Frank A Herda
Frank was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 13th of September 1947. He also enlisted in the US Army from Cleveland, though I am unsure if he enlisted or if he was drafted, and he was deployed to the Republic of Vietnam with Company A, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). It was his actions on the 29th of June 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. Sp4c. Herda (then Pfc.) distinguished himself while serving as a grenadier with Company A. Company A was part of a battalion-size night defensive perimeter when a large enemy force initiated an attack on the friendly units. While other enemy elements provided diversionary fire and indirect weapons fire to the west, a sapper force of approximately 30 men armed with hand grenades and small charges attacked Company A's perimeter from the east. As the sappers were making a last, violent assault, five of them charged the position defended by Sp4c. Herda and two comrades, one of whom was wounded and lay helpless in the bottom of the foxhole. Sp4c. Herda fired at the aggressors until they were within 10 feet of his position and one of their grenades landed in the foxhole. He fired one last round from his grenade launcher, hitting one of the enemy soldiers in the head, and then, with no concern for his safety, Sp4c. Herda immediately covered the blast of the grenade with his body. The explosion wounded him grievously, but his selfless action prevented his two comrades from being seriously injured or killed and enabled the remaining defender to kill the other sappers. By his gallantry at the risk of his life in the highest traditions of the military service, Sp4c. Herda has reflected great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Once recovered, Frank was promoted to Specialist Fourth Class and he received the Medal of Honor from President Nixon on the 14th of May 1970, in a ceremony at the White House. I am not sure when he exited the Army but I was able to find that he ended up working for the Department of Defense as a systems analyst for thirty-three years and during his time in the Army, received the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. I was not able to find much else about Frank, other than him authoring four science fiction/fantasy books. Three of the books are in series: The Chronicles of the Dragons of the Magi: The Awakening, The Cup of Death, and The Dark Tower of Snow. The fourth book is The Pharaohs of Sol Five: The Mystery of the Pharaohs Eye. According to his book dedication, he lives with his partner Marcia Cooper and his two dogs. Frank Aloysious Herda is 75 years old at the time of this recording.
