Gregory Charles Clement, Jr.
Captain, U.S. Army

Gregory Charles Clement, Jr. was born on 9 April 1938 in San Antonio, TX, the son of Gregory Charles Clement and Frances Elizabeth Callahan Clement. He lived in Victoria, TX, and was a graduate of Kirwin High School in Galveston, TX. His activities in high school included football and swimming. He was active in the Boy Scouts and achieved Eagle Scout status.

Gregory was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy with the Class of 1960. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery in the U.S. Army. After graduating from the Artillery and Missile School at Fort Sill, OK, he completed Airborne and Ranger training at Fort Benning, GA. An assignment to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY, followed, where he served as Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General Patrick Francis 'Hopalong' Cassidy [Honoree Record ID 48].

His next assignment was a 13-month deployment to Korea, followed by a return to the Artillery School at Fort Sill for advanced training. In 1965, he was serving at Fort Hood when he received orders to Vietnam in 1966.

On 23 February 1967, Captain Gregory Charles Clement, Jr. was serving with the 1st Infantry Division Advisory Detachment, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, in South Vietnam.

On that day, CPT Clement was serving as senior advisor to a company of Vietnamese Irregular troops. While trying to take a well-fortified Viet Cong hamlet, CPT Clement's company was pinned down by hostile fire. Three men were seriously wounded in the initial barrage and, when the company withdrew, were left lying in an open field 150 meters away. Despite intense machine gun fire, CPT Clement ran across the field, picked up one of the soldiers and carried him to safety. He then raced back across the ravaged area and brought back another wounded man. Inspired by his courageous actions, 2 soldiers joined him on the treacherous third trip. Although he was the focus of the hostile fire, CPT Clement continued his mission but was then wounded by a well-concealed Viet Cong machine gun directly in front of the man he was trying to save. Ignoring his wounds, he took the first aid kit and crawled toward the fallen soldier. CPT Clement was still trying to reach the man when he was mortally wounded by a second burst of machine gun fire. His profound concern for others inspired the Vietnamese company to hold its position and rout the numerically-superior enemy. CPT Clement'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 & Tabs

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Medal with Palm
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Parachutist Badge
Ranger Tab

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 Captain (Field Artillery) Gregory C. Clement, Jr. (ASN: 0-90723), 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 the 1st Infantry Division Advisory Detachment, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Captain Clement distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 23 February 1967 while serving as senior advisor to a company of Vietnamese Irregular troops. In an attempt to take a well-fortified Viet Cong hamlet, Captain Clement's company was pinned down by intense hostile fire. Three men were seriously wounded in the initial barrage and, when the company withdrew, were left lying in an open field 150 meters away. Despite intense and accurate machine gun fire, Captain Clement fearlessly ran across the field, picking up one of the soldiers and carried him to safety. Turning immediately, he raced back across the ravaged area, ignoring the murderous fire hitting all around him, and brought another stricken man back. Inspired by his heroic actions, two soldiers joined him on the treacherous third trip. Although he was the focus of increasing hostile fire, Captain Clement would not be driven back. Suddenly, he was wounded by a well-concealed Viet Cong machine gun, directly in front of the man he was attempting to save. Ignoring his wounds, he took the first aid kit and crawled toward the fallen soldier. Captain Clement was still trying to reach the man when he was mortally wounded by a second burst of machine gun fire. His unimpeachable valor and profound concern for others inspired the beleaguered Vietnamese company to hold its position and rout the numerically superior enemy. Captain Clement'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. 1372 (March 27, 1967)

Honors

The name Gregory C Clement Jr is located on Panel 15E Line 78 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

CPT Clement's name is located with his USMA 1960 Fallen Hero classmates in the Vietnam War section of Cullum Memorial Hall at his alma mater, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY.

An athletic field at Fort Hood, TX is named in his honor.

Burial

Captain Gregory Charles Clement, Jr. is buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX, in Section V, Site 1619.