Vietnam veteran awarded Bronze Star

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  More than 100 friends and family members gathered here Aug. 26 to attend the presentation of the Bronze Star Medal to a U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant 46 years after his "heroic achievement" in the Republic of Vietnam in 1967.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. David M. Nugent received the Bronze Star with the Combat Distinguishing Device as a result of combat operations against the enemy as a section leader, Mortar Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3d Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment.

Nugent's unit came under attack by a North Vietnamese Army Regiment Sept. 6, 1967.

"Staff Sergeant Nugent was applying a tourniquet to a wounded Marine when an enemy grenade landed near him in his fighting position," said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Russell E. Smith, 25th Marines, regimental commander. "Staff Sergeant Nugent reached for the grenade with his free hand to attempt to throw it out of his fighting position, however, it detonated before he could pick it up, wounding him and three others."

Written in the Bronze Star citation, the sergeant "disregarding his multiple shrapnel wounds, including the loss of two fingers on one hand, Staff Sergeant Nugent called for covering fire from an adjacent fighting position, and then heroically braved withering enemy fire to go and get reinforcements."

Nugent explained that he told the three guys in the fighting position to stay down.

"I got about 10 to 15 feet out of my fighting position and started running and was shot in the leg ... I ran a little bit further, then was shot in the hip," said Nugent.

Nugent's bravery during this exchange is credited with saving others.

"The staff sergeant successfully aided in coordinating reinforcements to prevent the battalion Command Post from being overrun," said Smith.

Due to the 26th Marine Regiment, Nugent's unit being deactivated, Col. Smith was selected to be the presiding officer of the ceremony as a result of him being the commander of the 25th Marines.

"There are only three other valor awards that are higher than this - and only the president awards two of them -- so for me to be able to present this to Staff Sergeant Nugent is an absolute privilege," said Smith. "I can think of no greater privilege in the Marine Corps than to award a young man, or in the case of this ceremony, an older man, a medal for recognition of service."

Nugent is satisfied that the award is presented 46 years later.

"I am grateful that I was able to receive this now so that my children, grandchildren, brothers and their children can see this ceremony," said Nugent. "By seeing it, I hope they have a sense of patriotism so that if called to serve themselves, they answer honorably."

Honorably; just as Staff Sgt. Nugent answered the call many years ago.

"We should always take the time to remember and recognize Marines that have come before us," said Smith. "If it wasn't for Marines like Staff Sergeant Nugent, we wouldn't have the opportunity to be here today."