Johnny C. Calhoun
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army

On 27 March 1968, then-Staff Sergeant Johnny C. Calhoun was serving with Command and Control (North), Forward Operating Base 1 (Phu Bai), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in South Vietnam.

On that day, when his team was attacked 1.5 miles south of Ta Bat in the A Shau Valley, SSG Calhoun provided covering fire for the rest of the patrol while ordering the other five members to withdraw. He was hit several times in the chest and stomach, and when last seen by interpreter Ho-Thong as he slumped to the ground, he pulled the pin from a grenade and clutched it to explode among the advancing enemy. SSG Calhoun's extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Calhoun was promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class while in Missing in Action Status.

Although SSG Calhoun was last seen on 27 March 1968, it was later presumed (by law) that his date of death was 3 September 1974 and that is his official date of death.

Medals, Awards, Badges and Tabs

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge
Special Forces Tab

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 Sergeant First Class [then Staff Sergeant] Johnny C. Calhoun, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Command and Control (North), FOB 1 (Phu Bai), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Calhoun distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 March 1968. When his team was attacked 1.5 miles south of Ta Bat in the A Shau Valley, Sergeant First Class Calhoun provided covering fire for the rest of the patrol while ordering the other five members to withdraw. He was hit several times in the chest and stomach, and when last seen by interpreter Ho-Thong as he slumped to the ground, he pulled the pin from a grenade and clutched it to explode among the advancing enemy. His extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 51 (October 25, 1974)

Honors

The name Johnny C Calhoun is located on Panel 46E Line 45 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Memorialization

The remains of Sergeant First Class Johnny C. Calhoun have never been recovered. He is memorialized with his name inscribed on Court B of the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, HI.