A hero beyond the call of duty

Could any of us have done this?

Staff Sergeant Joe Hooper of Company D, 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, was among those assaulting a heavily defended position near Hue, Vietnam, on Feb. 21, 1968. They were along a riverbank when they received a hail of fire from rockets and machine guns.

Hooper rallied several of his squad members and stormed across the small river, overrunning several bunkers on the opposite shore. This inspired the rest of the company to attack.

With utter disregard for his own safety, Hooper then moved out under intense fire and began pulling out his wounded soldiers, moving them to safety. But during this act, he was wounded but refused medical aid and returned to his men.

He then single-handedly stormed three enemy bunkers, destroying them with hand grenades and rifle fire, and killed another two enemy who had attacked his wounded. Then he destroyed three small enemy buildings housing enemy soldiers.

At this point, he was attacked by an enemy soldier and killed him with his bayonet. Finding his men under heavy fire from another building, he proceeded alone to the building, killing the enemy, but suffered more wounds from a grenade.

He continued to lead his men despite a serious loss of blood. As his men reached the final position of the enemy resistance, he gathered several hand grenades and raced toward the position, throwing the grenades at the enemy and killing all of them.

He rescued one of his wounded men and then killed the final enemy soldiers.

For conspicuous gallantry in action at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty, he was awarded our nation's highest award, the Medal of Honor.

Roger Gregory served as a captain in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. He is a Priest River businessman.