- SURNAME
Sanchez
- FORENAME
Thomas Joseph (Tommy)
- UNIT
5 SF Group (Company C,Det A-108)
- RANK
Master Sergeant
- NUMBER
19452350
- DATE OF DEATH
6th March 1967
- AGE
32
- GRAVESITE
Evergreen Washelli Memorial,Seattle,King County,Washington Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Guadalcanal Section
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Pasadena,California
born 23.10.1934 Los Angeles,California
son of Tomas and Maria De La Luz (nee Gamboa) Sanchez
married
14 years service
served in Korean War
8 SF Group (Company A) 1964-66
5 SF Group 1966-67
awards D.S.C.,Bronze Star
KIA near Minh Long,Quang Ngai Province,South Vietnam
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 16E Line 31
DATE OF DEATH:
06-Mar-1967AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/sanchez-thomas-joseph.50412/CITATION:
Distinguished Service Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Master Sergeant Thomas Joseph Sanchez (ASN: RA-19452350), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Detachment A-108, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Master Sergeant Sanchez distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 6 March 1966 while serving as Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese reaction unit during the rescue of an ambushed combat patrol near Minh Long. When radio contact with American advisors in the patrol was lost, Sergeant Sanchez unhesitatingly volunteered to fly into the battle torn area to search for the men. He found thirty Vietnamese survivors near the point of conflict and hastily organized them to secure a landing zone for the infiltration of reinforcements. When 28 more troops landed, Sergeant Sanchez deployed the men and moved toward the ambush site. Contemptuous of the threat of another attack, he took the point position and led his men in a rigorous search of the area. The unit was hit by heavy fire after moving less than 500 meters. Sergeant Sanchez hastily led the force out of range of the hostile weapons. He then noticed the absence of an American advisor and two Vietnamese sergeants. Fearlessly ignoring the constant fire around him, he reentered the killing zone alone to find the lost men. Although he was observed being wounded by machine gun fire, he continued to search for the men. Sergeant Sanchez was last seen firing furiously at the Viet Cong, while making a last, gallant effort to reach his comrades. Master Sergeant Sanchez' 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.
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