b. 29/01/1947 Norwalk, Connecticut. d. 14/05/1969 Quang Tri Province, Vietnam.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 14/05/1969 Quang Tri Province, Vietnam.
Daniel J Shea MOH
Daniel was the son of Raymond Paul and Olive Stow Shea. His father died shortly before his 3rd birthday, and his mother remarried when he was 16 to Alex Salancy. Daniel had a brother called Dennis and a sister called Paula.
Served as a Private First Class, Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, U.S. Army. In the Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, on May 14, 1969 PFC Shea was serving as a medical aid man for his platoon when a large enemy force in ambush positions opened fire with mortars, grenades and automatic weapons. Under a heavy crossfire, the platoon withdrew to a defensive perimeter. PFC Shea, seeing that a number of his comrades had fallen in the initial fire, dashed from the defensive position to assist the wounded. With disregard for his safety and braving the hostile fire, PFC Shea made 4 trips to tend wounded soldiers and to carry them to the safety of his platoon’s position. Seeing a fifth wounded comrade in front of one of the enemy points, PFC Shea ran to his assistance. As he reached the wounded man, PFC Shea was grievously wounded. PFC Shea tended his wounded comrade and began to move him back to the safety of his own defensive perimeter. As he neared his platoon’s position, PFC Shea was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy fire. His heroic actions saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers.
His Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, campaign, and service medals were awarded posthumously and accredited to the state of Connecticut. His family received the Medal from President Richard M. Nixon at the White House on February 16, 1971. His name is inscribed on the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 24W, Line 12.
MOH CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Shea, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, distinguished himself while serving as a medical aidman with Company C, 3d Battalion, during a combat patrol mission. As the lead platoon of the company was crossing a rice paddy, a large enemy force in ambush positions opened fire with mortars, grenades, and automatic weapons. Under heavy crossfire from three sides, the platoon withdrew to a small island in the paddy to establish a defensive perimeter. Pfc. Shea, seeing that a number of his comrades had fallen in the initial hail of fire, dashed from the defensive position to assist the wounded. With complete disregard for his safety and braving the intense hostile fire sweeping the open rice paddy, Pfc. Shea made four trips to tend wounded soldiers and to carry them to the safety of the platoon position. Seeing a fifth wounded comrade directly in front of one of the enemy strong points, Pfc. Shea ran to his assistance. As he reached the wounded man, Pfc. Shea was grievously wounded. Disregarding his welfare, Pfc. Shea tended his wounded comrade and began to move him back to the safety of the defensive perimeter. As he neared the platoon position, Pfc. Shea was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy fire. By his heroic actions Pfc. Shea saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers. Pfc. Shea’s gallantry in action at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
BURIAL LOCATION: ST JOHN’S CEMETERY, NORWALK, CONNECTICUT.
SECTION A, LOT 113, GRAVE 2.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY, MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA.
