Stephen S. Warner

Gallantry in action: First Lieutenant Warner distinguished himself gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 16 March 1969, while serving as a forward observer in the vicinity of Ben Het special forces camp with the 221st Mobile Strike Force Company, 2d Battalion, Detachment B-20, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. When Lieutenant Warner’s patrol approached within one hundred meters of a fortified enemy position, they came under intense machine gun and automatic weapons fire. Lieutenant Warner and his element maneuvered to within twenty-five feet of the enemy bunker containing two North Vietnamese soldiers. This one bunker was successfully pinning down the forward element. Lieutenant Warner, with complete disregard for his own safety, ran to the bunker and threw hand grenades into it, only to be repelled by grenades thrown by the enemy. Lieutenant Warner and a small element finally destroyed the bunker. He then led the attack up the hill while continuing to expose himself to automatic weapons fire. Ignoring his own safety, he continued to move across the battlefield, crawling on top of bunkers and throwing grenades at the enemy within. Lieutenant Warner’s personally bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of e military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.