Clyde E. Savage
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army

On 14 November 1965, then-Sergeant Clyde E. Savage was serving with 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in South Vietnam.

On that day, SGT Savage was squad leader in the 2d Platoon of Company B in the Ia Drang Vallely when it was attacked by a hostile force that consisted of about 2 companies. As an offensive measure, SGT Savage led his squad and attacked one of the hostile squads. During the attack, the bulk of the hostile force hit them. He pulled his men in tight and succeeded in inflicting numerous casualties on the insurgent force. The rest of the platoon was also under intense fire and had to take a defensive position on a nearby knoll. During the fierce battle that followed, SGT Savage saved the lives of 3 wounded comrades by killing 3 insurgents that had maneuvered to within 10 meters of their position. The platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and weapon's squad leader were mortally wounded, so SGT Savage assumed command. With most of the men either dead or wounded and completely surrounded, the platoon continued holding off the insurgents for 26 hours. SGT Savage called in supporting artillery fire to within 50 meters of their positions during the night. The following morning he shot over 30 of the enemy during the fight. His leadership during the battle influenced his men to hold out until relieved by reinforcements. SGT Savage's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

SGT Savage, whose unit was surrounded for several days, is known as the "Lost Platoon" in First Cavalry lore. Harold G. Moore, a retired lieutenant general who, as a lieutenant colonel, led the First Cavalry into the Ia Drang and had this to say about SGT Savage: "Sergeant Ernie Savage is what good soldiering is all about. Even though his unit was surrounded and cut off and losses were so heavy that he eventually ended up commanding it, he got his men out. And when they came out, they had ammo left over. Now that's discipline. Discipline!" Retired First Cavalry Sergeant Major James Scott of Columbus, GA, said this of the men who died there: "These dead did not give their life for their country. They forced someone to take it from them."

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 pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Clyde E. Savage (ASN: RA-14746198), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Savage was serving as squad leader in the 2d Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), on 14 November 1965, when it was attacked by a hostile force which consisted of approximately two companies. As an offensive measure, Sergeant Savage led his squad and attacked one of the hostile squads. During the attack, the bulk of the hostile force hit them. He immediately pulled his men in tight and succeeded in inflicting numerous casualties on the insurgent force. The rest of the platoon was also under intense fire and had to take a defensive position on a nearby knoll. During the fierce battle that followed, Sergeant Savage saved the lives of three comrades who had been wounded by killing three insurgents who had maneuvered to within ten meters of their position. The platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and weapon's squad leader were mortally wounded, at which time Sergeant Savage assumed command. With most of the men either dead or wounded and being completely surrounded, the platoon continued holding off the insurgents for twenty-six hours. Sergeant Savage courageously called in supporting artillery fire to within fifty meters of their positions during the night. The following morning he shot over thirty of the insurgents during the bitter fight. His leadership during the battle influenced his men to hold out until reinforcements relieved them. Sergeant Savage's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty 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, Pacific, General Orders No. 195 (February 1966)