523:. Suddenly, the Marines' position came under a heavy volume of mortar and artillery fire, followed by an aggressive enemy ground assault. In the ensuing engagement, the hostile forces penetrated the perimeter and brought a heavy concentration of small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket fire to bear on the Battalion Command Post. Although his position in the Fire Support Coordination Center was dangerously exposed to enemy fire and he was wounded when an enemy hand grenade exploded near his position, Sergeant Foster resolutely continued to direct accurate mortar and artillery fire on the advancing North Vietnamese troops. As the attack continued, a hand grenade landed in the midst of Sergeant Foster and his five companions. Realizing the danger, he shouted a warning, threw his armored vest over the grenade, and unhesitatingly placed his own body over the armored vest. When the grenade exploded, Sergeant Foster absorbed the entire blast with his own body and was mortally wounded. His heroic actions undoubtedly saved his comrades from further injury or possible death. Sergeant Foster's courage, extraordinary heroism, and unfaltering devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an
Artillery Liaison Operations Chief with the Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division, near Con Thien in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of
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256:. He attended elementary and high schools there and was a member of the varsity football and track teams. After graduating from high school in 1957, Foster went to work as an automobile mechanic helper.
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After completion of combat training in March 1962, Foster joined the 5th 105 mm
Howitzer Battery (later redesignated Headquarters Battery,
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October 14, 1967, the Second
Battalion was occupying a defensive position which protected a bridge on the road leading from Con Thien to
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at Wash Out Bridge on
October 14, 1967, Sgt Foster was mortally wounded when he threw himself upon a
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The Medal of Honor was presented to his family by
President Richard M. Nixon, in a ceremony at the
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Called to active duty in
November 1966, Sgt Foster embarked for the
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in San
Francisco. While on inactive duty, Foster was promoted to
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United States Marine Corps personnel killed in the
Vietnam War
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takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
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Sergeant Paul H. Foster is buried in Grave 4764, Section V,
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List of Medal of Honor recipients for the
Vietnam War
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Navy and Marine Corps
Training Center Treasure Island
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United States Marine Corps non-commissioned officers
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United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
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for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
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Foster's gravestone at Golden Gate National Cemetery
662:"SGT Paul Hellstrom Foster, Panel 27E Line 108, on
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527:. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
572:United States Army Center of Military History
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737:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor
271:with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion at
367:Foster's medals and decorations include:
228:(April 17, 1939 โ October 14, 1967) was a
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742:Burials at Golden Gate National Cemetery
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341:to save the lives of his five comrades.
34:Paul H. Foster, Medal of Honor recipient
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252:Foster was born on April 17, 1939, in
317:, and in December, joined Company H,
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465:Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal
273:Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
618:""Sergeant Paul H. Foster, USMR",
608:from websites or documents of the
511:UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
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732:People from San Mateo, California
620:Who's Who in Marine Corps History
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604: This article incorporates
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460:Navy Presidential Unit Citation
500:President of the United States
472:National Defense Service Medal
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353:Golden Gate National Cemetery
84:Golden Gate National Cemetery
564:"Medal of Honor recipients"
525:United States Naval Service
267:, California, and received
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610:United States Marine Corps
319:3rd Battalion 12th Marines
119:United States Marine Corps
666:. Accessed April 8, 2006"
642:"Medal of Honor citation"
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327:2nd Battalion 4th Marines
157:2nd Battalion 4th Marines
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568:Medal of Honor citations
263:on November 4, 1961, in
99:United States of America
509:SERGEANT PAUL H. FOSTER
494:Medal of Honor citation
259:Foster enlisted in the
747:Deaths by hand grenade
606:public domain material
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486:Vietnam Campaign Medal
306:in April 1964, and to
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477:Vietnam Service Medal
357:San Bruno, California
310:on February 1, 1966.
254:San Mateo, California
226:Paul Hellstrom Foster
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125:Years of service
88:San Bruno, California
53:San Mateo, California
22:Paul Hellstrom Foster
331:Operation Kingfisher
261:Marine Corps Reserve
230:United States Marine
178:Operation Kingfisher
502:in the name of The
323:3rd Marine Division
315:Republic of Vietnam
302:in August 1963; to
296:private first class
288:4th Marine Division
161:3rd Marine Division
348:on June 20, 1969.
298:in March 1963, to
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183:Siege of Con Thien
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363:Awards and honors
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533:RICHARD NIXON
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669:. Retrieved
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455:Purple Heart
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210:Purple Heart
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167:Battles/wars
64:(1967-10-14)
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717:1967 deaths
712:1939 births
346:White House
172:Vietnam War
706:Categories
671:October 4,
652:October 4,
632:October 4,
550:References
95:Allegiance
46:1939-04-17
696:Biography
335:Con Thien
248:Biography
128:1961โ1967
69:Con Thien
538:See also
504:Congress
308:Sergeant
304:Corporal
142:Sergeant
105:Service/
622:, USMC"
582:July 1,
242:Vietnam
189:†
682:Portal
521:Cam Lแป
207:(1967)
201:Awards
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107:branch
479:w/ 1
333:near
673:2010
654:2010
634:2010
584:2010
531:/S/
498:The
232:who
148:Unit
133:Rank
59:Died
40:Born
329:in
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
