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(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Stanley Arthur Blunt, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Platoon Leader of an Infantry Company in the 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade, in action against the enemy on 1 February 1967, in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, Lieutenant Blunt was on a search and destroy mission near a village close to a free fire zone. He noticed some movement in the brush, called his platoon members to a halt and tried to identify what the movement was. He saw a bush move, and then the enemy engaged his unit. Disregarding his own personal safety, Lieutenant Blunt ran forward, engaged three Viet Cong in a close firefight. Even though he was seriously wounded in the head and had fallen to his knees, he continued to fire, killing at least one enemy. Although nearly unconscious, he remained in his position, firing into the dense vegetation and ordering his men not to enter the dangerous area.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    11th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade

    Division:

    5th Infantry Division (Mechanized)

    Action Date:

    November 11 & 13, 1969
    Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 913 (April 20, 1970)

    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 Captain (Infantry) Stanley Arthur Blunt, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry, 1st Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized). Captain Blunt distinguished himself while leading his company during a search and clear operation through enemy controlled territory several kilometers south of the Demilitarized Zone in the northern area of I Corps Tactical Zone. On 11 November, his company was participating in a coordinated battalion attack on elements of the 27th North Vietnamese Army Regiment defending heavily fortified bunker positions. When his company’s advance was halted by intense’ Suppressive fire, Captain Blunt single-handedly charged a heavily fortified machine gun emplacement and completely destroyed the position. In this same assault, he killed four other enemy soldiers at close range by hurling hand grenades into their positions. In the early morning hours of 13 November, in a continuation of the same operation, Captain Blunt infiltrated a seven-man patrol through some twelve hundred meters of closely defended enemy terrain under cover of darkness in order to reinforce and extract besieged friendly elements. He conducted this perilous mission without incident and undoubtedly saved the lives of the twenty-two trapped American soldiers. Captain Blunt’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.