Joseph X. Grant

GRANT,JOSEPH

Joseph X. Grant

Description

Captain Joseph X. Grant, (then First Lieutenant), Infantry, United States Army. On 13 November 1966, Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, was participating in a search and destroy operation when the leading platoon made contact with the enemy and a fierce firefight ensued. Captain (then First Lieutenant) Grant was ordered to disengage the two remaining platoons and to maneuver them to envelop and destroy the enemy. After beginning their movement, the platoons encountered intense enemy automatic weapons and motar fire from the front and flank. Captain Grant was ordered to deploy the platoons in a defensive position. As this action was underway, the enemy attacked, using human wave assaults, in an attempt to literally overwhelm Captain Grant’s force. In a magnificent display of courage and leadership, Captain Grant moved under intense fire along the hastily formed defensive line repositioning soldiers to fill gaps created by the mounting casualties and inspiring and derecting the efforts of his men to successfully repel the determined enemy onslaught. Seeing a platoon leader wounded, Captain Grant hastened to his aid, in the face of the mass of fires of the entire enemy force, and moved him to a more secure position. During this action Captain Grant was wounded in the shoulder. Refusing medical treatment, he returned to the forward part of the perimeter, where he continued to lead and to inspire his men by his own indomitable example. While attempting to evacuate a wounded soldier, he was pinned down by fire from an enemy machinegun, killing the crew, after which he moved the wounded man to safety. Learning that several other wounded men were pinned down by enemy fire forward of his position, Captain Grant disregarded his painful wound and led five men across the fireswept open ground to effect a rescue. Following return of the wounded men to the perimeter, a concentration of mortar fire landed in their midst and Captain Grant was killed instantly. His heroic actions saved the lives of a number of his comrades and enabled the task force to repulse the vicious assaults and defeat the enemy. Captain Grant’s actions reflect great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army.

Additional Information

Graduated From
Fort Benning, Georgia
MH ID#
MH_00043
Highest Award
Medal of Honor
Year Inducted
1968
Branch Of Service
Infantry
Rank
Captain
HF ID #
HF_00308

Author Info

Sankalp Menon

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