Thomas James Kinsman
Specialist Four, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
Vietnam War

Specialist Four Thomas James Kinsman is a former U.S. Army soldier and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Kinsman was born 4 March 1945, in Renton, WA. He joined the Army at Seattle, WA. On 6 February 1968, he was serving as a Private First Class in Company B, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. During a firefight that day near Vinh Long in the Republic of Vietnam, Kinsman blocked a grenade blast with his body to protect those around him, suffering severe wounds in the process. He recovered from his wounds and was promoted to Specialist Four and awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

Medal of Honor

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty Sp4 Kinsman (then Pfc.) distinguished himself in action in the afternoon while serving as a rifleman with Company B, on a reconnaissance-in-force mission. As his company was proceeding up a narrow canal in armored troops carriers, it came under sudden and intense rocket, automatic weapons and small-arms fire from a well entrenched Viet Cong force. The company immediately beached and began assaulting the enemy bunker complex. Hampered by exceedingly dense undergrowth which limited visibility to 10 meters, a group of 8 men became cut off from the main body of the company. As they were moving through heavy enemy fire to effect a link-up, an enemy soldier in a concealed position hurled a grenade into their midst. Sp4 Kinsman immediately alerted his comrades of the danger, then unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade and blocked the explosion with his body. As a result of his courageous action, he received severe head and chest wounds. Through his indomitable courage, complete disregard for his personal safety and profound concern for his fellow soldiers, Sp4 Kinsman averted loss of life and injury to the other 7 men of his element. Sp4 Kinsman's extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.