Gordon W. Gaskin
Specialist
Four
Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st
Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
3 January 1968
Republic of
Vietnam
For
extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations
involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the
Republic of Vietnam:
Specialist
Four Gaskin distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous
actions on 3 January 1968 while serving as a medical aidman
at Landing Zone Leslie in the Que Son Valley. His unit's
perimeter was hit by a North Vietnamese barrage of rocket,
mortar, recoilless rifle, automatic and semiautomatic weapon
fire, followed by a vicious ground assault which resulted in
fierce hand-to-hand combat in many areas. Specialist Gaskin
exposed himself to the heavy volume of hostile fire as he
moved to the perimeter in search of wounded soldiers.
Although he was frequently fired on by the enemy, he
fearlessly rescued his injured comrades and brought them to
his aid station. During the seven-hour battle Specialist
Gaskin treated over fifty casualties, sterilizing pieces of
clothing to construct makeshift bandages after he had
exhausted all his medical supplies. By repeatedly quitting
his protected position to help his fellow soldiers, he saved
many lives. Specialist Four Gaskin's extraordinary heroism
and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and reflect great credit
upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. |