Donat J. Gouin

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Donat J. Gouin (11174609), Master Sergeant [then Sergeant First Class], U.S. Army, for gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as Chief Engineer with Detachment Number 5, American Forces Television Station, Hue, South Vietnam, American Forces Radio-Television Network, South Vietnam, Military Advisory Command, Republic of Vietnam, on 2 February 1968, during the Communist “Tet Offensive.” At approximately 1900 hours on 2 February 1968, Detachment Number 5 was attacked by a numerically superior enemy force while detachment personnel were positioned inside their quarters at Number 6 Tran Duc Street, Hue. Without hesitancy and with total disregard to his personal safety, Master Sergeant Gouin took a position outside the quarters where he faced part of the attacking enemy force alone. Exposing himself to deadly enemy fire he remained in that position throughout the 16-hour ordeal and single-handedly stopped all enemy attempts to attack and gain entry into said quarters from this otherwise exposed flank. He was continuously subjected to enemy grenade fire which stunned and deafened him, but never deterred his determination to stay in that position. His aggressiveness and initiative of action was instrumental not only in saving the lives of Detachment Number 5 personnel but was a decidingly important factor in deterring the enemy’s attempts to overrun their position. His position was later overrun and he was held as a Prisoner of War until his release on 5 March 1973. Master Sergeant Gouin’s heroic actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the services and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army.