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Thread: Hand-to-hand in combat

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  1. #21
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    I don't think that H2H was by any means common for SF, Wilf, only that it happened and probably a little more frequently than in conventional infantry units. I found a few more examples. Here's two that led to the MOH being awarded:

    ".....Sgt. Yntema stood his ground, using his rifle as a club to fight the approximately 15 Viet Cong attempting his capture." - from the Medal of Honor Citation for Gordon D. Yntema

    "M/Sgt. Hosking immediately leaped upon the Viet Cong's back. With utter disregard for his personal safety, he grasped the Viet Cong in a "Bear Hug" forcing the grenade against the enemy soldier's chest. He then wrestled the Viet Cong to the ground and covered the enemy's body with his body until the grenade detonated." - from the Medal of Honor Citation for Charles E. Hosking

    And some quotes from the fall of the SF "A" camp in the A Shau Valley:

    "Fighting hand-to-hand, the defenders had pulled back into the northern corner of the triangular fort." - Time

    "Bitter hand-to-hand fighting continued for almost 3 hours until those friendly forces on the east wall were isolated from the rest of the camp....." - 5th Special Forces Group after action report.

    That's a few that it was easy to find some documentation for. We don't know what happened to some of the MIAs - like "Mad Dog" Shriver, etc. - but it wouldn't be improbale that at least some of them went down in H2H fighting also.
    Last edited by Rifleman; 01-24-2008 at 05:00 AM.
    "Pick up a rifle and you change instantly from a subject to a citizen." - Jeff Cooper

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