William David Morgan
(September 17, 1947 ? February 25, 1969) was a
United States Marine
Corporal who
posthumously
received the
Medal of Honor
? the
United States
' highest military decoration ? for heroic actions during the Vietnam War. Corporal Morgan was
killed in action
on February 25, 1969.
Biography
[
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]
William David Morgan was born on September 17, 1947, in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. The youngest son of Welsh immigrant John Samuel Morgan and Helen Morgan. He attended
Mt. Lebanon High School
in
Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
graduating in 1966. He then attended Hiram Scott College, Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, for six months.
Morgan enlisted in the
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
in Pittsburgh on November 18, 1966. He was discharged from the Reserves on January 4, 1967, to enlist in the
Regular Marine Corps
.
Upon completion of
recruit training
with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion,
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
,
South Carolina
in March 1967, he was transferred to
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
, North Carolina, where he completed individual combat training with Company D, 1st
Infantry
Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment, in April. From May until June 1967, he was a student at the Sea School, Marine Barracks, U. S. Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. He was promoted to
private first class
on June 1, 1967, and to
Lance Corporal
on February 1, 1968.
Lance Corporal Morgan served a one-year tour of sea duty with the
Marine Detachment
aboard the
USS
Newport News
(CA-148)
. In July 1968, he was transferred to the
Republic of Vietnam
. He served as a
rifleman
, fire team leader, and squad leader, with Company H,
2nd Battalion, 9th Marines
,
3rd Marine Division
. He was promoted to
Corporal
on September 1, 1968. While participating in
Operation Dewey Canyon
, southeast of
Vandegrift Combat Base
on February 25, 1969, he was
killed in action
.
[1]
Decorations
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]
A complete list of his medals and decorations includes: the Medal of Honor, the
Purple Heart
, the
National Defense Service Medal
, the
Vietnam Service Medal
with two bronze stars, the
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation
and the
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
.
Medal of Honor citation
[
edit
]
The
President of the United States
in the name of
the Congress of the United States
takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
CORPORAL WILLIAM DAVID MORGAN
United States Marine Corps
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader with Company H, in operations against the enemy. While participating in Operation DEWEY CANYON southeast of
Vandegrift
Combat Base, one of the squads of Corporal Morgan's platoon was temporarily pinned down and sustained several casualties while attacking a
North Vietnamese Army
force occupying a heavily fortified bunker complex. Observing that 2 of the wounded Marines had fallen in a position dangerously exposed to the enemy fire and that all attempts to evacuate them were halted by a heavy volume of
automatic weapons
fire and
rocket-propelled grenades
, Corporal Morgan unhesitatingly maneuvered through the dense jungle undergrowth to a road that passed in front of a hostile emplacement which was the principal source of enemy fire. Fully aware of the possible consequences of his valiant action, but thinking only of the welfare of his injured companions, Corporal Morgan shouted words of encouragement to them as he initiated an aggressive assault against the hostile
bunker
. While charging across the open road, he was clearly visible to the hostile soldiers who turned their fire in his direction and mortally wounded him, but his diversionary tactic enabled the remainder of his squad to retrieve their casualties and overrun the North Vietnamese Army position. His heroic and determined actions saved the lives of 2 fellow Marines and were instrumental in the subsequent defeat of the enemy. Corporal Morgan's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the
U.S. Naval Services
. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
/S/
RICHARD M. NIXON
Additional Information
One of the Marines that was saved by William Morgan that day is Robert "Bob" Ballou of Redlands, California. One of the Marines KIA was Robinson Santiago who was directly behind Bob Ballou.
In memory
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]
The name of William David Morgan is inscribed on the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
("The Wall") on Panel 31W Line 054
[2]
There is a small memorial to him at Mount Lebanon High School.
See also
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References
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]
Inline
General
This article incorporates
public domain material
from websites or documents of the
United States Marine Corps
.
- "Corporal William David Morgan, USMC,
Who's Who in Marine Corps History
, History Division, United States Marine Corps"
. Retrieved
July 2,
2006
.
- "Cpl William D. Morgan, Medal of Honor, 1969, 2/9/3, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, Medal of Honor citation"
(PDF)
. Retrieved
July 2,
2006
.