Clarence E. Sasser
Specialist Five, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Specialist Five Clarence Eugene Sasser is a former U.S. Army soldier and combat medic who was a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Clarence Eugene Sasser was born on 12 September 1947 in Chenango, TX. Drafted into the Army after giving up his college deferment; he entered the service from Houston, TX. A member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, he was a Private First Class attached to the 3rd Battalion's Company A when he earned the Medal of Honor on 10 January 1968. He was also later promoted to Specialist Five.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Specialist Fifth Class (then Pfc.), U.S. Army, Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division.

Place and date: Ding Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 10 January 1968.

Entered service at: Houston, TX. Born: 12 September 1947, Chenango, TX.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp5 Sasser distinguished himself while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion. He was serving as a medical aidman with Company A, 3d Battalion, on a reconnaissance in force operation. His company was making an air assault when suddenly it was taken under heavy small arms, recoilless rifle, machinegun and rocket fire from well fortified enemy positions on 3 sides of the landing zone. During the first few minutes, over 30 casualties were sustained. Without hesitation, Sp5 Sasser ran across an open rice paddy through a hail of fire to assist the wounded. After helping 1 man to safety, was painfully wounded in the left shoulder by fragments of an exploding rocket. Refusing medical attention, he ran through a barrage of rocket and automatic weapons fire to aid casualties of the initial attack and, after giving them urgently needed treatment, continued to search for other wounded. Despite 2 additional wounds immobilizing his legs, he dragged himself through the mud toward another soldier 100 meters away. Although in agonizing pain and faint from loss of blood, Sp5 Sasser reached the man, treated him, and proceeded on to encourage another group of soldiers to crawl 200 meters to relative safety. There he attended their wounds for 5 hours until they were evacuated. Sp5 Sasser's extraordinary heroism is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Clarence Eugene Sasser received the Medal of Honor from President Richard Nixon in 1969 during a White House ceremony.

Sasser's Vietnam tour lasted just 51 days. When his military commitment to the U.S. Army was completed, he returned to college as a chemistry student. He then worked at an oil refinery for more than five years before being employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Honors

A statue depicting Sasser in Vietnam was created in 2010 and will be placed in front of the Courthouse in Brazoria County, TX.