Henry Chamberlain
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 13 March 1969, Staff Sergeant Henry Chamberlain was serving with Company A, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, SSG Chamberlain was a platoon sergeant during a search and clear mission near Tien Phuoc. When his platoon came under intense fire from an estimated company-size North Vietnamese Army force in a concealed bunker complex, SSG Chamberlain led an assault on the communists. Seeing the point man wounded by enemy fire within 10 feet of a bunker, he rushed forward and killed both occupants of the fortification. As the platoon continued to advance, the left flank received a heavy volume of automatic weapons and small arms fire from several concealed positions that wounded 2 men and trapped them in the hostile killing zone. SSG Chamberlain quickly organized an attack, sending one element against another stronghold that had begun firing from the right flank and spearheading the assault on the original positions. While exposing himself to the enemy so that he could fire into a bunker aperture, he was mortally wounded. Inspired by his actions, his men overran the North Vietnamese. SSG Chamberlain's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Henry Chamberlain (ASN: RA-18550727), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Staff Sergeant Chamberlain distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 March 1969 as a platoon sergeant during a search and clear mission near Tien Phuoc. When his platoon came under intense fire from an estimated company-size North Vietnamese Army force in a concealed bunker complex, Sergeant Chamberlain led an assault on the communists. Seeing the point man wounded by enemy fire within ten feet of a bunker, he rushed forward and killed both occupants of the fortification. As the platoon continued to advance, the left flank received a heavy volume of automatic weapons and small arms fire from several concealed positions which wounded two men and trapped them in the hostile killing zone. Sergeant Chamberlain quickly organized an attack, sending one element against another stronghold that suddenly began firing from the right flank and spearheading the assault on the original positions. While fearlessly exposing himself to the enemy so that he could effectively fire into a bunker aperture, he was mortally wounded by the hostile fusillade. His men were inspired by his actions and succeeded in overrunning the North Vietnamese. Staff Sergeant Chamberlain's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1743 (May 15, 1969)

Honors

The name Henry Chamberlain is located on Panel W29 Line 28 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Staff Sergeant Henry Chamberlain is buried at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, Cameron County, TX, in Section A.