Michael R. Blanchfield

Michael Reinert Blanchfield
Michael Blanchfield
Born	January 4, 1950(1950-01-04) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Died	July 3, 1969(1969-07-03) (aged 19) Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam
Place of burial	All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Specialist Four
Unit	503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor

Michael Reinert Blanchfield (January 4, 1950 – July 3, 1969) 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

Blanchfield joined the Army from Chicago, Illinois, and by July 3, 1969 was serving as a Specialist Four in Company A, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. On that day, in Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, Blanchfield smothered the blast of a hand grenade with his body, sacrificing himself to protect those around him.^[1]

Blanchfield, aged 19 at his death, was buried in All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois.^[2]

Medal of Honor citation

Specialist Blanchfield'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. Sp4c. Blanchfield distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman in Company A on a combat patrol. The patrol surrounded a group of houses to search for suspects. During the search of 1 of the huts, a man suddenly ran out toward a nearby tree line. Sp4c. Blanchfield, who was on guard outside the hut, saw the man, shouted for him to halt, and began firing at him as the man ignored the warning and continued to run. The suspect suddenly threw a grenade toward the hut and its occupants. Although the exploding grenade severely wounded Sp4c. Blanchfield and several others, he regained his feet to continue the pursuit of the enemy. The fleeing enemy threw a second grenade which landed near Sp4c. Blanchfield and several members of his patrol. Instantly realizing the danger, he shouted a warning to his comrades. Sp4c. Blanchfield unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full and fatal impact of the explosion. By his gallant action and self-sacrifice, he was able to save the lives and prevent injury to 4 members of the patrol and several Vietnamese civilians in the immediate area. Sp4c. Blanchfield's extraordinary courage and gallantry at the cost of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.^[1]

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Medal of Honor recipients - Vietnam (A-L)". United States Army Center of Military History. August 3, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html. Retrieved 2009-09-21. 
2. ^ "Michael R. Blanchfield". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7028481. Retrieved 2007-08-01. 

Persondata
Name	Blanchfield, Michael R.
Alternative names
Short description	United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
Date of birth	January 4, 1950
Place of birth	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date of death	July 3, 1969
Place of death	Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam