COOL DUDES I ADMIRE: SPECIALIST 5th CLASS CLARENCE SASSER

On January 10th, 1968 Specialist 5th Class Clarence Sasser served as a medical aidman with the 3rd Battalion, Company A during a reconnaissance operation. They were making an air assault when they were suddenly taken under heavy small arms and rocket fire from various fortified positions on three sides of the landing zone. Very quickly, 30 casualties were sustained. 

Clarence Sasser sprung into action, and ran across an open rice field through a hail of gunfire to assist the wounded men. After helping some to safety, Sasser was wounded in the left shoulder from fragments of an exploded rocket. Refusing medical attention, he ran through rocket and gunfire to aid casualties from the initial attack— after providing urgent treatment to downed men, he continued to search from more wounded. 

Additional injuries resulted in an immobilization of Sassers legs— he dragged himself through the mud to another wounded man about 300 feet from him. In agonizing pain and losing a lot of blood, Clarence Sasser reached the man, treated him, then lead the way for other men to crawl to safety. He attended their wounds for five hours until they were evacuated. 

Specialist 5th Class Clarence Sasser received the medal of honor from President Nixon in 1969 for his actions in south vietnam. Initially a private first class during the attack, Sasser was promoted to Specialist 5 when he received the medal of honor.