Milton L. Olive, III

Milton L. Olive, III
Milton Lee Olive, III
Private First Class Milton L. Olive   Cmoh army.jpg
Private First Class Milton L. Olive, III; Medal of Honor
Born November 7, 1946(1946-11-07)
Chicago, Illinois
Died October 22, 1965(1965-10-22) (aged 18)
Phu Cuong, South Vietnam
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1964 - 1965
Rank Private First Class
Unit Company B, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Medal of Honor

Milton Lee Olive, III (November 7, 1946 – October 22, 1965) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War. At the age of 18, Olive sacrificed his life to save others by smothering a live grenade. He was the first African American Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War.[1]

Contents

Biography

Olive joined the Army from his birth city of Chicago, Illinois in 1964, and by 1965 was serving as a Private First Class in Company B of the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. On October 22, 1965, while moving through the jungle with four fellow soldiers in Phu Cuong, Olive sacrificed his life by smothering an enemy-thrown grenade with his body. For his actions on that day, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

At a ceremony on the steps of the White House, on April 21, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Olive's Medal of Honor to his father and stepmother. Also in attendance were two of the four men whose lives were saved by Olive's actions.

Olive's body was returned to the United States and buried in West Grove Cemetery, Holmes County, Mississippi.

Tributes

In 1979, the city of Chicago recognized Olive by naming Olive Park on Lake Michigan in his honor.[1] Olive-Harvey College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, is named after both Olive and fellow Medal of Honor recipient Carmel B. Harvey. The Milton L. Olive Middle School in Wyandanch, Long Island, New York, is also named in his honor.

Medal of Honor citation

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

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Olive was a member of the 3d Platoon of Company B, as it moved through the jungle to find the Viet Cong operating in the area. Although the platoon was subjected to a heavy volume of enemy gunfire and pinned down temporarily, it retaliated by assaulting the Viet Cong positions, causing the enemy to flee. As the platoon pursued the insurgents, Pfc. Olive and 4 other soldiers were moving through the jungle together when a grenade was thrown into their midst. Pfc. Olive saw the grenade, and then saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the sacrifice of his own by grabbing the grenade in his hand and falling on it to absorb the blast with his body. Through his bravery, unhesitating actions, and complete disregard for his safety, he prevented additional loss of life or injury to the members of his platoon. Pfc. Olive's extraordinary heroism, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.[2]

See also

Notes

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Olive (disambiguation) — Olive (name) can be a shorterned form of the names Olivia or Oliver. Olive can also refer to: Contents 1 Places 2 People 2.1 Fi …   Wikipedia

  • Olive–Harvey College — Olive Harvey College is a community college on Chicago s far south side at 10001 S Woodlawn Ave, and a part of the City Colleges of Chicago. Its name arises from two Medal of Honor recipients of the Vietnam era, Milton Olive, III, and Carmel B.… …   Wikipedia

  • Olive-Harvey College — is a community college on Chicago s far south side at 10001 S Woodlawn Ave, and a part of the City Colleges of Chicago. Its name arises from two Medal of Honor winners of the Vietnam era, Milton Olive, III, and Carmel B. Harvey. Besides its main… …   Wikipedia

  • Olive et Tom — Cet article concerne l anime. Pour le manga, voir : Captain Tsubasa. Olive et Tom キャプテン翼 (Captain Tsubasa) Type Shōnen Thèmes …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Carmel Bernon Harvey, Jr. — Infobox Military Person name=Carmel Bernon Harvey, Jr. born= Birth date|1946|10|6 died= Death date and age|1967|6|21|1946|10|6 placeofbirth=Montgomery, West Virginia placeofdeath=Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam placeofburial= caption=Army …   Wikipedia

  • 503rd Infantry Regiment (United States) — Infobox Military Unit unit name=503d Infantry Regiment caption=503d Infantry distinctive insignia countryUSA allegiance= Federal type=Regiment branch=Regular Army dates=August 21, 1941 December 24, 1945; February 1951 1984; December 19, 1986… …   Wikipedia

  • 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team (United States) — Infobox Military Unit unit name=173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team caption=173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team shoulder sleeve insignia dates=1917 08 05 ndash; January 1919 1921 06 24 ndash; 1945 09 24 1947 05 12 ndash; 1951 12 01 1963 03 12… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Medal of Honor recipients — v · …   Wikipedia

  • November 1946 — January February March April – May June July August September November November December The following events occurred in November 1946: Contents 1 November 1, 1946 (Friday) 2 November 2, 1946 (Saturday) …   Wikipedia

  • literature — /lit euhr euh cheuhr, choor , li treuh /, n. 1. writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays. 2.… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”