McGuire, Harry John
Army Private 1st class

Harry John McGuire, age 20, from Houlton, Maine.

Era: Vietnam

Date of death: Monday, May 22, 1967
Death details: Bronze Star Citation: For heroism in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam on 22 May 1967. On this date, Private First Class McGuire was serving as a rifleman with the 2nd Platoon A, 1/35th Infantry, which was conducting a search and destroy operation near Duc Pho, when the unit began receiving automatic weapons fire from a village. The 2nd Platoon was in an open rice paddy approximately 25 meters from the village. Private First Class McGuire, without hesitation, immediately jumped up and assaulted the enemy position closest to him. He advanced steadily through a hail of enemy fire until he was well within the village, approached the first bunker and destroyed it with a grenade. He then began to advance further into the village in an attempt to knock out the second bunker that he had observed. Private First Class McGuire located the second bunker and began to maneuver around to the other side when he was observed by the enemy and mortally wounded. His heroic actions and personal courage in the face of the enemy were an inspiration to all of the men in his platoon and aided greatly in the accomplishment of the platoon’s mission. Private First Class McGuires outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Source: 35th Infantry Regiment Association