Drew D Dix
Drew was born on the 14th of December 1944, in West Point, New York, and grew up in Pueblo, Colorado. His father had been in the US Army and in high school, Drew was a member of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. Wanting to follow in the footsteps of his father and one of the Sergeants working with the JROTC program, he enlisted in the US Army when he turned 18. However, Drew wanted to be part of the Special Forces, but was denied due to his age. He instead was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, with whom he served with for three years, at which point allowed him to be old enough to apply for the Special Forces program. After training, Drew was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam and initially served as a military adviser to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam near the Cambodian border. In his role there, Drew also collected intelligence and it was his actions on the 31st of January and the 1st of February 1968, that would later earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Dix distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving as a unit adviser. Two heavily armed Viet Cong battalions attacked the province capital city of Chau Phu resulting in the complete breakdown and fragmentation of the defenses of the city. S/Sgt. Dix with a patrol of Vietnamese soldiers, was recalled to assist in defense of Chau Phu. Learning that a nurse was trapped in a house near the center of the city, S/Sgt. Dix organized a relief force, successfully rescued the nurse, and returned her to the safety of the Tactical Operations Center. Being informed of other trapped civilians within the city, S/Sgt. Dix voluntarily led another force to rescue eight civilian employees located in a building which was under heavy mortar and small-arms fire. S/Sgt. Dix then returned to the center of the city. Upon approaching a building, he was subjected to intense automatic rifle and machine-gun fire from an unknown number of Viet Cong. He personally assaulted the building, killing six Viet Cong, and rescuing two Filipinos. The following day S/Sgt. Dix, still on his own volition, assembled a 20-man force and though under intense enemy fire cleared the Viet Cong out of the hotel, theater, and other adjacent buildings within the city. During this portion of the attack, Army of the Republic of Vietnam soldiers inspired by the heroism and success of SSgt. Dix, rallied and commenced firing upon the Viet Cong. S/Sgt. Dix captured 20 prisoners, including a high-ranking Viet Cong official. He then attacked enemy troops who had entered the residence of the Deputy Province Chief and was successful in rescuing the official's wife and children. S/Sgt. Dix's personal heroic actions resulted in 14 confirmed Viet Cong killed in action and possibly 25 more, the capture of 20 prisoners, 15 weapons, and the rescue of the 14 United States and free-world civilians. The heroism of S/Sgt. Dix was in the highest tradition and reflects great credit upon the U.S. Army.
When Drew began this mission, he was accompanied by two Navy SEALs and about six Vietnamese soldiers. As the holiday of Tet ended, more and more Vietnamese troops joined Drew in their mission to fight for the city, which allowed them to take over buildings and leave behind one or two troops to keep the buildings secure. This ultimately led to the success of the battle.
About one year later, on the 19th of January 1969, Drew received the Medal of Honor from President Johnson in a ceremony at the White House. It was the last such ceremony that President Johnson would do, and Drew was joined by three others. He remained in the Army, receiving a direct commission to First Lieutenant, and retired in 1982 after 20 years of service at the rank of Major.
Drew released an autobiography in 2000 called, “The Rescue of River City”, and as of the time of this recording, Drew Dennis Dix is 78 years old and resides in Alaska.
