Maine XXIII

 In the Statehouse in Augusta there are a couple of memorial plaques that reference Vietnam. 

There are only three names singled out for additional recognition. 

They all were recipients of the Medal of Honor.

Today, I honor them here.

Brian Buker

Sgt Buker was lost on April 5, 1970. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.

Medal of Honor award citation:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Sergeant Brian Leroy Buker), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Detachment B-55, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Chau Doc Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 5 April 1970. Sergeant Buker distinguished himself while serving as a platoon adviser of a Vietnamese mobile strike force company during an offensive mission. Sergeant Buker personally led the platoon, cleared a strategically located well-guarded pass, and established the first foothold at the top of what had been an impenetrable mountain fortress. When the platoon came under the intense fire from a determined enemy located in two heavily fortified bunkers, and realizing that withdrawal would result in heavy casualties, Sergeant Buker unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his personal safety, charged through the hail of enemy fire and destroyed the first bunker with hand grenades. While reorganizing his men for the attack on the second bunker, Sergeant Buker was seriously wounded. Despite his wounds and the deadly enemy fire, he crawled forward and destroyed the second bunker. Sergeant Buker refused medical attention and was reorganizing his men to continue the attack when he was mortally wounded. As a direct result of his heroic actions, many casualties were averted, and the assault of the enemy position was successful. Sergeant Buker's extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

Nothing I can say to this or any of the following is necessary.  

Thomas Joseph McMahon

Medal of Honor Citation

Thomas Joseph McMahon

DATE OF BIRTH: June 24, 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH:
Washington, D. C.
HOME OF RECORD:
Portland, Maine

Medal of Honor
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Army
Battalion: 2d Battalion
Division: Americal Division
GENERAL ORDERS:
Department of the Army, General Orders No. 46 (August 28, 1970)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Specialist Fourth Class Thomas Joseph McMahon (ASN: 52895360), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Aid Man with Company A, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 18 March 1969. When the lead elements of his company came under heavy fire from well-fortified enemy positions, three soldiers fell seriously wounded. Specialist Fourth 

Class McMahon, with complete disregard for his safety, left his covered position and ran through intense enemy fire to the side of one of the wounded, administered first aid and then carried him to safety. He returned through the hail of fire to the side of a second wounded man. Although painfully wounded by an exploding mortar round while returning the wounded man to a secure position, Specialist Fourth Class McMahon refused medical attention and heroically ran back through the heavy enemy fire toward his remaining wounded comrade. He fell mortally wounded before he could rescue the last man. Specialist Fourth Class McMahon's undaunted concern for the welfare of his comrades at the cost of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Donald Skidgel

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life

above and beyond the call of duty. Sergeant Skidgel distinguished
himself while serving as a reconnaissance section leader in Troop D. On a road near Song Be in Binh Long Province, Sergeant Skidgel and his

section with other elements of his troop were acting as a convoy security and screening force when contact occurred with an estimated enemy battalion concealed in tall grass and in bunkers bordering the road.

Sergeant Skidgel maneuvered off the road and began placing effective
machine - gun fire on the enemy automatic weapons and rocket - propelled grenade positions. After silencing at least one position, he ran with his machine - gun across 60 meters of bullet swept ground to another
location from which he continued to rake the enemy positions. Running
low on ammunition, he returned to his vehicle over the same terrain.
Moments later he was alerted that the command element was receiving
intense automatic weapons, rocket - propelled grenade and mortar fire.
Although he knew the road was saturated with enemy fire, Sergeant
Skidgel calmly mounted his vehicle and with his driver advanced toward
the command group in an effort to draw the enemy fire upon himself.
Despite the hostile fire concentrated on him, he succeeded in silencing
several enemy positions with his machine - gun. Moments later Sergeant
Skidgel was knocked down onto the rear fender by the explosion of an
enemy rocket - propelled grenade. Ignoring his extremely painful wounds, he staggered back to his feet and placed effective fire on several other enemy positions until he was mortally wounded by hostile small arms fire.
His selfless actions enabled the command group to withdraw to a better
position without casualties and inspired the rest of his fellow soldiers to

gain fire superiority and defeat the enemy. Sergeant Skidgel's gallantry at the cost of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the

United States Army.

Next time on the 27th, we will return to Maryland to honor a few of her heroes. These will post, as usual, at 9:00 am. 

As mentioned above, if you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia, Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, Elli from Maryland, and Peg and Ray from Florida, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served and/or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here.