Honor Roll of the 199th LIB

Major General Frederick E. Davison

Served as Commander, 199th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam. He was commissioned through the ROTC program in March 1959 went to college at Howard University,Washington, DC.  He graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.  He later became the first Black officer to command an Army division when he was appointed Commander of the Eighth Infantry Division. Some of his military awards: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star. (1)

Personal comment - As I remember Maj. Gen Davison he was well respected and well liked by all members who served under him in the 199th.

199th LIB Medal of Honor recipients'

Chaplin Angelo J. Liteky

Rank and organization: Chaplain (Capt.), U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 199th Infantry Brigade. place and date: Near phuoc-Lac, Bien Hoa province, Republic of Vietnam, 6 December 1967 . Entered service at: Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Born: 14 February 1931, Washington, D.C.

Citation: Chaplain Liteky distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving with Company A, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was participating in a search and destroy operation when Company A came under intense fire from a battalion size enemy force. Momentarily stunned from the immediate encounter that ensued, the men hugged the ground for cover. Observing 2 wounded men, Chaplain Liteky moved to within 15 meters of an enemy machinegun position to reach them, placing himself between the enemy and the wounded men. When there was a brief respite in the fighting, he managed to drag them to the relative safety of the landing zone. Inspired by his courageous actions, the company rallied and began placing a heavy volume of fire upon the enemy's positions. In a magnificent display of courage and leadership, Chaplain Liteky began moving upright through the enemy fire, administering last rites to the dying and evacuating the wounded. Noticing another trapped and seriously wounded man, Chaplain Liteky crawled to his aid. Realizing that the wounded man was too heavy to carry, he rolled on his back, placed the man on his chest and through sheer determination and fortitude crawled back to the landing zone using his elbows and heels to push himself along. pausing for breath momentarily, he returned to the action and came upon a man entangled in the dense, thorny underbrush. Once more intense enemy fire was directed at him, but Chaplain Liteky stood his ground and calmly broke the vines and carried the man to the landing zone for evacuation. On several occasions when the landing zone was under small arms and rocket fire, Chaplain Liteky stood up in the face of hostile fire and personally directed the medivac helicopters into and out of the area. With the wounded safely evacuated, Chaplain Liteky returned to the perimeter, constantly encouraging and inspiring the men. Upon the unit's relief on the morning of 7 December 1967, it was discovered that despite painful wounds in the neck and foot, Chaplain Liteky had personally carried over 20 men to the landing zone for evacuation during the savage fighting. Through his indomitable inspiration and heroic actions, Chaplain Liteky saved the lives of a number of his comrades and enabled the company to repulse the enemy. Chaplain Liteky's actions reflect great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

Personal comment --Father Liteky was my chaplin when I served with the 4/12th - I  remember sharing conversations with him - just general chatting - nothing about what was going on around us - mostly topics of general discussion.    The day mentioned above I remember as I was at the base camp.  There were several of us drinking beer and chatting when word came down about the fire-fight - and we were put on alert.  At that time I had a short-wave radio that had all the military bands on it - we all sit around listening to everything that was coming down from the engagement of the fire-fight.

I remember at a later date he was nominated for the medal of honor from this fire-fight and I think that I might have been present at a ceremony when Chap. Liteky received a medal but I am uncertain of which medal he received that day.  The cememony was near Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base.  At this time the 4/12th and other element's were working the area of the pineapple grove, fish hatchery and the race track.  

Father Liteky is a man that inspired and helped me through a rough time emotionally and otherwise,  I admire and will alway's remember him, and hope that the Lord has his special place in heaven reserved for him - for he <Father Liteky> is the man that alway's gave more than 100% and never asked for anything in return! 

Michael Fleming Folland

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company D, 2d Battalion, 3d Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade. Place and date: Long Khanh, Providence, Republic of Vietnam, 3 July 1969. Entered service at: Richmond, Va. Born: 15 April 1949, Richmond, Va.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Cpl. Folland distinguished himself while serving as an ammunition bearer with the weapons platoon of Company D, during a reconnaissance patrol mission. As the patrol was moving through a dense jungle area, it was caught in an intense crossfire from heavily fortified and concealed enemy ambush positions. As the patrol reacted to neutralize the ambush, it became evident that the heavy weapons could not be used in the cramped fighting area. Cpl. Folland dropped his recoilless rifle ammunition, and ran forward to join his commander in an assault on the enemy bunkers. The assaulting force moved forward until it was pinned down directly in front of the heavily fortified bunkers by machinegun fire. Cpl. Folland stood up to draw enemy fire on himself and to place suppressive fire on the enemy positions while his commander attempted to destroy the machinegun positions with grenades. Before the officer could throw a grenade, an enemy grenade landed in the position. Cpl. Folland alerted his comrades and his commander hurled the grenade from the position. When a second enemy grenade landed in the position, Cpl. Folland again shouted a warning to his fellow soldiers. Seeing that no one could reach the grenade and realizing that it was about to explode, Cpl. Folland, with complete disregard for his safety, threw himself on the grenade. By his dauntless courage, Cpl. Folland saved the lives of his comrades although he was mortally wounded by the explosion. Cpl. Folland's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Kenneth L. Olson

Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 5th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light). Place and date: Republic of Vietnam, 13 May 1968. Entered service at: Minneapolis, Minn. Born: 26 May 1945, Willmar, Minn.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Olson distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a team leader with Company A. Sp4c. Olson was participating in a mission to reinforce a reconnaissance platoon which was heavily engaged with a well-entrenched Viet Cong force. When his platoon moved into the area of contact and had overrun the first line of enemy bunkers, Sp4c. Olson and a fellow soldier moved forward of the platoon to investigate another suspected line of bunkers. As the 2 men advanced they were pinned down by intense automatic weapons fire from an enemy position 10 meters to their front. With complete disregard for his safety, Sp4c. Olson exposed himself and hurled a hand grenade into the Viet Cong position. Failing to silence the hostile fire, he again exposed himself to the intense fire in preparation to assault the enemy position. As he prepared to hurl the grenade, he was wounded, causing him to drop the activated device within his own position. Realizing that it would explode immediately, Sp4c. Olson threw himself upon the grenade and pulled it in to his body to take the full force of the explosion. By this unselfish action Sp4c. Olson sacrificed his own life to save the lives of his fellow comrades-in-arms. His extraordinary heroism inspired his fellow soldiers to renew their efforts and totally defeat the enemy force. Sp4c. Olson's profound courage and intrepidity were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Richard A. Penry

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade. Place and date: Binh Tuy Province, Republic of Vietnam, 31 January 1970. Entered service at: Oakland, Calif. Born: 18 November 1948, Petaluma. Calif.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Penry, Company C, distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman during a night ambush mission. As the platoon was preparing the ambush position, it suddenly came under an intense enemy attack from mortar, rocket, and automatic weapons fire which seriously wounded the company commander and most of the platoon members, leaving small isolated groups of wounded men throughout the area. Sgt. Penry, seeing the extreme seriousness of the situation, worked his way through the deadly enemy fire to the company command post where he administered first aid to the wounded company commander and other personnel. He then moved the command post to a position which provided greater protection and visual communication and control of other platoon elements. Realizing the company radio was damaged and recognizing the urgent necessity to reestablish communications with the battalion headquarters, he ran outside the defensive perimeter through a fusillade of hostile fire to retrieve a radio. Finding it inoperable, Sgt. Penry returned through heavy fire to retrieve 2 more radios. Turning his attention to the defense of the area, he crawled to the edge of the perimeter, retrieved needed ammunition and weapons and resupplied the wounded men. During a determined assault by over 30 enemy soldiers, Sgt. Penry occupied the most vulnerable forward position placing heavy, accurate fire on the attacking enemy and exposing himself several times to throw hand grenades into the advancing enemy troops. He succeeded virtually single-handedly in stopping the attack. Learning that none of the radios were operable, Sgt. Penry again crawled outside the defensive perimeter, retrieved a fourth radio and established communications with higher headquarters. Sgt. Penry then continued to administer first aid to the wounded and repositioned them to better repel further enemy attacks. Despite continuous and deadly sniper fire, he again left the defensive perimeter, moved to within a few feet of enemy positions, located 5 isolated wounded soldiers, and led them to safety. When evacuation helicopters approached, Sgt. Penry voluntarily left the perimeter, set up a guiding beacon, established the priorities for evacuation and successively carried 18 wounded men to the extraction site. After all wounded personnel had been evacuated, Sgt. Penry joined another platoon and assisted in the pursuit of the enemy. Sgt. Penry's extraordinary heroism at the risk of his own life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

199th LIB Casualties

Charles E Anderson

• SP4 - Army - Regular

• 199th Light Infantry Brigade

• 19 year old Married, Caucasian, Male

• Born on Aug 14 1948

• From CLEVELAND, OHIO

• Length of service 1 year.

• His tour of duty began on Aug 20 1967

• Casualty was on Feb 16 1968

• in GIA DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM

• HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY

• GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE

• Body was recovered

• Religion

• BAPTIST

• Panel 39E - - Line 57

Gary Richard Clark

• 2LT - Army - Reserve

• 20 year old Married, Caucasian, Male

• Born on Jul 06 1947

• From SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

• His tour of duty began on Jul 17 1967

• Casualty was on Dec 06 1967

• in BIEN HOA, SOUTH VIETNAM

• HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY

• GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE

• Body was recovered

• Religion

• ROMAN CATHOLIC

• Panel 31E - - Line 44

Ralph Edward Consavage

• PFC - Army - Selective Service

• 199th Light Infantry Brigade

• 20 year old Single, Caucasian, Male

• Born on Oct 27 1947

• From WILLIAMSTON, MICHIGAN

• His tour of duty began on Feb 15 1968

• Casualty was on Mar 07 1968

• in QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM

• HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY

• GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE

• Body was recovered

• Religion

• LUTHERAN & MISSOURI SYNOD

• Panel 43E - - Line 42

• 1.  BLACK HISTORY MONTH 1991 EDUCATING AMERICA: BLACK UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES -- STRENGTHS AND CRISES

counter posted: 9/25/1998