Clifford Chester Sims
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester Sims (18 June 1942 - 21 February 1968) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded America's highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Clifford Chester Sims was born on 18 June 1942 in Port St. Joe, FL. He joined the Army from Jacksonville, FL. On 21 February 1968, Sims was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Company D, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. During an engagement that day with enemy forces near Huế in the Republic of Vietnam, Sims threw himself onto a triggered booby-trap device. He was killed in the ensuing explosion, but was successful in protecting the members of his squad.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company D, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.

Place and date: Near Hue, Republic of Vietnam, 21 February 1968.

Entered service at: Jacksonville, FL. Born: 18 June 1942, Port St. Joe, FL.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Sims distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader with Company D. Company D was assaulting a heavily fortified enemy position concealed within a dense wooded area when it encountered strong enemy defensive fire. Once within the woodline, S/Sgt. Sims led his squad in a furious attack against an enemy force which had pinned down the 1st Platoon and threatened to overrun it. His skillful leadership provided the platoon with freedom of movement and enabled it to regain the initiative. S/Sgt. Sims was then ordered to move his squad to a position where he could provide covering fire for the company command group and to link up with the 3rd Platoon, which was under heavy enemy pressure. After moving no more than 30 meters S/Sgt. Sims noticed that a brick structure in which ammunition was stocked was on fire. Realizing the danger, S/Sgt. Sims took immediate action to move his squad from this position. Though in the process of leaving the area 2 members of his squad were injured by the subsequent explosion of the ammunition, S/Sgt. Sims' prompt actions undoubtedly prevented more serious casualties from occurring. While continuing through the dense woods amidst heavy enemy fire, S/Sgt. Sims and his squad were approaching a bunker when they heard the unmistakable noise of a concealed booby trap being triggered immediately to their front. S/Sgt. Sims warned his comrades of the danger and unhesitatingly hurled himself upon the device as it exploded, taking the full impact of the blast. In so protecting his fellow soldiers, he willingly sacrificed his life. S/Sgt. Sims' extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

On 2 December 1969, Vice President Spiro Agnew presented Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester Sims' Medal of Honor to his family at a ceremony in the White House.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The name Clifford Chester Sims is inscribed on Panel 40E - Line 56.

Death and Burial

Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester Sims was killed in action on 21 February 1968. He is buried at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL, in Section 29, Grave 546.