Kenneth Edward Stumpf
Sergeant Major, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Sergeant Major Kenneth Edward Stumpf is a retired U.S. Army soldier and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Vietnam War.

Kenneth Edward Stumpf was born on 28 September 1944 in Neenah, WI. He joined the Army from Milwaukee, WI. On 25 April 1967, Stumpf was serving as a Specialist Four in Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, near Duc Pho in the Republic of Vietnam. Despite heavy fire, Stumpf rescued three wounded comrades and single-handedly disabled an enemy bunker. He was subsequently promoted to Staff Sergeant and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant (then Sp4), U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam, 25 April 1967.

Entered service at: Milwaukee, Wis. Born: 28 September 1944, Neenah, Wis.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Stumpf distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader of the 3d Platoon, Company C, on a search and destroy mission. As S/Sgt. Stumpf's company approached a village, it encountered a North Vietnamese rifle company occupying a well- fortified bunker complex. During the initial contact, 3 men from his squad fell wounded in front of a hostile machinegun emplacement. The enemy's heavy volume of fire prevented the unit from moving to the aid of the injured men, but S/Sgt. Stumpf left his secure position in a deep trench and ran through the barrage of incoming rounds to reach his wounded comrades. He picked up 1 of the men and carried him back to the safety of the trench. Twice more S/Sgt. Stumpf dashed forward while the enemy turned automatic weapons and machineguns upon him, yet he managed to rescue the remaining 2 wounded squad members. He then organized his squad and led an assault against several enemy bunkers from which continuously heavy fire was being received He and his squad successfully eliminated 2 of the bunker positions, but one to the front of the advancing platoon remained a serious threat. Arming himself with extra hand grenades, S/Sgt. Stumpf ran over open ground, through a volley of fire directed at him by a determined enemy, toward the machinegun position. As he reached the bunker, he threw a hand grenade through the aperture. It was immediately returned by the occupants, forcing S/Sgt. Stumpf to take cover. Undaunted, he pulled the pins on 2 more grenades, held them for a few seconds after activation, then hurled them into the position, this time successfully destroying the emplacement. With the elimination of this key position, his unit was able to assault and overrun the enemy. S/Sgt. Stumpf's relentless spirit of aggressiveness, intrepidity, and ultimate concern for the lives of his men, are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

Stumpf reached the rank of Sergeant Major before retiring from the Army.