Thomas Eugene Sauble
Captain, U.S. Army

Thomas Eugene Sauble was born on 17 January 1932 in York, PA, the son of Stewart and Beatrice Elizabeth Sheared Sauble. He entered the U.S. Army and graduated from the Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA, in 1953 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He then served in what remained of the Korean War.

After Korea he graduated from Ranger School at Fort Benning and, on 6 May 1966, arrived in Vietnam.

On 13 March 1967, Captain Thomas Eugene Sauble was serving with Advisory Team 1, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.

On that day, CPT Sauble was serving as an advisor to the Hieu Nhon Sub-Sector Headquarters when it was attacked by elements of a North Vietnamese battalion. CPT Sauble, slightly wounded when he was blown from his bunk by the initial mortar barrage, moved to his defensive position outside the advisory team quarters. While moving about the bunker directing the defense and calling for ammunition, he exposed himself to fire in order to better engage the enemy. CPT Sauble's suppressive fire and leadership inspired his comrades as they prevented the insurgents from overrunning their emplacement on the first attack. Once the bunker became untenable, he covered the withdrawal of the other team members into the building, and then assumed an open position on the porch. Ignoring the enemy fire striking around him, he fired his carbine into the charging North Vietnamese. When one of the advisors was thrown from the structure by an explosion, CPT Sauble pulled the man to safety and resumed his stand. Even after receiving a fatal wound he fell to a sitting position and continued fighting until dying of his wounds. His courageous actions were instrumental in breaking the hostile attack and saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. CPT Sauble'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, Badges and Tabs

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Korean Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
United Nations Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Medal
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award Medal
Vietnam Civil Actions Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (Second Award)
Ranger 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 Captain (Infantry) Thomas Eugene Sauble (ASN: 0-4005263), 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 Advisory Team 1, United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Captain Sauble distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 13 March 1967 while serving as an advisor to the Hieu Nhon Sub-Sector Headquarters when it was attacked by elements of a North Vietnamese battalion. Slightly wounded when he was blown from his bunk by the initial mortar barrage, Captain Sauble dauntlessly moved to his defensive position outside the advisory team quarters. Moving about the bunker directing the defense and calling for ammunition, he repeatedly exposed himself to better engage the enemy. Captain Sauble's accurate return fire and aggressive example inspired his comrades as they prevented the insurgents from overrunning their emplacement on the first attack. Once the bunker became untenable, he fearlessly covered the withdrawal of the other team members into the building, and then assumed an open position on the porch. Contemptuous of the enemy fire striking around him, he fired his carbine into the charging North Vietnamese. When one of the advisors was thrown from the structure by an explosion, Captain Sauble pulled the man to safety and resumed his gallant stand. Even after being fatally wounded, he fell to a sitting position and continued to fight until succumbing to his wounds. His boundless courage and resolute determination were instrumental in breaking the hostile attack and saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. Captain Sauble'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. 2001 (May 2, 1967)

Honors

The name Thomas E Sauble is located on Panel 16E Line 73 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Captain Thomas Eugene Sauble is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, VA, in Section 6, Site 9113-B.