Marvin Glenn Shields

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Marvin Glenn Shields
December 30, 1939(1939-12-30) – June 10, 1965 (aged 25)
Marvin Glenn Shields, Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth	Port Townsend, Washington
Place of death	KIA, Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1962–1965
Rank	Construction Mechanic Third Class
Unit	Mobile Construction Battalion 11 Seabee Team 1104
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Marvin Glenn Shields,(30 December 1939–10 June 1965) was the first, and remains the only, Seabee to receive the Medal of Honor. He was also the first United States Navy sailor to receive the Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Medal of Honor citation 3 Namesake 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References

[edit] Biography

Marvin G. Shields born 30 December 1939 in Port Townsend, Washington, enlisted in the Navy 8 January 1962.Shields graduated from high school in 1958 and had moved to Hyder, Alaska, where he worked the goldmines. After construction training, he served with Mobile Construction Battalion 11, and was with Seabee Team 1104 at Dong Xoai, South Vietnam, 10 June 1965 when a Vietcong regiment attacked. After being wounded, Shields continued to carry up ammunition to the firing line, and after receiving a second wound, insisted on helping a more severely wounded soldier to safety. Refusing to consider himself and now greatly weakened, he again exposed himself to enemy fire, volunteering to help knock out a machine gun which had the entire camp pinned down. Shields died from wounds he received after he and others “succeeded in destroying the enemy machine gun emplacement, thus undoubtedly saving the lives of many of their fellow servicemen in the compound.” He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor 13 September 1966.^[1] He is buried at Gardiner Cemetery, Gardiner, Washington.^[2] His name is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 02E, Row 007.^[3]

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Construction Mechanic Third Class, Marvin G. Shields, United States Navy, (posthumous), Construction Mechanic Third Class, U.S. Navy, Seabee Team 1104., Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, 10 June 1965.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with United States Navy Seabee Team 1104 at Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, on 10 June 1965. Although wounded when the compound of Detachment A-342, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, came under intense fire from an estimated reinforced Viet Cong regiment employing machine gun, heavy weapons and small arms, Shields continued to resupply his fellow Americans with needed ammunition and to return the enemy fire for a period of approximately three hours, at which time the Viet Cong launched a massive attack at close range with flame throwers, hand grenades and small-arms fire. Wounded a second time during this attack, Shields nevertheless assisted in carrying a more critically wounded man to safety, and then resumed firing at the enemy for four more hours. When the Commander asked for a volunteer to accompany him in an attempt to knock out an enemy machine gun emplacement which was endangering the lives of all personnel in the compound because of the accuracy of its fire, Shields unhesitatingly volunteered for this extremely hazardous mission. Proceeding toward their objective with a 3.5- inch rocket launcher, they succeeded in destroying the enemy machine gun emplacement, thus undoubtedly saving the lives of many of their fellow servicemen in the compound. Shields was mortally wounded by hostile fire while returning to his defensive position. His heroic initiative and great personal valor in the face of intense enemy fire sustain and enhance the finest tradition of the United States Naval Service.^[4]

[edit] Namesake

The USS Marvin Shields (FF-1066) was named in his honor. The USS Marvin Shields (FF-1066) was a Knox class frigate of the United States Navy. The ship was constructed by Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington, laid down April 12, 1968, launched October 23, 1969 and delivered April 1, 1971. Marvin Shields was commissioned April 10, 1971, decommissioned July 2, 1992 and struck 11 January 1995. She was subsequently sold to the Mexican Navy and renamed ARM Abasolo.

[edit] See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients: Vietnam War
• USS Marvin Shields (FF-1066)

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

This article includes information collected from the Naval Historical Center, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.