Bravo Company Veterans Honored with Bronze Medals After 56 Years

On September 18, 2023, 14 veterans of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, received the Bronze Star Medals for their service during the Vietnam War. The awards were presented by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John W. Weidner and Col. Robert Newbauer during a ceremony held in Omaha, Nebraska. This recognition comes more than five decades after these soldiers faced intense combat in the jungles of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Bravo Company was deployed to Vietnam in early 1967 and engaged in 94 separate firefights, particularly in the Pleiku and Kon Tum provinces. They participated in significant campaigns such as Operation Sam Houston, Operation Francis Marion, and the 1968 Tet Offensive, according to an Army release.

Legacy of Valor and Sacrifice

During the ceremony, Col. Newbauer emphasized the sacrifices made by these soldiers. “These soldiers endured the worst of war,” he stated. “Their bravery and steadfast commitment to each other reflect the highest ideals of military service. It is an honor to stand with them as they receive long-overdue recognition.”

The 4th Infantry Division, often referred to as the Ivy Division, was tasked with disrupting enemy infiltration routes along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This area quickly became a focal point of enemy activity, with Lt. Gen. Stanley Larsen, former commander of I Field Forces, noting that once the enemy was entrenched, it would be extremely difficult to dislodge them. In response, the division conducted “spoiling operations” designed to keep the North Vietnamese forces off balance.

By 1969, Bravo Company had earned a Presidential Unit Citation for their operations, which the soldiers described as decisively denying the enemy freedom of movement along the western highlands border.

Despite their bravery, the soldiers of Bravo Company faced significant oversight in terms of recognition for their contributions. Award practices at the time typically resulted in junior enlisted soldiers receiving the Army Commendation Medal while officers received the Bronze Star for similar actions.

This disparity was noted by General George C. Marshall during World War II, who advocated for the importance of recognizing ground troops. In a memorandum to President Franklin D. Roosevelt dated February 3, 1944, he expressed concern that the morale of infantry troops was suffering due to a lack of recognition for their hardships. The following day, Roosevelt authorized the creation of the Bronze Star Medal.

Honoring Heroism and Service

During the September 18 ceremony, five veterans were awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device for their acts of heroism in combat. Those recognized included 1st Lt. John E. Shaeffer, Sgt. Don J. Cantacessi, and Specialists Ronald Coleman, Roy F. Pline, and Stephen Wittenberg. Each citation highlighted moments of exceptional bravery, where soldiers risked their lives to assist comrades or demonstrated crucial leadership under extreme pressure.

Additionally, nine other soldiers received the Bronze Star for meritorious service, which upgraded earlier Army Commendation Medals. Among them were Spc. Arturo G. Cuellar, Spc. Charles P. Emery, Sgt. George A. Jones, Sgt. Dale G. Liefer, Sgt. Thomas P. Saumur, Spc. Marvin S. Weis, Spc. Ronald A. Wulff, and Spc. Clarence Kirshner, a combat medic.

These awards serve to honor the daily challenges faced by infantry soldiers, whose leadership and commitment often went unrecognized for decades. As General Marshall articulated, these soldiers “lead miserable lives of extreme discomfort” while navigating some of the toughest fighting in the Vietnam War. The recent ceremony not only acknowledges their valor but also highlights the importance of ensuring that such sacrifices are remembered and honored appropriately.