Thomas L. Dobrinska
Second Lieutenant Infantry
Company B, 2nd Battalion,
12th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
9 February 1968
Republic of Vietnam
For extraordinary heroism
in connection with military operations involving conflict
with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam:
Second Lieutenant
Dobrinska distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous
actions on 9 February 1968 as a platoon leader of an
airmobile infantry company on a combat mission near Than Bon
Pho. His unit had successfully obtained two objectives of
it three goals assault, and Lieutenant Dobrinska, realizing
the importance of the momentum of his platoon's attack,
continued charging the hostile emplacements. His platoon
sustained several casualties and he repeatedly exposed
himself to the enemy fire as he personally carried the
casualties to safety. He then returned to his unit to
continue leading the attack against the well entrenched
insurgents. As his platoon was temporarily driven back, he
pulled two more wounded soldiers to a covered position.
Twice more he led his men forward, inflicting heavy
casualties on the enemy forces, only to be forced to
withdraw each time by the intensity of the hostile fire. Disregarding his personal safety, Lieutenant Dobrinska then
single-handedly charged the enemy automatic weapons position
blocking his unit's advance and succeeded in destroying it.
During this assault, he was mortally wounded, but his
courageous actions enabled his unit to seize the final
objective and permitted the quick evacuation of the injured
personnel. Second Lieutenant Dobrinska's extraordinary
heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were
in keeping with the highest traditions of the military
service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and
the United States Army. |