Crisp County GaArchives Military Records.....FAIRCLOTH, JOHNNIE W. September 18, 1965
Vietnamwar B COMPANY,2/205 AIRBORNE INFANTRY
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SILVER  STAR (POSTHUMOUSLY)
TAKEN FROM SWAIN COUNTRY ,AMERICAN HEROS.  S/SGT.JOHNNIE W.FAIRCLOTH AGE
26,CORDELE,GA,9.18.1965,AN AIRBORNE RANGER INFANTRY NON COMMISSIONED OFFICER,SILVER
STAR (postumously),WITH WHOM I WAS IN RANGER FT. CAMPBELL ;ONE OFVTHE FINEST AND
MOST CAPABLE SOLDIERS EVER SENT INTO BATTLE BY AMERICA.SCHOOL WITH AND SERVED WITH
IN COMPANY B,2/502 AIRBORNE INFANTRY AT  I

Additional Comments:
HIS SILVER STAR CITATION READS AS FOLLOWS;FAIRCLOTH ,JOHNNIE W.RA14608232 STAFF
SARGEANT UNITED STATES ARMY   AWARDED ;SILVER STAR (POSTHUMOUSLY)DATE ACTION ;18
SEPTEMBER 1965 THEATER ;REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM REASON;FOR GALLENTRY IN ACTION;STAFF
SARGEANT FAIRCLOTH DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY HERORIC ACTION 18 SEPTEMBER 1965 WHILE
SERVING AS A RIFLE SQUAD LEADER LEADER IN AN AIRBORNE INFANTRY BATTALION ON 2
HELIBORNE SEARCH AND DESTROY OPERATIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM.ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY AFTER LANDING,SARGEANT FAIRCLOTH'S ELEMENT WAS PINNED DOWN BY ENEMY
SMALL ARMS FIRE.THE UNIT RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS TO MOVE FORTH TO LINK UP WITH THE
MAIN FORCE APPROXIMATELY 800 METERS AWAY.WITH ENEMY SNIPER FIRE COMING FROM THE WEST
,AND KNOWING THE SMALL UNIT WAS COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY ENEMY FORCES,SARGEANT
FAIRCLOTH WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL SAFETY,LED THE FIRST ELEMENT
OF THE UNIT NORTH.AFTER MOVING APPROXIMATELY 20 METERS,THE ELEMENT CAME UNDER A
HEAVY VOLUME OF SMALL ARMS AND MACHINE GUN FIRE.SARGEANT FAIRCLOTH WAS WOUNDED AND
FELL TO THE GROUND ,SIGNALING THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ELEMENT TO RETURN TO THE
UNIT'S POSITIONS .HE REFUSED TO ACCEPT MEDICAL AID FOR HIMSELF KNOWING THAT IT MIGHT
RESULT IN ANOTHER CASUALITY.SARGEANT FAIRCLOTH WAS WOUNDED SEVERAL MORE TIMES BY
ENEMY MACHINE GUN FIRE AND DIED ON THE BATTLE FIELD.HIS FEARLESS AND GENUINE CONCERN
FOR HIS SUBORDINATES IN THE FACE OF HIS OWN PERIL WAS AN INSPIRATION TO THE ENTIRE
UNIT.STAFF SARGEANT FAIRCLOTH'S UNIMPEACHABLE VALOR IN CLOSE COMBAT AGAINEST
NUMERICALLY SUPERIOR FORCES WAS 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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