James Carroll Gilbert
James Carroll Gilbert
US Army
Chief Sergeant Major
RA 44041639
Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
Born June 1, 1926 to Eller & Bertha Potter Gilbert, Butler, TN
Died March 12, 1969 - He was 42 years old.
Sergeant Major Gilbert was a 22 year veteran of the Army when his tour in Vietnam began on September 15, 1966. Three years later on March 12, 1969 he was killed under hostile conditiions while aboard a helicopter evacuating wounded men from a combat site.
He received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions and the citation reads as follows:
"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross - posthumously - to Sergeant Major James Carroll Gilbert, United States Army, for exaaodxiinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hospile force in the Rpublic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
Sergeant Major Gilbert distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on March 12, 1969 while flying in a command and control helicopter with his brigade commander near Kontum, An ambulance helicopter evacuated a load of casualties from an infantry company in heavy contact with a battalion-size North Vietnamese Army force, but it was so badly damaged by enemy fire that it was unable to return for the remaining wounded.
Realizing that the ground unit would be unable to maneuver until the injured men were extracted, Sergeant Major Gilbet urged the brigade commander to use his aircraft to complete the evacuation. He fired at the communists from tree-top level and directed the fire of the door gunners on two flights to the landing zone. On both attempts, however, the infantrymen were pinned down by hostile fire and unable to reach the ship. Although the helicopter had received a number of hits in the fuselage, Sergeant Major Gilbert dirercted the pilot to fly over the North Vietnamese nearest the pickup site and exposed himself to a hail of bullets by leaning out and firing into the enemy positions.
During an approach to the landing zone, automatic weapons fire wounded the pilot and door gunner, forcing the copilot to wrench the ship into a series of evasive actions. Sergeant Major Gilbert detached his seat harness and braced himself in the doorway to shield the brigade commander and bring the most effective fire against the North Vietnamese.
He succeeded in silencing one emplacement and was engaging another as the helicopter was nearing safety when he was struck and killed by the hostile fusillade. Command Sergeant Major Gilbert's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great cedit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army"
In addition, Sgt. Major Gilbert received the National Defense Service Medal, the Purple Heart, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal and is buried in the Elk Mills Christian Church Cemetery, Elk Mills, TN
US Army
Chief Sergeant Major
RA 44041639
Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
Born June 1, 1926 to Eller & Bertha Potter Gilbert, Butler, TN
Died March 12, 1969 - He was 42 years old.
Sergeant Major Gilbert was a 22 year veteran of the Army when his tour in Vietnam began on September 15, 1966. Three years later on March 12, 1969 he was killed under hostile conditiions while aboard a helicopter evacuating wounded men from a combat site.
He received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions and the citation reads as follows:
"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross - posthumously - to Sergeant Major James Carroll Gilbert, United States Army, for exaaodxiinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hospile force in the Rpublic of Vietnam, while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
Sergeant Major Gilbert distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on March 12, 1969 while flying in a command and control helicopter with his brigade commander near Kontum, An ambulance helicopter evacuated a load of casualties from an infantry company in heavy contact with a battalion-size North Vietnamese Army force, but it was so badly damaged by enemy fire that it was unable to return for the remaining wounded.
Realizing that the ground unit would be unable to maneuver until the injured men were extracted, Sergeant Major Gilbet urged the brigade commander to use his aircraft to complete the evacuation. He fired at the communists from tree-top level and directed the fire of the door gunners on two flights to the landing zone. On both attempts, however, the infantrymen were pinned down by hostile fire and unable to reach the ship. Although the helicopter had received a number of hits in the fuselage, Sergeant Major Gilbert dirercted the pilot to fly over the North Vietnamese nearest the pickup site and exposed himself to a hail of bullets by leaning out and firing into the enemy positions.
During an approach to the landing zone, automatic weapons fire wounded the pilot and door gunner, forcing the copilot to wrench the ship into a series of evasive actions. Sergeant Major Gilbert detached his seat harness and braced himself in the doorway to shield the brigade commander and bring the most effective fire against the North Vietnamese.
He succeeded in silencing one emplacement and was engaging another as the helicopter was nearing safety when he was struck and killed by the hostile fusillade. Command Sergeant Major Gilbert's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great cedit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army"
In addition, Sgt. Major Gilbert received the National Defense Service Medal, the Purple Heart, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal and is buried in the Elk Mills Christian Church Cemetery, Elk Mills, TN
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