Milton L. Olive, III
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Milton Lee Olive, III | |
|---|---|
| November 7, 1946 – October 22, 1965 (aged 18) | |
  Private First Class Milton L. Olive |
|
| Place of birth | Chicago, Illinois |
| Place of death | Phu Cuong, South Vietnam |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Milton Lee Olive, III, (7 November 1946 – 22 October 1965) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War. Olive sacrificed his life to save others by smothering a live grenade. He was the first African American Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War.[1]
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[edit] Biography
Milton Olive joined the Army from his birth city of Chicago, and by 1965 was serving as a Private First Class in Company B of the 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. On 22 October 1965, while moving through the jungle with four fellow soldiers in Phu Cuong, Olive sacrificed his life by smothering an enemy-thrown grenade with his body. For his actions on that day, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
At a ceremony on the steps of the White House, on 21 April 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Milton Olive's Medal of Honor to his father and stepmother. Also in attendance were two of the four men whose lives were saved by Olive's actions.
Milton Olive's body was returned to the United States and buried in West Grove Cemetery, Holmes County, Mississippi. In 1999, the city of Chicago recognized Olive by naming a park on Lake Michigan in his honor.[1] Olive-Harvey College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago is named after him and fellow Medal of Honor recipient Carmel B. Harvey.
Milton L. Olive Middle School in Wyandanch,Long Island, NY is named in his honor.
[edit] Medal of Honor citation
Private First Class Olive's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
- For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Olive was a member of the 3d Platoon of Company B, as it moved through the jungle to find the Viet Cong operating in the area. Although the platoon was subjected to a heavy volume of enemy gunfire and pinned down temporarily, it retaliated by assaulting the Viet Cong positions, causing the enemy to flee. As the platoon pursued the insurgents, Pfc. Olive and 4 other soldiers were moving through the jungle together with a grenade was thrown into their midst. Pfc. Olive saw the grenade, and then saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the sacrifice of his by grabbing the grenade in his hand and falling on it to absorb the blast with his body. Through his bravery, unhesitating actions, and complete disregard for his safety, he prevented additional loss of life or injury to the members of his platoon. Pfc. Olive's extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
[edit] See also
- List of African American Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of Medal of Honor recipients: Vietnam War
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Remarks Upon Presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumous) to the Father of Milton L. Olive III. The American Presidency Project. University of California, Santa Barbara. Retrieved on 2006-11-14.
- Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipients (M-Z). Medal of Honor Citations. U.S. Army Center of Military History (2003-10-03). Retrieved on 2006-11-14.
- Holbrook Mohr (Associated Press). "Ceremony will honor Medal of Honor recipient", Marine Corps Times, March 31, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-31.
