Richard J. Flaherty

For gallantry in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 20 April 1968, Second Lieutenant Flaherty distinguished himself while serving as a platoon leader of Company C 1st Battalion (Airborne) 501st infantry. Company C was involved in combat operations in the Quang Dien District, Thua Thion Province, Republic of Vietnam.  At 1140 hours, Second Lieu­tenant Flaherty’s platoon, the lead platoon, was taken under intensive automatic weapons and RFC fire.  Second Lieutenant Flaherty, realizing the seriousness of the contact, immediately maneuvered his platoon to deliver a flanking assault against the enemy positions.  Throughout the battle he repeatedly exposed himself to the hostile fire in order to better direct the suppressive fires of his squads. Lieutenant Flaherty immediately called a 90MM recoilless rifle team to his po­sition after having, spotted an enemy bunker position to his front which was delivering automatic weapons fire on his platoon. Lieutenant Flaherty then personally directed and assisted the 90MM recoilless rif­le team in an assault of the enemy bunker, braving the intense hail of hostile fire. Under Lieutenant Flaherty’s astute direction and leader­ship, the enemy bunker was swiftly destroyed, enabling his platoon to advance and continue its devastating attack against the enemy.  Second Lieutenant Flaherty’s extraordinary heroism while engaged in close com­bat with a well dug-in enemy force was in keeping with the highest tra­ditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.  By direction of the President of the United States under the provisions of the Act of Congress established 9 July 1918.