BUCHA, PAUL WILLIAM Medal
of Honor
Rank
and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company D, 3d Battalion. 187th Infantry,
3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Phuoc Vinh, Binh
Duong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 16-19 March 1968. Entered service at.,
U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. Born:
I August 1943, Washington, D.C. Citation, For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of
duty.
Capt.
Bucha distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer, Company D, on
a reconnaissance-in force mission against enemy forces near Phuoc Vinh, The
company was inserted by helicopter into the suspected enemy stronghold to
locate and destroy the enemy, During this period Capt. Bucha aggressively and
courageously led his men in the destruction of enemy fortifications and base
areas and eliminated scattered resistance impeding the advance of the company.
On 18 March while advancing to contact, the lead elements of the company became
engaged by the heavy automatic weapon, heavy machinegun, rocket propelled
grenade, claymore mine and small-arms fire of an estimated battalion-size
force. Capt. Bucha, with complete disregard for his safety, moved to the
threatened area to direct the defense and ordered reinforcements to the aid of
the lead element. Seeing that his men were pinned down by heavy machinegun fire
from a concealed bunker located some 40 meters to the front of the positions,
Capt. Bucha crawled through the hail of fire to singlehandedly destroy the
bunker with grenades.
During
this heroic action Capt. Bucha received a painful shrapnel wound. Returning to
the perimeter, he observed that his unit could not hold its positions and repel
the human wave assaults launched by the determined enemy. Capt. Bucha ordered
the withdrawal of the unit elements and covered the withdrawal to positions of
a company perimeter from which he could direct fire upon the charging enemy.
When friendly element retrieving casualties
was ambushed and cut off from the perimeter, Capt. Bucha ordered them to feign
death and he directed artillery fire around them. During the night Capt. Bucha
moved throughout the position, distributing ammunition, providing encouragement
and insuring the integrity of the defense. He directed artillery, gunship and
Air Force gunship fire on the enemy strong points and attacking forces, marking
the positions with smokegrenades. Using flashlights in complete view of enemy
snipers, he directed the medical evacuation of 3 air-ambulance loads of
seriously wounded personnel and the helicopter supply of his company. At
daybreak Capt. Bucha led a rescue party to recover the dead and wounded members
of the ambushed element.
During
the period of intensive combat, Capt. Bucha, by his extraordinary heroism,
inspirational example, outstanding leadership and professional competence, led
his company in the decimation of a superior enemy force which left 156 dead on
the battlefield. His bravery and gallantry at the risk of his life are in the
highest traditions of the military service, Capt. Bucha has reflected great
credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
The
original name of Capt. Bucha was Buha. His people came from Slavonia. He is now
the President of the Medal of Honor
Society in America.
Adam
S. Eterovich