Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Vietnam War Vets Get Presidential Unit Citation For Heroic 1970 Rescue

Windsor Genova - AHN News Writer

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday awarded the long overdue Presidential Unit Citation to a group of Vietnam War soldiers who rescued 100 fellow troops surrounded by enemy forces near Cambodia in 1970.

Obama gave the highest honor to a military unit to 86 members of Troop A, 1st Squadron of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.

Obama also thanked the unit's then leader, Army Capt. John Poindexter, for working seven years to obtain the citation.

On March 26, 1970, 100 U.S. troops from the Charlie Company of the 1st Cavalry Division came face to face with 400 North Vietnamese soldiers upon entering enemy territory. With the threat of death looming, Poindexter's 120-member company volunteered to rescue the trapped American infantrymen.

More than 70 U.S. soldiers were killed in the battle that saved the trapped company.

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