Frankie Zoly Molnar

Infobox Military Person
name=Frankie Zoly Molnar
born= birth date|1943|2|14
died= Death date and age|1967|5|20|1943|2|14
placeofbirth=Logan, West Virginia
placeofdeath= Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam
placeofburial= Highland Memory Gardens, Godby Heights, West Virginia


caption=Army Medal of Honor
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=United States Army
serviceyears=
rank=Staff Sergeant
commands=
unit=8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
battles=Vietnam War
awards=Medal of Honor Purple Heart
relations=
laterwork=

Frankie Zoly Molnar (February 14, 1943 – May 20, 1967) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Biography

Molnar joined the Army from Fresno, California, and by May 20, 1967 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. During an enemy assault on that day, in Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, Molnar organized his squad's defense and, when a grenade landed among them, smothered the blast with his body at the expense of his life.

Molnar, aged 24 at his death, was buried in Highland Memory Gardens, Godby Heights, West Virginia.

Medal of Honor citation

Staff Sergeant Molnar's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Molnar distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader with Company B, during combat operations. Shortly after the battalion's defensive perimeter was established, it was hit by intense mortar fire as the prelude to a massive enemy night attack. S/Sgt. Molnar immediately left his sheltered location to insure the readiness of his squad to meet the attack. As he crawled through the position, he discovered a group of enemy soldiers closing in on his squad area. His accurate rifle fire killed 5 of the enemy and forced the remainder to flee. When the mortar fire stopped, the enemy attacked in a human wave supported by grenades, rockets, automatic weapons, and small-arms fire. After assisting to repel the first enemy assault, S/Sgt. Molnar found that his squad's ammunition and grenade supply was nearly expended. Again leaving the relative safety of his position, he crawled through intense enemy fire to secure additional ammunition and distribute it to his squad. He rejoined his men to beat back the renewed enemy onslaught, and he moved about his area providing medical aid and assisting in the evacuation of the wounded. With the help of several men, he was preparing to move a severely wounded soldier when an enemy hand grenade was thrown into the group. The first to see the grenade, S/Sgt. Molnar threw himself on it and absorbed the deadly blast to save his comrades. His demonstrated selflessness and inspirational leadership on the battlefield were a major factor in the successful defense of the American position and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Army. S/Sgt. Molnar's actions reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

References

*findagrave|7190156 Retrieved on 2007-12-20
*cite web
publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History
title = Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipients (M-Z)
work = Medal of Honor Citations
date = October 3, 2003
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-m-z.html
accessdate = 2007-07-09

Persondata
NAME= Molnar, Frankie Zoly
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= February 14, 1943
PLACE OF BIRTH= Logan, West Virginia
DATE OF DEATH= May 20, 1967
PLACE OF DEATH= Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam