Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Medal of Honor

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    7th Cavalry Regiment

    Division:

    1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)

    Action Date:

    November 14, 1965

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 7 (February 15, 1967)

    The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Walter Joseph Marm, Jr., United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a platoon leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Ia Drang Valley, Republic of Vietnam, on 14 November 1965. First Lieutenant Marm’s company was moving through the valley to relieve a friendly unit surrounded by an enemy force of estimated regimental size. First Lieutenant Marm led his platoon through withering fire until they were finally forced to take cover. Realizing that his platoon could not hold very long, and seeing four enemy soldiers moving into his position, he moved quickly under heavy fire and annihilated all four. Then, seeing that his platoon was receiving intense fire from a concealed machinegun, he deliberately exposed himself to draw its fire. Thus locating its position, he attempted to destroy it with an antitank weapon. Although he inflicted casualties, the weapon did not silence the enemy fire. Quickly, disregarding the intense fire directed on him and his platoon, he charged 30 meters across open ground, and hurled grenades into the enemy position, killing some of the eight insurgents manning it. Although severely wounded, when his grenades were expended, armed with only a rifle, he continued the momentum of his assault on the position and killed the remainder of the enemy. First Lieutenant Marm’s selfless actions reduced the fire on his platoon, broke the enemy assault, and rallied his unit to continue toward the accomplishment of this mission. First Lieutenant Marm’s gallantry on the battlefield and his extraordinary intrepidity at the risk of his life are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.