US Army Medal of Honor Recipient Paul W. Bucha: From March 16th to March 19th 1968, Captain Bucha distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer.

 US Army Medal of Honor Recipient Paul W. Bucha: From March 16th to March 19th 1968, Captain Bucha distinguished himself while serving as commanding officer, on a reconnaissance-in-force mission against enemy forces near Phuoc Vinh. 

The company was inserted by helicopter into the suspected enemy stronghold to locate and destroy the enemy. 

During this period Captain Bucha aggressively and courageously led his men in the destruction of enemy fortifications and base areas and eliminated scattered resistance impeding the advance of the company. 

On the 18th of March while advancing to contact, the lead elements of the company became engaged by the heavy automatic-weapon, heavy machine-gun, rocket-propelled-grenade, claymore-mine and small-arms fire of an estimated battalion-size force.

 Captain Bucha, with complete disregard for his safety, moved to the threatened area to direct the defense and ordered reinforcements to the aid of the lead element. 

Seeing that his men were pinned down by heavy machine-gun fire from a concealed bunker located some 40 meters to the front of the positions, Captain Bucha crawled through the hail of fire to singlehandedly destroy the bunker with grenades.

 During this heroic action Captain Bucha received a painful shrapnel wound. 

Returning to the perimeter, he observed that his unit could not hold its positions and repel the human wave assaults launched by the determined enemy.

Captain Bucha ordered the withdrawal of the unit elements and covered the withdrawal to positions of a company perimeter from which he could direct fire upon the charging enemy. 

When one friendly element retrieving casualties was ambushed and cut off from the perimeter, Captain Bucha ordered them to feign death and he directed artillery fire around them. 

During the night Captain Bucha moved throughout the position, distributing ammunition, providing encouragement, and insuring the integrity of the defense. 

He directed artillery, helicopter-gunship and Air Force-gunship fire on the enemy strong points and attacking forces, marking the positions with smoke grenades. 

Using flashlights in complete view of enemy snipers, he directed the medical evacuation of three air-ambulance loads of seriously wounded personnel and the helicopter supply of his company.

At daybreak Captain Bucha led a rescue party to recover the dead and wounded members of the ambushed element. God Bless Paul Bucha and God Bless our vets! 

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