Walter Keith Singleton
Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Sergeant Walter Keith Singleton (7 December 1944 - 24 March 1967) was a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Vietnam War.

Walter Keith Singleton was born on 7 December 1944 in Memphis, TN, and graduated from Bartlett High School there in June 1963. On 1 August 1963, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at Memphis and was integrated into the Regular Marine Corps the following September.

Ordered to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC, he completed recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion in February 1964. Upon completion of recruit training, he was promoted to Private First Class. Transferred to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC, he was assigned duty as ammo-carrier with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division until November 1965. While stationed at Camp Lejeune, he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 1 October 1964 and to Corporal on 1 August 1965.

Corporal Singleton returned to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island and served as an instructor with the Weapons Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, with the additional duty of training marksmanship to Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. While performing this additional duty, he received a letter of appreciation for qualifying 100 percent of the Midshipmen.

Prior to departure from the U.S., Cpl Singleton was promoted to Sergeant on 1 September 1966. On 13 November 1966, he joined Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1/9), 3rd Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam and served as supply sergeant with that unit. On 24 March 1967, 1/9 began Operation Prairie III. That same day, southeast of Con Thien, Sergeant Singleton's company came under intense enemy fire, and he was mortally wounded after he had advanced from his relatively safe position in the rear to move the numerous wounded away from the enemy zone. Before he was cut down by hostile fire, he also managed to make an assault on the enemy position, killing eight and driving the remainder away. It was for these acts of bravery, which had saved many of his comrades' lives, that he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division.

Place and date: Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 24 March 1967.

Entered service at: Memphis, TN. Born: 7 December 1944, Memphis, TN.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Singleton's company was conducting combat operations when the lead platoon received intense small arms, automatic weapons, rocket, and mortar fire from a well entrenched enemy force. As the company fought its way forward, the extremely heavy enemy fire caused numerous friendly casualties. Sensing the need for early treatment of the wounded, Sgt. Singleton quickly moved from his relatively safe position in the rear of the foremost point of the advance and made numerous trips through the enemy killing zone to move the injured men out of the danger area. Noting that a large part of the enemy fire was coming from a hedgerow, he seized a machinegun and assaulted the key enemy location, delivering devastating fire as he advanced. He forced his way through the hedgerow directly into the enemy strong point. Although he was mortally wounded, his fearless attack killed 8 of the enemy and drove the remainder from the hedgerow. Sgt. Singleton's bold actions completely disorganized the enemy defense and saved the lives of many of his comrades. His daring initiative selfless devotion to duty and indomitable fighting spirit reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and his performance upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Sergeant Walter Keith Singleton's Medal of Honor was presented to his family by President Lyndon B. Johnson in a White House Ceremony.

Medals and Awards

Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnamese Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star
Vietnamese Military Merit Medal
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Walter Keith Singleton's name is inscribed on Panel 17E - Line 39.

Honors

• A parkway, which runs from Memphis to Millington, TN, is named in his honor

• Singleton Hall, a barracks on the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, VA

• Singleton Community Center located in Bartlett, TN

Death and Burial

Sergeant Walter Keith Singleton was killed in action on 24 March 1967. He is buried at Memory Hill Gardens in his hometown of Memphis, TN.