of enemy fire. In this interval the aircraft took repeated hits in the fuselage and the plexi-glass on the pilot’s side of the aircraft. The pilot was cut and blinded by the shattered plexi-glass and the door-gunner on the right side was hit and his M-60 incapacitated. CSM Gilbert kept up his steady fire in spite of the enemy fire and the evasive actions of the co-pilot, allowing the aircraft to gain altitude enough to clear the area. Exposing himself without concern for his own safety, he was firing into the last enemy position in the area when he was hit by a burst from an automatic weapon. It was only by his heroism and complete disregard for his personal safety that the aircraft, crew, and Command Group were saved.
CSM Gilbert’s actions were in keeping with the fighting tradition of the Fourth Infantry Division and are deserving of a Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of his valorous actions.
Hale H. Knight
Colonel, Infantry
Commanding
JAMES C. GILBERT
Rank: Sergeant Major
Born: 1 June 1926
Died: 12 March 1969
County: Carter
Hometown: Butler
Service Branch: Army
Division/Assignment: 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
Theater: Not listed
Conflict: Vietnam
Battles: Not listed
Awards: Distinguished Service Cross, National Defense Service Medal, Purple Heart, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal
Burial/Memorial Location: Elk Mills Christian Church Cemetery, Elk Mills, TN
Location In Memorial: Pillar XXII, Middle Panel
Sponsored by: Contact us to sponsor James C. Gilbert
Sergeant Major James Caroll Gilbert was born on June 1, 1926, and was originally from Butler, Tennessee. He served his country in the Vietnam War in the United States Army, in HHC, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. He was a 22-year veteran of the Army when his tour in Vietnam began on September 15, 1966. On March 12, 1969, he was killed under hostile conditions while aboard a helicopter evacuating wounded men from a combat site; he was 42 years old. SM Gilbert received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at the time of his death. He is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 29W, Line 19.
Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
The President of the United States of American, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (posthumously) to Sergeant Major James Caroll Gilbert, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. Sergeant Major Gilbert distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 12 March 1969 while flying in a command-and-control helicopter with his brigade commander near Kontum. An ambulance helicopter evacuated a load of casualties from an infantry company in heavy contact with a battalion-size North Vietnamese Army force, but it was so badly damaged by enemy fire that it was unable to return for the remaining wounded. Realizing that the ground unit would be unable to maneuver until the injured men were extracted, Sergeant Major Gilbert urged the brigade commander to use his aircraft to complete the evacuation. He fired at the communists from the tree-top level and directed the fire of the door gunners on two flights to the landing zone. On both attempts, however, the infantrymen were pinned down by hostile fire and unable to reach the ship. Although the helicopter had received a number of hits in the fuselage, Sergeant Major Gilbert directed the pilot to fly over the North Vietnamese nearest the pickup site and exposed himself to a hail of bullets by leaning out and firing into the enemy positions. During an approach to the landing zone, automatic weapons fire wounded the pilot and door gunner, forcing the copilot to wrench the ship into a series of evasive actions. Sergeant Major Gilbert detached his seat harness and braced himself in the doorway to shield the brigade commander and bring the most effective fire against the North Vietnamese. He succeeded in silencing one emplacement and was engaging another as the helicopter was nearing safety when he was struck and killed by the hostile fusillade. Command Sergeant Major Gilbert’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.