Gabriel Ralph Alamos
Master Sergeant, U.S. Army

Gabriel Alamo enlisted in the U.S. Army before World War II. During the war, he served with the 82nd Airborne Division. After WWII ended, he completed a variety of military courses, finishing the Chemical Corps School in 1950, following which he served in the Korean War.

Alamo did overseas tours in occupied Germany and Japan, and eventually volunteered for, and qualified in, the Special Forces.

In 1964, Master Sergeant Alamo volunteered for duty in Vietnam, arriving in late spring.

On 6 July 1964, Master Sergeant Gabriel Ralph Alamo was serving with the United States Army Special Forces Detachment A-726, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces at Camp Nam Dong, South Vietnam, under the command of Captain Roger Donlon [Honoree Record ID 31].

On that day, a reinforced Viet Cong battalion launched a full scale, predawn attack on the Camp. The battle that ensued lasted five hours and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. MSG Alamo was very effective in defending the installation. At the initial onslaught, he directed a radio operator to transmit a message requesting support, and then rushed into a blazing building to assist in the removal of weapons and ammunition. Ignoring the burns he received while in the burning structure, he then ran through a hail of enemy gunfire to a 60-mm mortar position and set the weapon for firing. As he noticed the enemy trying to breach the main gate, he again dashed through a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire to stop the hostile action. Although he sustained a serious wound in this courageous action, he reached the gate and prevented the entry of enemy troops. Despite his wound and a grenade attack, he refused evacuation for medical treatment, reached the 60-mm mortar pit and directed the fire of the 60-mm mortar, while simultaneously manning a 57-mm recoilless rifle. Despite the vicious enemy assault, he remained at his battle position and defended the camp until mortally wounded by the enemy. MSG Alamo's extraordinary heroic actions earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

At the time of his death in Vietnam, Gabriel Alamo's wife, Edna, was pregnant. Upon receiving news of her husband's sacrifice, she miscarried. They have one daughter, Deborah Ann.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Germany & Japan)
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Korean Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Military Merit Medal
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge with 2 Stars (Third Award)
Senior Parachutist Badge

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 Master Sergeant Gabriel Ralph Alamo (ASN: 12008459), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving an opposing armed force in the Republic of Viet Nam on 6 July 1964. As a team Sergeant, serving with the United States Army Special Forces Detachment A-726 at Camp Nam Dong, Sergeant Alamo displayed bravery, fortitude, and perseverance when a reinforced Viet Cong battalion suddenly launched a full scale, pre dawn attack on the Camp. During the violent battle that ensued, lasting five hours and resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, he participated with outstanding effectiveness in defending the installation. Upon the initial onslaught, he promptly directed a radio operator to transmit a message requesting support, and then rushed into a blazing building to assist in the removal of weapons and ammunition. Ignoring the burns he received while in the burning structure, he then ran through a hail of enemy gunfire to a 60-mm. mortar position and set the weapon for firing. As he noticed the enemy attempting to breach the main gate, he again dashed through a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire to abort the hostile action. Although he sustained a serious wound in this courageous action, he demonstrated superhuman effort, reached the gate, and prevented entry of enemy troops. Despite his wound, and an intense grenade attack, he reached the 60-mm. mortar pit, refused evacuation for medical treatment, and directed the fire of the 60-mm. mortar while simultaneously manning a 57-mm. recoilless rifle. Undaunted by the vicious enemy assault, he remained at his battle position and defended the camp until mortally wounded by the enemy. Sergeant Alamo's valiant efforts and extraordinary heroic actions are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.

General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 8 (March 9, 1965)

Honors

The name Gabriel R Alamo is located on Panel 01E Line 57 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Master Sergeant Gabriel Ralph Alamo is buried at Lafayette Memorial Park in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, NC.

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