Drew Dennis Dix
Drew Dennis Dix | |
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Operation Power Pack Vietnam War | |
Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart Cross of Gallantry (Vietnam) |
Drew Dennis Dix (born December 14, 1944) is a decorated
Early life
Dix was born in West Point, New York, and raised in Pueblo, Colorado.
Military career
Dix enlisted in the
By 1968, Dix had reached the rank of
For these actions, Dix was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson during a ceremony at the White House on January 19, 1969.[1] He is one of four Medal of Honor recipients from Pueblo, Colorado. In 1993, the Pueblo City Council adopted the tagline "Home of Heroes" for the city due to the fact that Pueblo can claim more recipients of the Medal per capita than any other city in the United States. On July 1, 1993, the Congressional Record recognized Pueblo as the "Home of Heroes." The other men were William J. Crawford, Raymond G. Murphy, and Carl L. Sitter.[3]
Dix later received a
Later life
After leaving the army, Dix worked as a security consultant, ran an air service in Alaska, and served as Alaska's deputy commissioner for homeland security.
In 2000, Dix wrote a memoir about the fight for Chau Phu entitled The Rescue of River City (
In 2010, Dix co-founded the Center for American Values in Pueblo, Colorado.[5]
Awards and decorations
Medal of Honor
The President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant Drew Dennis Dix United States Army for service as set forth in the following citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. SSG. Dix distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving as a unit adviser. Two heavily armed Viet Cong battalions attacked the Province capital city of Chau Phu resulting in the complete breakdown and fragmentation of the defenses of the city. SSG. Dix, with a patrol of Vietnamese soldiers, was recalled to assist in the defense of Chau Phu. Learning that a nurse was trapped in a house near the center of the city, SSG. Dix organized a relief force, successfully rescued the nurse, and returned her to the safety of the Tactical Operations Center. Being informed of other trapped civilians within the city, SSG. Dix voluntarily led another force to rescue eight civilian employees located in a building which was under heavy mortar and small-arms fire. SSG. Dix then returned to the center of the city. Upon approaching a building, he was subjected to intense automatic rifle and machinegun fire from an unknown number of Viet Cong. He personally assaulted the building, killing six Viet Cong, and rescuing two Filipinos. The following day SSG. Dix, still on his own volition, assembled a 20-man force and though under intense enemy fire cleared the Viet Cong out of the hotel, theater, and other adjacent buildings within the city. During this portion of the attack, Army Republic of Vietnam soldiers inspired by the heroism and success of SSG. Dix, rallied and commenced firing upon the Viet Cong. SSG. Dix captured 20 prisoners, including a high ranking Viet Cong official. He then attacked enemy troops who had entered the residence of the Deputy Province Chief and was successful in rescuing the official's wife and children. SSG. Dix's personal heroic actions resulted in 14 confirmed Viet Cong killed in action and possibly 25 more, the capture of 20 prisoners, 15 weapons, and the rescue of the 14 United States and free world civilians. The heroism of SSG. Dix was in the highest tradition and reflects great credit upon the U.S. Army.[2]
Commendations
Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st row | Medal of Honor | Bronze Star | ||||||||||
2nd row | Purple Heart | Air Medal | Army Good Conduct Medal
awarded prior to receiving commission | |||||||||
3rd row | National Defense Service Medal | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | campaign stars
| |||||||||
4th row | Army Service Ribbon | Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with palm |
Vietnam Campaign Medal | |||||||||
Badges | Special Forces Tab | Senior Parachutist Badge 5th SFG (A) background trimming |
Publications
- Dix, Drew. The Rescue of River City. Fairbanks, Alaska: Drew Dix Pub, 2000. ISBN 0970309600
See also
References
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- ^ a b c d e f Johnson, Bill (2008-09-13). "Profiles in honor". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ a b "Medal of Honor recipients – Vietnam (A–L)". United States Army Center of Military History. 2007-07-16. Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ Roper, Peter (August 30, 2010). "State Fair salutes soldiers and airmen". The Pueblo Chieftain. Pueblo, Colorado. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010.
- Public Broadcasting Service. 2003. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ "About Us". Center for American Values. 22 July 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
External links
- Official website
- The Center for American Values
- "Medal of Honor Recipient Drew Dix Interview". Pritzker Military Museum & Library. June 16, 2004. Retrieved August 20, 2014.