Grey H. Wagner
Sergeant, U.S. Army

Grey H. Wagner was the son of Russell Burton and Helen Mae Hobson Wagner. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on 7 June 1965 in Iowa.

On 10 January 1968, Sergeant Grey H. Wagner was serving with 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, SGT Wagner was a squad leader of the 2nd Platoon of Company B when his unit's forward base camp came under attack from an unknown size enemy force. SGT Wagner was commanding a machine gun position that stood in the center of the insurgents' main line of advance and it became the focal point of hostile rocket and automatic weapons fire. During the enemy's first assault, the positions on both sides of SGT Wagner were overrun. He held fast and rallied his men to lay down a barrage of fire that momentarily halted the attack and enabled the other squads of his platoon to move into a secondary defensive perimeter. He then directed the troops with him to withdraw to a new position while he provided covering fire for their movement. Although wounded during the 1st enemy assault, he remained at his post in the face of a 2nd charge, firing into the attackers' ranks until he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions contributed greatly to the defeat of the enemy force. SGT Wagner's selfless 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
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 Sergeant Grey H. Wagner (ASN: RA-55799688), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Wagner distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 January 1968 while serving as a squad leader of the 2d Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. On this date his unit's forward base camp came under heavy attack from an unknown size enemy force. Sergeant Wagner was commanding a machine gun position which stood in the center of the insurgents' main line of advance and became the focal point of hostile rocket and automatic weapons fire. During the enemy's first assault, the positions on both sides of Sergeant Wagner were overrun. He held fast and rallied his men to lay down a heavy barrage of fire which momentarily halted the attack and enabled the other squads of his platoon to move into a secondary defensive perimeter. He then directed the troops with him to withdraw to a new position while he provided covering fire for their movement. Although painfully wounded during the first enemy assault, he courageously remained at his post in the face of a second devastating charge, firing into the attackers' ranks until he was mortally wounded. His heroic actions contributed greatly to the eventual defeat of a fanatical enemy force. Sergeant Wagner'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. 2850 (June 13, 1969)

Honors

The name Grey H. Wagner is located on Panel 34E Line 26 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Sergeant Grey H. Wagner is buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery-Osceola Township in Faulkner, Franklin County, IA, in South Plot 25, Site 3.

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