Carlos was sent to Vietnam and assigned to the 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade. Five months later, the 503rd found itself immersed in the Battle of Dak To. Part of a relief force from the heavy fighting in the days before, Carlos was manning an outpost guarding the position. He saw a company of NVA approaching the position and alerted his squad and then opened fire with his M-60. He killed at least 20 and disrupted the attack long enough for his company, which was becoming rapidly surrounded and in very real danger of being cut off, to commence a withdrawing. His comrades urged him to join them in the much needed retreat. Carlos urged them on realizing that if his machine gun fire ceased, the potential for being overrun was ever increased. He stood his ground and continued firing. He did this until he was mortally wounded.
His actions were a major factor in his entire company position being able to avoid becomeing surrounded and cut off, alone, surrounded by the enemy. For his actions on this day, 48 years ago, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Carlos Lozada was loved. That is apparent by reading the many remembrances posted to him on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Wall of Faces. We'd like to thank and honor PFC Lozada for his service and for his dedication to the men he was serving with. He is certainly an example for many to live by and his memory lives on with many of those.
His Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Lozada, U.S. Army, distinguished himself at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in the battle of Dak To. While serving as a machine gunner with 1st platoon, Company A, Pfc. Lozada was part of a 4-man early warning outpost, located 35 meters from his company's lines. At 1400 hours a North Vietnamese Army company rapidly approached the outpost along a well-defined trail. Pfc. Lozada alerted his comrades and commenced firing at the enemy who were within 10 meters of the outpost. His heavy and accurate machinegun fire killed at least 20 North Vietnamese soldiers and completely disrupted their initial attack. Pfc. Lozada remained in an exposed position and continued to pour deadly fire upon the enemy despite the urgent pleas of his comrades to withdraw. The enemy continued their assault, attempting to envelop the outpost. At the same time enemy forces launched a heavy attack on the forward west flank of Company A with the intent to cut them off from their battalion. Company A was given the order to withdraw. Pfc. Lozada apparently realized that if he abandoned his position there would be nothing to hold back the surging North Vietnamese soldiers and that the entire company withdrawal would be jeopardized. He called for his comrades to move back and that he would stay and provide cover for them. He made this decision realizing that the enemy was converging on 3 sides of his position and only meters away, and a delay in withdrawal meant almost certain death. Pfc. Lozada continued to deliver a heavy, accurate volume of suppressive fire against the enemy until he was mortally wounded and had to be carried during the withdrawal. His heroic deed served as an example and an inspiration to his comrades throughout the ensuing 4-day battle. Pfc. Lozada's actions are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
No comments:
Post a Comment