Paul H. Foster: Difference between revisions

| name = Paul Hellstrom Foster

|born birth_date = {{birthBirth date|1939|4|17}}

|died death_date = {{deathDeath date and age|1967|10|14|1939|4|17}}

|placeofbirth birth_place = [[San Mateo, California]]

|placeofdeath= [[Killeddeath_place in action|KIA]] at= [[Con Thien]], [[South Vietnam]]

| placeofburial = [[Golden Gate National Cemetery]], [[San Bruno, California]]

| placeofburial_label = Place of burial

|rank branch = [[Sergeant#{{flag|United States|Sergeant]] Marine Corps}}

Foster was born on April 17, 1939, in [[San Mateo, California]]. He attended elementary and high schools there, and was a member of the varsity football and track teams. After graduating from high school in 1957, he went toFoster workworked as an automobile mechanic helper.

HeFoster enlisted in the [[Marine Forces Reserve|Marine Corps Reserve]] on November 4, 1961, in [[San Francisco]], California, and received [[recruit training]] with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion at [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego]], and individual combat training with the 2nd Infantry Training Regiment at [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton]].

After completion of combat training in March 1962, heFoster joined the 5th 105 mm Howitzer Battery (later redesignated Headquarters Battery, [[14th Marine Regiment (United States)|14th Marines]], [[4th Marine Division (United States)|4th Marine Division]]), a Reserve unit, at [[Treasure Island (California)|Navy and Marine Corps Training Center Treasure Island]] in San Francisco. While on inactive duty, heFoster was promoted to [[private first class]] in March 1963, to [[Lance Corporal#United States|Lance Corporal]] in August 1963; to [[Corporal#United States|Corporal]] in April 1964, and to [[Sergeant#United States|Sergeant]] on February 1, 1966.

The Medal of Honor was presented to hisFoster’s family by President Richard M. Nixon, in a ceremony at the [[White House]] on June 20, 1969.

Foster's medals and decorations include: <center>

| colspan="3" align="center" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106|alt=A light blue ribbon with five white five pointed stars}}

| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart BARribbon.svg|width=106}}

| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=NavyPresUnited States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.gifsvg|width=106}}

| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Selected Marine Corps Reserve ribbon.svg|width=106}}

| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

| {{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service RibbonMedal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.pngsvg|width=106}}

|} </center>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

| [[Medal of Honor]]

| [[Purple Heart]]

| [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Navy Presidential Unit Citation]]

| [[Reserve Good Conduct Medal|Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal]]

| [[National Defense Service Medal]]

| [[Vietnam Service Medal]] w/ 1 [[service star]]

| [[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Artillery Liaison Operations Chief with the Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division, near Con Thien in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of October 14, 1967, the Second Battalion was occupying a defensive position which protected a bridge on the road leading from Con TheinThien to [[Cam LoLộ Combat Base|Cam Lộ]]. Suddenly, the Marines' position came under a heavy volume of mortar and artillery fire, followed by an aggressive enemy ground assault. In the ensuing engagement, the hostile forces penetrated the perimeter and brought a heavy concentration of small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket fire to bear on the Battalion Command Post. Although his position in the Fire Support Coordination Center was dangerously exposed to enemy fire and he was wounded when an enemy hand grenade exploded near his position, Sergeant Foster resolutely continued to direct accurate mortar and artillery fire on the advancing North Vietnamese troops. As the attack continued, a hand grenade landed in the midst of Sergeant Foster and his five companions. Realizing the danger, he shouted a warning, threw his armored vest over the grenade, and unhesitatingly placed his own body over the armored vest. When the grenade exploded, Sergeant Foster absorbed the entire blast with his own body and was mortally wounded. His heroic actions undoubtedly saved his comrades from further injury or possible death. Sergeant Foster's courage, extraordinary heroism, and unfaltering devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the [[United States Navy|United States Naval Service]]. He gallantly gave his life for his country.<ref name=ACMH>{{Cite web |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] |title=Medal of Honor recipients |work=Medal of Honor citations |date=August 3, 2009 |url=http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/Vietnam-a-l.html |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-date=June 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627093600/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*[ {{Cite web|access-date=October 4, 2010 |url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Foster_PH.htm |title="Sergeant Paul H. Foster, USMR"], ''Who's Who in Marine Corps History'', USMC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615094552/http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Foster_PH.htm |archive-date=June 15, 2011 }}

*[ {{Cite web|access-date=October 4, 2010 |url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa300750d8a?OpenDocument |title=Medal of Honor citation] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711203222/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/000003c919889c0385255fa300750d8a?OpenDocument |archive-date=July 11, 2007 }}

[[Category:United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients]]

[[Category:RecipientsUnited ofStates theMarine PurpleCorps Heartnon-commissioned medalofficers]]

[[Category:CalifornianVietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor]]