FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Gordon Douglas Yntema ~ 24 April 2017

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Gordon Douglas Yntema
Information from here.

           

Gordon Douglas Yntema (June 26, 1945 – January 18, 1968) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Yntema joined the Army from Detroit, Michigan in 1964, and by January 16, 1968 was serving as a Sergeant in Company D of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). On that day, near Thong Binh in the Republic of Vietnam, Yntema and the two platoons of irregulars he was with were involved in a heavy firefight with the Viet Cong. After the group's Vietnamese commander was wounded, Yntema led the force for the remainder of the two-day battle as ammunition dwindled and losses mounted. With his position about to be overrun, he refused to abandon his wounded comrades and instead fought to the death.

Yntema, aged 22 at his death, was buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery, Holland, Michigan. He and his wife Peggy had three daughters, Elizabeth, Jane and Julie.

The enlisted club at Fort Bragg, NC is named in his honor.

Sergeant Yntema's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Yntema, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while assigned to Detachment A-431, Company D. As part of a larger force of civilian irregulars from Camp Cai Cai, he accompanied 2 platoons to a blocking position east of the village of Thong Binh, where they became heavily engaged in a small-arms fire fight with the Viet Cong. Assuming control of the force when the Vietnamese commander was seriously wounded, he advanced his troops to within 50 meters of the enemy bunkers. After a fierce 30 minute fire fight, the enemy forced Sgt. Yntema to withdraw his men to a trench in order to afford them protection and still perform their assigned blocking mission. Under cover of machinegun fire, approximately 1 company of Viet Cong maneuvered into a position which pinned down the friendly platoons from 3 sides. A dwindling ammunition supply, coupled with a Viet Cong mortar barrage which inflicted heavy losses on the exposed friendly troops, caused many of the irregulars to withdraw. Seriously wounded and ordered to withdraw himself, Sgt. Yntema refused to leave his fallen comrades. Under withering small arms and machinegun fire, he carried the wounded Vietnamese commander and a mortally wounded American Special Forces advisor to a small gully 50 meters away in order to shield them from the enemy fire. Sgt. Yntema then continued to repulse the attacking Viet Cong attempting to overrun his position until, out of ammunition and surrounded, he was offered the opportunity to surrender. Refusing, Sgt. Yntema stood his ground, using his rifle as a club to fight the approximately 15 Viet Cong attempting his capture. His resistance was so fierce that the Viet Cong were forced to shoot in order to overcome him. Sgt. Yntema's personal bravery in the face of insurmountable odds and supreme self-sacrifice were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect the utmost credit upon himself, the 1st Special Forces, and the U.S. Army.

Please remember, the Canteen is family friendly and we exist to support and honor our troops and their families, as well as our Allies Troops and theirs.  Thank you to every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman out there for doing what you do to keep us safe.  We are ever in your debt.  And thank you, too, to the families and friends who support them.  God bless our troops.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...hope some rain found you.

We’ve been overcast most of the day, with the sun peeking out every now and then. On my way to get gas and a car wash, I found a group doing a car wash right where I was getting gas...how fortuitous. I was going to have to retrace my steps and go the other way for the wash. Not perfect as for your Baby, but just fine for me. And I was able to dodge all puddles and streams of snow melt on the way home.

[Kathy in Alaska]

He loved his men more than himself. God Bless him good.

Good evening, Luv.

[radu]

Dirty looks, indeed! And a lot of fussing. And a lot of running around my feet as I try to get everything ready. Feeding time is NOT my favorite time of day. LOL

It takes 9 cans to feed everyone. A couple of them don’t care for canned food for some reason. It’ll take another can once Pixie’s kittens are weaned.

I WISH we got a discount but nope. Full price for everything.

[luvie]

Howdy, Kathy! (((hugs)))

That’s what I love about ALL our heroes! They sacrifice so much for us and our country and get very little in return! They should be treated way better!

[radu]

Sounds like you got very lucky today getting your car washed. No back-tracking required. AND you managed to keep it clean on the way home. Sure will be nice when the last of the piled up snow melts so the puddles and streams will disappear.

Yes, rain found us this weekend and we got a little over 2.5 inches. Some areas of TN got a lot more and are flooded pretty badly. Glad we didn’t have that problem because I noticed today that there’s corn coming up in the fields now. Don’t want it to drown!

[Kathy in Alaska]

LOL!! I know exactly of what you speak. Stuff just accumulates.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mac, for the Missing Man Setting as we remember those who have given their all that we may gather safe and secure.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Grandkids keep you VERY busy.

Did Grandpa Fix-It get any new jobs?

[Kathy in Alaska]

w h !!

Thanks, unique!

Pro.....#50!!

[luvie]

Actually that’s less than I thought. I guess you just give them a “treat” portion instead of a full meal portion.

Sorry I disappeared. I thought for sure that Secundo would fledge, but he/she hasn’t...yet. So I’m going to go watch “Elementary” on the laptop. I’ll check back in a bit later! :)

[radu]

Yes, they each get a quarter of a can. They have dry food to nibble on throughout the day. The canned food is just a treat, more or less, to give them meat. They’re carnivores after all. LOL

I had my eye on the OKC nest for a while for the same reason ..... thought Secundo might fledge tonight. Now keeping tabs on the GHOs in Montana, and “The Doors” came on TV so I’m watching that. Haven’t seen it in a long time. Love the Doors’ music and Val Kilmer was the perfect choice to play Morrison.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning Canteeners.

Good morning to our
AWESOME
Military, our Allies, and their families.

Pardon the simple Monday morning post.
Don't know if it's my computer or
FR or fotki but
my graphics won't show up.

Thank you, Star (and Ma) for today's Hall of Heroes history
about Gordon Douglas Yntema
It's an interesting last name; wonder how it is pronounced?
Like Yen-ta-ma, maybe?
Anyhoo, remembering another hero
lest they be forgotten.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

It took a while but we're finally getting rain.
All weekend was rainy or misty.
And it appears that the next two days will be as well.
And it's chilly. Then BAM...80s.
UGH! I'm beginning to believe in climate change theories.

Although the rain is a welcome sight,
it's going to throw my week's schedule totally off.

Gonna make my rounds. Have a grand day.

Remember, the Canteen is always OPEN
Come in, sit down, have a drink (of your choice), and
chat up the military and/or the families they left behind.
That's what we are here for.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach.

[SkyDancer]

Hai and Good Morning - yep, fun at home and heading to Denver this coming weekend.

[luvie]

This early stuff
is for the birds!
I didn't do it on purpose!
Just couldn't sleep any more! Bah! :)
It's another cool sunny morning.
Supposed to be back up to 90° today.
Pleeeeze let it stay cooler!
Anyhoooooo....🦉....y'all have a productive Monday!
Get 'er done and get outta there!
(((((hugs)))))

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How’s it going?

[luvie]

Howdy, EGC! (((hugs)))

All is well here on this brisk Monday morning! I’m soooo glad I didn’t have to go to work this morning...or any other morning for that matter! LOL!

Hope you and Bo had a great day yesterday! Where is your destination for today? Is it still pretty chilly there?

[E.G.C.]

It’s was pretty chilly here but it’s warmed up some. What Bo and I will be doing today is yet to be determined. :-)

[luvie]

Some days are like that. Play it by ear! Whatever it is...have fun!