Medal of Honor Month: Harold ‘Hal’ Fritz
While serving as a Platoon Leader in Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, then-First Lieutenant Fritz earned the Medal of Honor for actions near Quan Loi in Vietnam.
By Miguel Ortiz
Posted 22 Hours Ago
Reviewed By Tessa Robinson
ShareHarold Arthur Fritz commissioned as an Armor Second Lieutenant through OCS in 1967. While serving as a Platoon Leader in Troop A, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, then-First Lieutenant Fritz earned the Medal of Honor for actions near Quan Loi in Vietnam.
Binh Long Province, Vietnam
Fritz as a captain (Congressional Medal of Honor Society)
On January 11, 1969, Fritz led a seven-vehicle armored column on Highway 13 to rendezvous with and escort a truck convoy. Fritz’s column was engaged from multiple directions by a reinforced enemy company in prepared ambush positions. At the outbreak of the ambush, Fritz’s vehicle was hit and seriously wounded. Despite his wound, the 24-year-old lieutenant leaped atop his burning vehicle to reposition the remainder of his vehicles and organize his men.
Fritz as a field grade officer later in his career (U.S. Army)
Without regard for his wound or safety, Fritz exposed himself to enemy fire and ran between vehicles to direct his platoon’s fire, assist the wounded, distribute ammunition, and rally his men. When the enemy assaulted the American position to overrun them, Fritz manned a machine gun himself and returned a high volume of fire. Inspired by their PL’s actions, the rest of the platoon intensified their own fire to break the assault and route the attack.
Convoys were common targets for enemy forces in Vietnam (U.S. Army)
A second enemy force attacked and closed to within two meters of the American position. Armed with a pistol and bayonet, Fritz led a small group of his men in a fierce and daring counterattack that inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and broke their offensive.
https://www.wearethemighty.com/history/medal-of-honor-month-harold-hal-fritz/
