Gary Grant Rushing
Private First Class, U.S. Army

Gary Grant Rushing was born on 30 July 1943 in Winston-Salem, NC, the son of Brady F. and Lillian Pitts Rushing. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on 19 October 1964 at Charlotte, NC.

On 27 October 1966, Private First Class Gary Grant Rushing was serving with 1st Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, PFC Rushing was serving as pointman with a platoon of the 35th Infantry on a search and destroy mission. Leading the unit out of the landing zone, PFC Rushing alertly spotted and fired on 2 North Vietnamese soldiers ahead of him. After mortar fire was placed in the area to their front, PFC Rushing again took the point. When he received hostile sniper fire, he returned fire allowing the platoon time to deploy before the entire area erupted into a fierce battle. When a soldier's rifle jammed, PFC Rushing exposed himself, ran to the man's side and provided covering fire until the weapon was repaired. Then, as the enemy began to assault from another direction, he shed his cumbersome web gear, picked up his grenades and advanced alone through the dense undergrowth. Ignoring the intense hostile fire directed at him, PFC Rushing charged while firing his weapon and throwing grenades. Through his courageous actions he killed 3 insurgents and inspired his comrades to rout the enemy. However, he was mortally wounded by hostile fire as he attempted to return for more ammunition. PFC Rushing's courageous actions 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.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
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 Gary Grant Rushing (ASN: RA-14872076), 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 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry, 3d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Rushing distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 27 October 1966 while serving as pointman with a platoon of the 35th Infantry on a search and destroy mission. Leading the unit out of the landing zone, Private Rushing alertly spotted and fired on two North Vietnamese soldiers ahead of him. After mortar fire was placed in the area to their front, Private Rushing again took the point. When he suddenly received hostile sniper fire, he dauntlessly returned the fire, allowing the platoon time to deploy just before the entire area erupted into a fierce battle. When a soldier's rifle jammed, Private Rushing daringly exposed himself, ran to the man's side and provided covering fire until the weapon was repaired. Then, as the enemy began to assault from another direction, he fearlessly shed his cumbersome web gear, picked up his grenades and advanced alone through the dense undergrowth. Disregarding the intense hostile fire directed at him, Private Rushing continued to charge while firing his weapon and throwing grenades. Through his courageous actions he killed three insurgents and inspired his comrades to rout the enemy; however, he was mortally wounded by hostile fire as he attempted to return for more ammunition. Private First Class Rushing'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. 3134 (June 24, 1967)

Honors

The name Gary G Rushing is located on Panel 11E Line 120 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Private First Class Gary Grant Rushing is buried at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC, in the Rushing plot.