Michael Eugene Randall, Sr.
Corporal, U.S. Army

Michael Eugene Randall, Sr. enlisted in the U.S. Army on 19 February 1968.

On 10 October 1968, then-Private First Class Michael Eugene Randall, Sr. was serving with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, PFC Randall was a machine gunner during a reconnaissance-in-force mission when Company A came under heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire from a fortified Viet Cong base camp. PFC Randall's platoon was pinned down and his squad leader and point man lay wounded in an open field, entirely exposed to the enemy barrage. He advanced through the enemy cross fire to the front of the platoon and kept a steady fusillade on the enemy positions, allowing his comrades to evacuate the wounded men. Continuing his 1-man assault, PFC Randall concentrated his fire directly into the hostile bunker's gun port until another concealed enemy position opened fire, wounding him and damaging his machine gun. After returning to his platoon to secure a rifle, he advanced on the 2nd Viet Cong fortification, killing its 2 occupants. He then took grenades from his ammunition pouches and ran across an open area toward an enemy machine gun position that had his platoon pinned down. As PFC Randall was tossing a grenade into the enemy bunker, the Viet Cong opened fire and he was mortally wounded. PFC Randall's courageous action and extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Randall received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Corporal.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
Air Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman 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 Michael Eugene Randall, Sr. (ASN: RA-68009673), 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 A, 2d Battalion, 12th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Randall distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 October 1968 while serving as a machine gunner during a reconnaissance-in-force mission. Private Randall's company came under heavy small arms and automatic weapons fire from a fortified Viet Cong base camp. His platoon was pinned down and his squad leader and point man lay wounded in an open field, entirely exposed to the enemy barrage. With complete disregard for his safety, he advanced through the communists cross fire to the front of the platoon and kept a steady fusillade on the enemy positions, allowing his comrades to evacuate the wounded men. Continuing his one-man assault, Private Randall concentrated his fire directly into the hostile bunker's gun port until another concealed enemy position opened fire, wounding him and damaging his machine gun. After returning to his platoon to secure a rifle, he advanced on the second Viet Cong fortification, killing the two occupants. Although suffering from his wounds, he took grenades from his ammunition pouches and ran across an open area toward an enemy machine gun position that had his platoon pinned down. As Private Randall was tossing a grenade into the enemy bunker, the Viet Cong opened fire and he was mortally wounded. Private First Class Randall'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. 409 (February 5, 1969)

Honors

The name Michael E Randall Sr is located on Panel 41W Line 42 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Corporal Michael Eugene Randall, Sr. is buried at Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville, Hamilton County, IN, in Section 18, Lot 52.