Walter Lee Nutt III
Private First Class, U.S. Army

On 28 April 1969, Private First Class Walter Lee Nutt III was serving with Company D, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, PFC Nutt was part of a reconnaissance-in-force mission near Fire Support Base Danger in Giao Duc District in Kien Phuong Province. As his platoon maneuvered through a densely-vegetated area, PFC Nutt walked behind the leading members of the file when an enemy force initiated an ambush with a volley of shots that killed the first 2 men in the patrol and wounded 4 more. Seeing his fallen comrades, PFC Nutt rushed through the hostile fire and began to administer lifesaving aid to the injured. As he made his way toward a 3rd injured man, he was struck by enemy rounds that mortally wounded him. PFC Nutt'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
Bronze Star Medal (Merit) with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Medical 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 Private First Class Walter Lee Nutt, III, 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 D, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Private First Class Nutt distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 28 April 1969 during a reconnaissance-in-force mission near Fire Support Base Danger in Giao Duc District in Kien Phuong Province. As his platoon maneuvered through a densely vegetated area, Private Nutt walked behind the leading members of the file. Suddenly an enemy force initiated an ambush with a volley of shots that killed the first two men in the patrol and wounded four more. When he saw his fallen comrades, Private Nutt rushed through a hail of hostile fire and began to administer lifesaving aid to the injured. As he heroically made his way toward a third injured man, he was struck by enemy rounds which mortally wounded him. Private First Class Nutt's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at 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. 2500 (July 11, 1969)

Honors

The name Walter L Nutt III is located on Panel 26W Line 72 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Private First Class Walter Lee Nutt III is buried at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, Polk County, IA, in Block 30-C.

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