Michael Lee Gandy
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 29 March 1968, Second Lieutenant Michael Lee Gandy was serving with Company B, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, 2LT Gandy was a platoon leader during a search and clear mission on the west bank of the Song Bo River. A 3-man scout team was crossing the river in a sampan when it came under an intense barrage of enemy fire, killing 1 man instantly. The other 2 men were wounded and sought protection in a bamboo thicket on the river bank. 2LT Gandy moved from squad to squad, encouraging his men and directing their fire against the communists. Six of his troops attempted to cross the river to rescue the 2 casualties by pushing a sampan before them for protection, but were carried downstream by the strong current. Despite the enemy fire, 2LT Gandy dropped his equipment, made his way to the river's edge, and swam the 75 meters to the other side. Upon reaching the river bank, he found that only one of the scouts was alive. Grabbing hold of him, he began the hazardous swim back through intense hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire. As he approached mid-stream, the scout was hit and disappeared beneath the water. A few seconds later, 2LT Gandy was mortally wounded by the enemy fusillade. 2LT Gandy's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
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 Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Michael Lee Gandy (ASN: 0-5339978), 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 Company B, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry, 2d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Second Lieutenant Gandy distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 29 March 1968 as a platoon leader during a search and clear mission on the west bank of the Song Bo River. A three-man scout team was crossing the river in a sampan when it came under an intense barrage of enemy fire, killing one man instantly. The other two men were wounded and sought protection in a bamboo thicket on the river bank. Lieutenant Gandy moved from squad to squad, encouraging his men and directing their fire against the communists. Six of his troops attempted to cross the river to rescue the two casualties by pushing a sampan before them for protection, but were carried downstream by the strong current. Despite the vicious enemy fire, Lieutenant Gandy dropped his equipment, made his way to the river's edge, and swam the seventy-five meters to the other side. Upon reaching the river bank, he found that only one of the scouts was alive. Grabbing hold of him, he began the hazardous swim back through intense hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire. As he approached mid-stream, the scout was hit and disappeared beneath the water. A few seconds later, Lieutenant Gandy was mortally wounded by the enemy fusillade. Second Lieutenant Gandy's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, and the cost of his life, 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: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 436 (February 7, 1969)

Honors

The name Michael L Gandy is located on Panel 46E Line 62 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Second Lieutenant Michael Lee Gandy is buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Everett, Snohomish County, WA.