Warren R. Westphal
Petty Officer First Class, U.S. Navy

On 24 November 1968, then-Boatswain's Mate Petty Officer First Class Warren R. Westphal was serving with River Division 572, River Patrol Flotilla Five, Task Force 116 (TF-116), in the Republic of Vietnam.

On that date, PO1 Westphal was Patrol Officer for River Patrol Boats (PBRs) 138 and 55 while conducting a routine mission on a narrow branch of the Mekong River when his patrol encountered a communist battalion crossing southward. The enemy force took the 2 PBRs under intensive fire from at least 20 positions. Realizing that they were caught in the kill zone of a hostile force vastly larger than their own, the patrol boat crewmen accelerated to full speed and headed for the open river. Suddenly a rocket detonated directly in front of the lead boat, PBR 138, in which PO1 Westphal was embarked, seriously wounding the forward machine gunner. Believing that PBR 55 was in more serious trouble, PO1 Westphal gave the order to turn toward it and then personally manned the forward gun battery in PBR 138 until his craft received 3 additional hits that wounded the entire crew, including himself, flooded the boat, and rendered its weapons useless. After transferring 2 seriously-injured crew members to PBR 55, and ordering the cover boat to proceed out of the canal, PO1 Westphal beached his own craft on the far bank and personally provided medical assistance for another injured man. PO1 Westphal's crew received no additional enemy opposition, and he was then able to request a medical evacuation helicopter and vector outside assistance to engage the retreating enemy. By PO1 Westphal's exemplary courage and outstanding leadership, he prevented a large enemy force from crossing the river, and was directly responsible for saving the lives of 11 of his comrades. PO1 Westphal's quick thinking and dedication to duty that day earned him the U.S. Navy's second highest award for valor, the Navy Cross.

Medals and Awards (Partial List)

Navy Cross
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 gold star
Navy Commendation Medal w/ 1 gold star
Navy & Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Navy Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Boatswain's Mate First Class Warren R. Westphal, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 24 November 1968 while serving with River Division 572, River Patrol Flotilla FIVE, Task Force 116 (TF-116), during combat operations against enemy aggressor forces on the Mekong River in the Republic of Vietnam. As Patrol Officer for River Patrol Boats (PBRs) 138 and 55, Petty Officer Westphal was conducting a routine mission on a narrow branch of the Mekong River when his patrol encountered a communist battalion crossing southward. The enemy force took the two PBRs under increasingly intense fire from at least twenty positions. Realizing that they were caught in the kill zone of a hostile force vastly larger than their own, the patrol boat crewmen accelerated to full speed and headed for the open river. Suddenly a rocket detonated directly in front of the lead boat, PBR 138, in which Petty Officer Westphal was embarked, seriously wounding the forward machine gunner. Believing that PBR 55 was in more serious trouble, Petty Officer Westphal gave the order to turn toward it and then personally manned the forward gun battery in PBR 138 until his craft received three additional hits which wounded the entire crew, including himself, flooded the boat, and rendered its weapons useless. After transferring two seriously-injured crew members to PBR 55, and ordering the cover boat to proceed out of the canal, he beached his own craft on the far bank and personally provided medical assistance for another injured man. Petty Officer Westphal's crew received no additional enemy opposition, and he was then able to request a medical evacuation helicopter and vector outside assistance to engage the retreating enemy. By his exemplary courage and outstanding professional ability, he prevented a large enemy force from crossing the river, and was directly responsible for saving the lives of eleven of his comrades. Petty Officer Westphal's heroic actions in the face of almost overwhelming enemy opposition were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.