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endangered by intense fire from a North
Vietnamese Battalion located in a heavily fortified base camp. SSG James Bondsteel quickly organized the men of his platoon into effective combat teams and spearheaded the attack by destroying 4 enemy occupied bunkers. He then raced some 200 meters under heavy enemy fire to reach an adjoining platoon which had begun to falter. After rallying this unit and assisting their wounded, SSG James Bondsteel returned to his own sector with critically needed munitions. Without pausing he moved to the forefront and destroyed 4 enemy occupied bunkers and a machine gun which had threatened his advancing platoon. Although painfully wounded by an enemy grenade, SSG James Bondsteel refused medical attention and continued his assault by neutralizing 2 more enemy bunkers nearby. While searching one of these emplacements SSG James Bondsteel narrowly escaped death when an enemy soldier detonated a grenade at close range. Shortly thereafter, he ran to the aid of a severely wounded officer and struck down an enemy soldier who was threatening the officer's life. SSG James Bondsteel then continued to rally his men and led them through the entrenched enemy until his company was relieved. His exemplary leadership and great personal courage throughout the 4-hour battle ensured the success of his own and nearby units, and resulted in the saving of numerous lives of his fellow soldiers. By individual acts of bravery he destroyed 10 enemy bunkers and accounted for a large toll of the enemy, including 2 key enemy commanders. His extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life was in the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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in 1965 and was posted to Korea where he contributed his time to an orphanage. When his contract in the Marine Corps concluded, he then enlisted the United States Army, serving until his retirement in 1985. In 1969, he was deployed to
Vietnam with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st
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A freak automobile accident killed a
Houston man on the Knik River Bridge Thursday, tragically reenacting another fatal collision at the same place six months ago. James Bondsteel, of Houston, was killed when his compact car was hit by a runaway trailer full of birch logs on the narrow bridge that
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. SSG James
Bondsteel distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant with Company A, near the village of Lang Sau. Company A was directed to assist a friendly unit which was
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from 1970 to 1973. He was also stationed at numerous other postings until his retirement in 1985. In total, he accrued more than 20-years of service. After having achieved the rank of
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to Betty Jean Daisy and her fiancé, Kenneth
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Bondsteel, along with three other Medal of Honor recipients who were from the area, is honored on the Medal of Honor
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in 1987 when a trailer full of logs came unhooked from the transport which was pulling it and slammed into the front of his
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A tree was placed at
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Enge, Marilee (April 11, 1987). "Knik bridge fatality reenacts earlier one".
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242:(July 18, 1947 – April 9, 1987) was an American soldier of the
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as a counselor at the regional office in
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with his wife Elaine and his daughters, Angel and Rachel.
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List of Medal of Honor recipients for the
Vietnam War
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302:and could differentiate between different regional
309:After leaving Vietnam, Bondsteel was stationed in
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282:Infantry Division (Army) where he received the
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556:United States Army Center of Military History
1075:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor
1070:United States Army Medal of Honor recipients
286:for his actions occurring May 24, 1969 near
1060:Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)
552:"Medal of Honor recipients - Vietnam (A-L)"
16:United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
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266:James Leroy Bondsteel was born in
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1055:Recipients of the Soldier's Medal
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97:Fort Richardson National Cemetery
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1035:People from Jonesville, Michigan
558:. August 3, 2009. Archived from
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591:on February 3, 2020
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633:. Retrieved
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76:(1987-04-09)
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877:Henry Mucci
847:Reis Leming
797:Mike Hayden
752:John Galvin
727:Max Cleland
687:Marty Allen
536:October 23,
510:October 23,
248:Vietnam War
219:Bronze Star
195:Vietnam War
43:Nickname(s)
1019:Categories
977:David Wade
817:Bob Hoover
702:Aaron Bank
450:References
363:Byers Lake
341:AMC Spirit
333:Knik River
300:Vietnamese
109:Allegiance
57:1947-07-18
982:Ron Welch
262:Biography
233:Counselor
155:1965–1985
787:Bo Gritz
777:Ed Grady
408:See also
304:dialects
126:Service/
369:in the
365:on the
294:during
345:Alaska
288:An Lộc
207:Awards
128:branch
87:, U.S.
85:Alaska
66:, U.S.
46:Buddha
637:2010
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