James H. Monroe

James Howard Monroe (October 17, 1944 – February 16, 1967) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration of honor the Medal of Honor, for his actions as a combat medic in the Vietnam War.

James H. Monroe
Private First Class James Monroe
Born(1944-10-17)October 17, 1944
Aurora, Illinois
DiedFebruary 16, 1967(1967-02-16) (aged 22)
Bồng Sơn, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Place of burial
Wheaton Cemetery, Wheaton, Illinois
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1966–1967
RankPrivate First Class
Unit1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Battles/warsVietnam War †
AwardsMedal of Honor

Biography

Monroe was born in Aurora, Illinois, and attended Wheaton Central High School in nearby Wheaton, Illinois. He participated in football and the biology club before graduating in 1962.[1] He then studied political science at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, but left before graduating and was drafted into the U.S. Army in June 1966.[2]

Monroe was sent to Vietnam in November 1966[1] as a private first class serving as a medic[2] in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). On February 16, 1967, in Bồng Sơn, Hoài Nhơn District, South Vietnam, Monroe crossed through enemy fire to treat wounded soldiers and smothered the blast of a grenade with his body, sacrificing his own life to protect those around him.[3]

Monroe, age 22 at his death, was buried at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, Illinois.[4] His family was formally presented with his Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the Pentagon on what would have been his twenty-fourth birthday, October 17, 1968. Monroe Middle School in Wheaton is named in his honor, and his medal is on display at the school.[1]

A medical clinic on Fort Hood is named in his honor. So is James Howard Monroe middle school located in Wheaton Illinois. (his hometown)

Medal of Honor citation

Private First Class Monroe's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. His platoon was deployed in a night ambush when the position was suddenly subjected to an intense and accurate grenade attack, and 1 foxhole was hit immediately. Responding without hesitation to the calls for help from the wounded men Pfc. Monroe moved forward through heavy small-arms fire to the foxhole but found that all of the men had expired. He turned immediately and crawled back through the deadly hail of fire toward other calls for aid. He moved to the platoon sergeant's position where he found the radio operator bleeding profusely from fragmentation and bullet wounds. Ignoring the continuing enemy attack, Pfc. Monroe began treating the wounded man when he saw a live grenade fall directly in front of the position. He shouted a warning to all those nearby, pushed the wounded radio operator and the platoon sergeant to one side, and lunged forward to smother the grenade's blast with his body. Through his valorous actions, performed in a flash of inspired selflessness, Pfc. Monroe saved the lives of 2 of his comrades and prevented the probable injury of several others. His gallantry and intrepidity were in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army, and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.[3]

See also

References
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
  1. Hanley, Matt (January 25, 2009). "Aurora-born soldier's story highlighted in magazine of national VFW". The Beacon News. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  2. Rutherford, John (October 30, 2008). "Fallen but not forgotten: Pfc. James Monroe". MSNBC. Archived from the original on December 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  3. "Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients (M-Z)". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. January 27, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  4. "Pvt James Howard Monroe". Find A Grave. July 4, 2003. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
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