Friday, September 28, 2012

Re-post from 2007 with additional Vietnam pictures: RIP My Friend, NAGO And Drew Dix, CMOH Winner

My Friend, NAGO And Drew Dix, CMOH Winner


NAGO on the far left. 
Enlarged

 Drew Dix won the CMOH not for a single event, but for his actions over a period of 56 hours during TET '68 in Chau Doc, South Vietnam right on the Cambodian border. In his book, "The Rescue of River City" http://tinyurl.com/97glgh3 he mentions my friend NAGO's name only 55 times, which brought me to ask NAGO, what were you doing? Fooling around that extra hour?!

The below letter was sent to me in response to a birthday party that NAGO was sharing with my daughter, Dixie.

Brock:

Patricia will send the photos of "NAGO." He is the one firing the mortar in one of the photos she is sending. (You couldn't see his face. BT) Please pass on my best to "NAGO" and tell him I will send a copy of a book with his picture along with Maggie (the nurse), Jim Monroe (Moore) and me. The first edition of the book had some errors in the written portion that had to be changed. The publisher took some liberties. It's not a book I wrote, but one on the Medal of Honor.

Also, if you can add a few words for me at his party I would greatly appreciate it.

"A soldier's life is based on honor, integrity, loyalty and bravery and would not be totally complete if all of these qualities were not experienced. Mine is truly complete, because of my service and experiences with my friend and fellow warrior, NAGO." Thank you for your service and thank you for watching my back!

I wish I could be there to celebrate your birthday with your friends and family.

Thanks for doing this for NAGO. He is a special friend

Drew

Drew Dix
*Awarded The Congressional Medal OF Honor
On January 16, 1969 For Conspicuous Gallantry
And Intrepidity In Action At The Risk Of His Life
Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty In Which
"NAGO" Was A Big Part

Another words, Drew Dix is not just a hero, but one who unselfishly gives credit to those who were with him at the time. An individual mentioned to me that after reading the book, that it was hard for him to believe that it actually happened. I stated that no, that wasn't my problem, but that I thought it difficult to believe that he wasn't hit once the entire time!

NAGO is the one on the far left in the picture above. The book is excellent, but ends with a sad note. One of his warrior's, Bao, went into the hills to continue fighting the Communists after the end. Years later, the Communists told Bao's sister that if he and his men turned themselves in, then they would grant them amnesty. Unfortunately, he believed them, and when he came to Chau Doc to surrender, they immediately took him to the marketplace and promptly executed him. Drew Dix ends his book with the follow words.

"It was a humiliating way for a warrior to go and I often think of him!"
Third image is at the birthday party and shows NAGO with a picture album I made for him consisting of images that Drew took of him in Vietnam. Drew said that NAGO's favorite weapon was the mortar, but NAGO told me that looking back on it, he thinks he liked the .50 Caliber best, as it would take large chunks out of the VC's heads! 



                 NAGO missing his head.:)
           




Maybe we'll win this time now that we have a Red Ryder......

 

My gift from NAGO.

========
2010 Wedding Party

Enlarged pictures above @ NamSouth



======== 

*For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Dix distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving as a unit adviser. Two heavily armed Viet Cong battalions attacked the Province capital city of Chau Phu resulting in the complete breakdown and fragmentation of the defenses of the city. S/Sgt. Dix, with a patrol of Vietnamese soldiers, was recalled to assist in the defense of Chau Phu. Learning that a nurse was trapped in a house near the center of the city, S/Sgt. Dix organized a relief force, successfully rescued the nurse, and returned her to the safety of the Tactical Operations Center. Being informed of other trapped civilians within the city, S/Sgt. Dix voluntarily led another force to rescue 8 civilian employees located in a building which was under heavy mortar and small-arms fire. S/Sgt. Dix then returned to the center of the city. Upon approaching a building, he was subjected to intense automatic rifle and machinegun fire from an unknown number of Viet Cong. He personally assaulted the building, killing 6 Viet Cong, and rescuing 2 Filipinos. The following day S/Sgt. Dix, still on his own volition, assembled a 20-man force and though under intense enemy fire cleared the Viet Cong out of the hotel, theater, and other adjacent buildings within the city. During this portion of the attack, Army Republic of Vietnam soldiers inspired by the heroism and success of S/Sgt. Dix, rallied and commenced firing upon the Viet Cong. S/Sgt. Dix captured 20 prisoners, including a high ranking Viet Cong official. He then attacked enemy troops who had entered the residence of the Deputy Province Chief and was successful in rescuing the official's wife and children. S/Sgt. Dix's personal heroic actions resulted in 14 confirmed Viet Cong killed in action and possibly 25 more, the capture of 20 prisoners, 15 weapons, and the rescue of the 14 United States and free world civilians. The heroism of S/Sgt. Dix was in the highest tradition and reflects great credit
upon the U.S. Army  


Enlarged pictures below @ Pinterest
Drew Dix.Left to right: unknown SEAL, Drew Dix, Harry Humphries (SEAL).
          Drew Dix                                    Left to right: unknown SEAL, 
                                                              Drew Dix, Harry Humphries (SEAL).


 The jeep armed with a .50-cal.Maggie Frankot, the nurse rescued by Drew and the SEALs.
 NAGO told me that looking                Maggie Frankot, the nurse rescued by Drew.
back on it, he thinks he liked
 the .50 Caliber best, as 
it would take large chunks
 out of the VC's heads!

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